What happensPermalink
Abram despairs of having children, so Sarai gives him his servant Hagar. Hagar conceives and bears a son, Ishmael. Sarai resents Hagar. God extends the promise He made to Abram to Ishmael as well.
Why it mattersPermalink
Abram and Sarai take God’s promise of innumerable descendants into their own hands, resulting in Ishmael having “his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him.” God’s promise is absolute, so Ishmael receives it too.
Key versePermalink
And the angel of the LORD said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction.”