Who was Ishmael?
Ishmael was the son of Hagar and Abraham. His name is connected with God hearing. Genesis describes promises about his future and God's care for him when he and his mother were in the wilderness.
God heard the boy in distress and helped Hagar find water. Ishmael's story should be told with dignity rather than contempt for him or later peoples.
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What practical care does a person in distress need?
Explore Ishmael’s stories
View all storiesHagar and the Birth of Ishmael
Genesis 16:1–16
Hagar fled into the wilderness, where the Lord saw her trouble and spoke to her beside a spring.
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Hagar and Ishmael in the Wilderness
Genesis 21:9–21
Sent away from Abraham’s household, Hagar and Ishmael faced deep distress in the wilderness, and God heard and helped them.
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