And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
Ishmael was Abraham's son by Hagar, and because he was Abraham's offspring God promised to make him the father of a great nation. Though he would be sent away from Abraham's home, God would preserve his life and not forsake him or let him die. That blessing did not make him heir with Isaac, nor give him a share in Isaac's inheritance of the covenant promise fulfilled through Isaac. The promise belongs with God's command for Abraham to send Ishmael away, a command Abraham had already obeyed before facing the test concerning Isaac.
Ishmael was Abraham's son by Hagar, and because he was Abraham's offspring God promised to make him the father of a great nation. Though he would be sent away from Abraham's home, God would preserve his life and not forsake him or let him die. That blessing did not make him heir with Isaac, nor give him a share in Isaac's inheritance of the covenant promise fulfilled through Isaac. The promise belongs with God's command for Abraham to send Ishmael away, a command Abraham had already obeyed before facing the test concerning Isaac.