ISHMAEL was for about fourteen years the only son of Abraham. His mother's name was Hagar, a bond-woman. His father, Abraham had been blessed by God with great riches. He was "very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold." He had also a very great household; for, on one occasion, we read of his marching to rescue his nephew Lot, with no less than three hundred and eighteen of his own trained servants; all armed, and all of them being members of his own household. The inhabitants of Canaan addressed Abraham as "my lord," and spake of him, as being "a mighty prince" among them. (See Gen. 23) And all the while that Ishmael was Abraham's only son, he was doubtless made a good deal of, because he was the only son of so great a man. And Abraham evidently loved Ishmael very much; for, when God made a promise to Abraham that in process of time, his wife, Sarah, should bare him a son, Abraham said, “Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee." The desire of Abraham's heart was at that time contented with Ishmael, but Isaac, and not Ishmael, was the son that God had promised to Abraham.
The Lord fulfilled His promise; and the aged Sarah bare Abraham a son in his old age. “And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me... And the child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned" (Gen. 21:5, 6, 85And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. 6And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. (Genesis 21:5‑6)
8And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. (Genesis 21:8)).
It was, indeed, a time of great rejoicing, and doubtless a very peat company rejoiced together with Abraham and Sarah, in this their great joy—their own beloved son, Isaac—the child of promise. But there was one present who shared not in their joy, nor cared for the rejoicing. “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar, the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking." Why did he mock? Was he jealous of Isaac, and displeased because Isaac was made so much of? Ishmael was by this time old enough to understand that it was God's will that his brother Isaac should hold a more dignified position than he himself could hold. Isaac, the young Isaac, was chosen by God to be Abraham's heir. Had Ishmael meekly submitted to this, the will of God, and honored his younger brother Isaac, he would no doubt have been allowed still to remain in his father's house. But he did not bow to God's will. Sarah saw him mocking, and demanded of Abraham that both Ishmael and his mother should be “cast out." This was very grievous to Abraham, for he loved Ishmael much, but God told him to do as Sarah had said. Yes, God had taken notice when Ishmael mocked, and Ishmael was to be sent away; although God still took care of him, and blessed him, for his father's sake.
Little did Ishmael think when he was mocking, that God took notice. But God notices all our actions. “There is not a word in my tongue, but Thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether." My little readers, let the record of Ishmael's sin, and its punishment, prove a warning to you; and may it prevent you from mocking.
The Lord cannot tolerate mockers; but He says, “Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." And if you are as willing to listen to “His voice," as the child Samuel was willing to listen in his day, the Lord will speak peace to your soul.
But, perhaps some little boy may say, “I have mocked, and I am now afraid that the Lord will not listen to me." Ishmael did not mock when he was lying exhausted under the shrub, and death stared him in the face. His mother, Hagar, then sat weeping aloud at some distance off; for she said, “Let me not see the death of the child;" and Ishmael, thus left all alone, "cried," and God " heard the voice of the lad." God, who had been so displeased to hear Ishmael mock, was “very gracious “to Ishmael at the voice of his cry. And the angel of God said to Hagar, “God hath heard the voice of the lad, where he is." And God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled the bottle with water and gave the lad drink. This is just what you see in the picture. What a good thing it is in all our troubles to cry unto God. He heard, and He saved Ishmael from death. And although Ishmael was not allowed to return to his father's house, we read, “And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer."
So that, my dear reader, although you may have mocked, you may now, like Ishmael, cry, and the Lord will hear. “He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee" (Isa. 30:1919For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. (Isaiah 30:19)).
When I was a boy, and was in a class at Sunday-school one Sunday afternoon, our teacher was absent. We went to our own classroom as usual, after singing and prayers, and we kept very quiet, because no one should notice that we were without a teacher. But the time soon began to drag heavily upon our hands; and Satan, who finds plenty of mischief for “idle hands to do," soon had it all his own way, To while away the time, it was proposed that we should have a mock " Revival " meeting. Accordingly, one boy kneeled down, and pretended to be crying to the Lord for mercy; while another (amid laughter), kept telling him to look to Jesus. This dreadful mockery went on for some time. I was not then a Christian, but I had godly parents, and I knew enough to know that this awful scene was displeasing to God. I longed for some one to open the door, and stop it; but I had not the courage to prevent my fellow-scholars from carrying out their purpose.
Of the ringleader of this affair, I know not whether he is now alive or dead, nor do I know if he has ever left off to mock. But of the other boy, I am so very pleased to tell you, that not a very great while after this very event, instead of only pretending to pray, he really did seek and obtain mercy of the Lord.
He became sick unto death, and as he died, he clapped his hands, saying,—
“Oh, how happy we shall be,
For our Saviour we shall see
Exalted on His throne.”
The Lord had in grace saved the very lad who not long before had mocked Him.
Dear readers,” Be not mockers," but rather” Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near." He will answer you. He will save you.