The Well in the Wilderness - Israel 2023 Part 2

the desert beyond Be'er Sheva

It was a hot June afternoon as I looked out into the desert near Be'er-Sheva.  Though the ruins of the ancient town were before me, I was more inclined to turn my back to them in order to take in the land outside the town walls.  

I had something on my mind... 

I was thinking of a history from Genesis chapter 21.  You know the story, I bet.  Isaac is weaned, and Sarah sees Ishmael making fun of Isaac during his celebration.  Sarah demands that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away.

Scripture tells us that, "the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's eyes on account of his son." (Genesis 21:11)  --I know many often think of Abraham as having only one son, Isaac, but the truth is that Ishmael was his first born.  Abraham loved Ishmael, and the demand from Sarah to send him away must have cut like a knife to his very core.

But we are told that Abraham did send both Hagar and Ishmael away...

Why?

Because "God said to Abraham, 'do not be displeased about the boy and your slave woman.  Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her voice....I will make the son of the slave woman into a nation, because he is your seed.'" (Genesis 21:12-13 portions).

So Abraham sent them away...and they "wandered about in the wilderness of Be'er-Sheva." 

And that is where I stood... my back to the ancient ruins... on a hot day... pondering the absolute horror of being in the position of both the sender and the sent.  It was a death sentence by all human logic...

Except...

Abraham had been told by God that Ishmael would become a nation.

I believe Abraham had as much faith in the possible resurrection of Ishmael from this certain death sentence as he did in Isaac's resurrection, should he have been sacrificed (Hebrews 11:19 ).

And his faith was indeed rewarded.

The history goes on to show us the desperate picture of a dying boy and his heartbroken mother.  Hagar wept and lifted up her voice.  While Hagar was weeping, God was listening to Ishmael's voice as well.  

The Angel of God called to Hagar from heaven...

Let's take just a moment to really picture this.

The Mom and the boy are slowly dying in the desert.  The sun beats down.  There is no water.  Things are critical.  Nothing but a miracle will save them...

Then the voice of the Angel of God calls out from heaven.  

Are you picturing this in color...big screen and all?

"Get up! Lift the boy up, and hold on to him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation" (Genesis 21:18).

Can you imagine!?! 

This is the same message God had given Abraham.  

A second witness...

Then, something truly miraculous happened.  

Scripture tells us that "God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water...." (Genesis 21:19).

Had the well been there all along?  Had she just been too weak to see it?

I cannot say for sure, but a review of how the word "opened" is used in other scriptures can offer us a clue.  

The Hebrew word being used for "open" in verse 19 is Strong's H6491, פקח.

We find it used 18 times in the Hebrew scriptures.  At least half of those uses refer to a spiritual "opening" of some kind (eyes / ears).  For example, 2 Kings 6:17 is the verse where Elisha asked God to open the eyes of his servant in order to see that the "mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."  

So, what about Hagar's eyes?  Had the well been there all along? 

On some level, maybe even another plane of reality, I think it had to have been.

But until her eyes were opened by God, Hagar was unable to perceive it.  

The water revived the life of the boy and his mother.  

And God's Word was proved true.

So as I looked out upon that desert, I imagined the history playing out before me.  

Then I thought of the opening of the eyes, and of the water and the life it brought to both mother and son...and the generations that would come after...and are still coming...

And I thought of the promise...told to both Abraham and Hagar...2 witnesses...fulfilled.

Though it would be Isaac who would inherit "the seed" (Genesis 21:12), Ishmael would also be blessed.  We are told of his 12 sons and long life in Genesis 25:13-17.  

Because Ismael was not the son of promise, the Hebrew scriptures do not focus on him, but I think we find something very promising about his seed when we get to the book of Isaiah.

A multitude of camels will cover you,

young camels of Midian and Ephan,

all those from Sheba will come.

They will bring gold and frankincense,

and proclaim the praises of Adonai.

All Kedar's flocks will be gathered to you.

Nebaioth's rams will minister to you.

They will go up with favor on My altar,

and I will beautify My glorious House.

Isaiah 60:6-7

What's so special about this passage?  Well, Nebaioth and Kedar are Ishmael's first and second born sons.  And we see them here in the prophecy of Isaiah being favored by Adonai.  So while he was not the son of the seed, Ishmael was loved by God.  There is much hope and expectation for his seed in the Kingdom of God.

Beyond that, I think we can take comfort in the fact that our God is in the business of opening eyes and providing life-giving water...to this very day!  

I believe that in scripture the physical often points us to the spiritual.  We see this beautiful physical example in Genesis, and we hear Yeshua explain the spiritual nature of it in the book of John:

If anyone is thirsty, 

let him come to me and drink.

Whoever believes in Me, 

As the scripture says,

'out of his innermost being will flow

rivers of living water.'

John 7:37-38 portions.

May God continue to open our eyes and lead us to His Living Water.  

And may we, like Hagar, take others by the hand, and lead them there.  

Please stop by again soon to...

Other Articles You May Enjoy:

The Brick Building - Israel 2023 Part 1

The Place of His Choosing Part 1

The Place of His Choosing Part 2

Isaiah 35: A Study Session

Hezekiah's Tunnel: Feat or Fear?

Joel: Past, Present, and Future?

Are Those Your Eyes?  Are They Mine?