And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
The grievous thing had its roots in earlier distrust of God that led to Abraham's marriage with Hagar. It belongs to Sarah's demand that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. As wife and mother her rights were not to be shared with a rival, and God did not reprove her for requiring the banishment.
Abraham was deeply distressed at the thought of sending Ishmael away because Ishmael was his dearly loved son. He obeyed the divine direction to send Hagar and Ishmael away so that peace could be restored to his household, but he did so with a heavy heart. He had already obeyed God in sending Ishmael away before he faced the later test involving Isaac.
The grievous thing had its roots in earlier distrust of God that led to Abraham's marriage with Hagar. It belongs to Sarah's demand that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. As wife and mother her rights were not to be shared with a rival, and God did not reprove her for requiring the banishment.
Abraham was deeply distressed at the thought of sending Ishmael away because Ishmael was his dearly loved son. He obeyed the divine direction to send Hagar and Ishmael away so that peace could be restored to his household, but he did so with a heavy heart. He had already obeyed God in sending Ishmael away before he faced the later test involving Isaac.