The Bible speaks of children of the flesh and children of the promise. Abraham had one child of each. Let’s talk about his child of the flesh, Ishmael. What are we told about Ishmael’s life, and what can we learn from him?

Ishmael had a special name (Genesis 16:11)⤒🔗

Even though the Lord had promised them a son, Abram and Sarah had to wait very long. They became impatient and took matters into their own hands. Abram took Hagar, a maidservant, in order to have a son. But sin always brings more sin, and this sin resulted in fighting and Hagar had to flee (Genesis 16:7). Still, the Lord met with Hagar. She was expecting a baby and she is told to call him Ishmael, which means “the LORD hath heard thy affliction” (Genesis 16:11). Some names don’t say much or mean much, but the name “Ishmael” has a special meaning. It says God “hears the needy when they cry” (Psalter 420:5); He knows the suffering of His people and hears their cry (Exodus 3:7-8; Psalm 130:1). This name teaches us, then, that we need to cry out to the Lord for mercy and salvation.

Ishmael received a precious promise (Genesis 17:25)←⤒🔗

The Lord came to renew the covenant with Abram and promised again that He will be a God to Abram and to his seed after him (Genesis 17:7). It was a promise that said he didn’t have to go through life alone, but would know the care and love of God. That covenant promise was followed by a covenant sign, circumcision (Genesis 17:10-11). It meant that the sinful nature must be put off (Colossians 2:10). Who received this sign? Every male in Abram’s house, also Ishmael, who was 13 years old. The Lord came to Ishmael too, asking for him before he asked for the Lord. Isn’t that what we also receive in baptism? Both circumcision and baptism are signs of the promises of God (Acts 2:39). Children, what promises do we grow excited about? Maybe a new bike or another special gift is exciting, but there is nothing like the promise of salvation that God makes in baptism.

Ishmael had a wicked heart (Genesis 21:9)←⤒🔗

Some years later Ishmael received a little brother, Isaac. The day came when Isaac was weaned. Ishmael was by now sixteen or seventeen years old. But on that day, Ishmael began to mock his brother, to tease and taunt him. We might think, children do that all the time! But it is not right. Matthew Henry says: “God takes notice of what children say and do in their play and will reckon with them if they say or do amiss, though their parents do not.” Ishmael should have honored his brother Isaac, for through his brother the promised Seed would be born. But Ishmael’s heart was set against Isaac. There was enmity in his heart against the Promised Seed of Abraham and the free grace of God. How sad! It is also wrong for you when that wickedness to pester or mock someone rises in your heart. We need to take our hearts to the Lord Jesus and ask Him to change them (Ezekiel 36:26).

Ishmael enjoyed a cooled tongue (Genesis 21:19)←⤒🔗

Hagar and Ishmael were sent away into the desert. There they ran out of water. Hagar was afraid that Ishmael would die and set him under a shrub (Genesis 21:15). But the Lord showed Hagar a well not far off from where she sat. She must have hurried to fill the bottle and press it to Ishmael’s lips. His thirst could be quenched, his lips could be cooled. But in hell, that cannot happen (Luke 16:24). What a reason for us to seek to escape the wrath to come! Let us remember that whenever we press a cold glass of water to our lips. Ask the Lord, today, for grace to drink from the fountain of living water (John 4:14).

Ishmael became a wild man (Genesis 16:12)←⤒🔗

That is a sad summary of a person’s life, don’t you think? To be rude, rebellious, and untamed. It is much better if the mercy of God takes hold of us, and changes us from being wild to being tamed by grace (Mark 5:15). Growing up in the tents of Abram didn’t save Ishmael, and neither does going to church save us. If we are not born again by the Spirit, then we, too, must be cast out (Matthew 22:13). Why would we ignore the Lord Jesus who came and let Himself be cast out of the favor of His Father, so that sinners like Ishmael may cast themselves upon Christ and find mercy?