The long-awaited event arrives in Genesis 21:

The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” (Genesis 21.1 – 6, ESV)

But interestingly, there is more in this chapter about Abraham’s first son, Ishmael, the one he shouldn’t have had, than Isaac. First negative:

The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.” (Genesis 21.8 – 10, NASB)

But then the blessing:

But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. “And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.” (Genesis 21.12, 13, NASB)

And when Ishmael’s mother thinks they’re both going to die in the wilderness:

God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. “Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” (Genesis 21.17, 18, NASB)

I would have thought that when Isaac came, that would be it for the record of Ishmael. But it’s not. He not only has significant press in this chapter, he makes another appearance in chapter 25.

I don’t profess to understand it…as always, I just report it! But friends of mine who minister among Muslims make much of these blessings on Ishmael. Maybe it’s as Tiny Tim says, “God bless us, every one!”

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ… (Ephesians 1.3, NASB)