E. Hershey Sneath

Ishmael

There was once a little boy named Ishmael who lived with Hagar, his mother, in the tents of his father Abraham. In those days, so very long ago, there were no houses and everyone lived in tents. Sometimes, when the families were very large, it took many tents to shelter one family.

Now, although Hagar was only a servant, she was beloved of Abraham and lived as one of the family, and Ishmael was a pet with all Abraham's people.

One day a little baby was born in the home of Abraham, whom Abraham and Sarah his wife loved very dearly, for he was their only son. They were so happy with this new baby, whom they called Isaac, that they almost forgot Ishmael. This made him very cross, for had he not received all the attention before this time, and wasn't he just the same boy that he had been before baby Isaac was born?

Ishmael did not like this new baby at all, and used to mock him when he cried and tease him in various ways.

Sarah watched her baby lovingly, and little Isaac grew into a fine strong boy. When he was two years old, Abraham gave a big feast to all his people. This was a thanksgiving feast; he was so thankful that he and Sarah had this son, so thankful that Isaac was growing into a big boy and that he was learning to do right.

At this feast Ishmael was so rude and made so Much trouble in many ways that Sarah decided Hagar must take her boy away from the tents of Abraham and find a home in another country.

Now Abraham did not want to send them away, and it troubled him when Sarah asked him to do so; but he could see that the two children would never be happy together. Besides, God had told him that all would go well with Hagar and Ishmael after they had left him.

So he arose early in the morning and took some bread and a bottle of water which he gave to Hagar, telling her to take Ishmael and go away far across the plains and into another country. When she should find a place which seemed good to her, there she should make her home.

Think how unhappy Hagar must have been, going away from all her friends, leaving the only home she had known for many years. I am sure they must have gone slowly and sadly, for there was only a big, wild country ahead, a country Hagar knew nothing about.

Ishmael knew that something was troubling his mother and he was sad, too, for he loved her and wanted her to be happy. So they went on in silence for many hours.

After a few days they came to a place where there were no tents or people in sight, nothing but sand, with a bush here and there. It was very hot, and as the sun beat down hotter and hotter, Ishmael, who was tired and thirsty, grew faint and could go no farther.

The food and water were all gone and Hagar did not know where to find more. So she took Ishmael in her arms and laid him under a bush, and went a little way off and cried because she could not bear to see him suffer.

But God knew of their need and comforted Hagar, making her eyes see a well of water under some palm trees a little way from where they were resting. Hagar ran to the well and filled her bottle. Then lifting Ishmael in her arms she gave him some of the cooling water to drink, and he became strong again.

God was kind to Ishmael and Hagar, and told them to make their home there and to live there forever. So they made a shelter near the well, and lived in that country all the days of their life.

Ishmael made himself a bow and arrow and learned to shoot the wild beasts for food for his mother and himself. There were many other thing, he learned to do for Hagar, and they were very happy in their new home. Ishmael grew into a strong man and was the chief among the people of the desert.