Genesis 21:14 Commentary and Bible Study

Calvin stresses how hard it was for Abraham to send his son into banishment, ‘but being accustomed to obey God, he brings into subjection the paternal love, which he is not able wholly to cast aside.’ He rose early in the morning, not wanting to delay carrying out this difficult task, in case his affections overcame him and prevented his obedience. The critics have a field day with verse 14. What a terrible, terrible thing to do! There is Abraham who received so many mercies himself, so rich, such great flocks, so much money given to him, and yet he does not seem to send her out with any horse or horses, any sums of money, or any provisions that would last for weeks. He sends her out with a large water skin bag on her shoulder and bread – whatever form it took, for a short while – and sends her away. Now why are they so under provided for? Well, one thing is, we are not absolutely sure they are under provided for. They may well have had money too which is just not mentioned. But an even greater likelihood is that the intention was that they were not going far. They were sent off and there was a destination to go to, to a certain well, which is actually mentioned in due course, and that in that place there would be provision and a home for them. They were just given the provisions they needed in order to get there, a journey which was not very far. That is much more likely, not the meanness of Abraham. It would be incredible and unreasonable to assume that. But it seems that Hagar and Ishmael got lost: ‘She departed, and wandered.’ They were not meant to be going far at all, but they got lost and they wondered about in the wilderness of Beersheba, and they didn't know where they were. Actually, she was probably very near to her appointed destination, but somehow the pair of them got lost. Perhaps she was so angry and so bitter and so resentful, that she was not thinking straight.