The Mocker
(2-minute read)
In a gripping series of events, the drama unfolds as Abraham, at the height of his joy, is faced with a dark turn when Ishmael, his son by Hagar, harbors a deadly intent against his half-brother Isaac. Sarah’s fierce protectiveness over Isaac ignites a rift, compelling Abraham to make a heart-wrenching decision to cast out Hagar and Ishmael. The weight of this decision devastates Abraham, torn between loyalty to his firstborn and his new heir, but divine intervention reassures him, promising a great future for both sons.
The harsh reality sets in as Abraham’s decision drives Hagar and Ishmael into the unforgiving wilderness of Beersheba and Paran, their only provisions running dangerously low. In a desperate and heart-wrenching scene, Hagar, unable to bear the thought of her son’s suffering, sits far away, consumed by despair. Yet, as hope seems lost, a divine voice reaches out to them, guiding Hagar to a hidden well of water and ensuring the survival of her son. The series climaxes with a renewed sense of hope as Hagar and Ishmael, now revitalized, continue their arduous journey through the wilderness, their futures uncertain but marked by divine promise.
Major Characters
Minor Characters
Insignificant Characters
GENESIS
42%
JASHER
16%
JUBILEES
42%
Exposition
J: 42 | Y: 2054 | Abraham celebrates having children
Jubilees 17:2-3
Rising Action
Ishmael attempts to kill Isaac
Jasher 21:13-14
Climax
Sarah sees what Ishmael is doing and demands that Hagar and Ishmael be cast out
Genesis 21:9-11, Jasher 21:15, Jubilees 17:4-5
YHWH agrees with Sarah
Genesis 21:12-13, Jubilees 17:6-7
Falling Action
Abraham sends out Hagar with provisions
Genesis 21:14-15, Jasher 21:16, Jubilees 17:8-9
Resolution
The angel of YHWH aids Hagar
Genesis 21:16-19, Jubilees 17:10-12
Jubilee: 42
Year: 2054
Abraham celebrates having children
Jubilees 17:2-3
2 And Ishmael, the son of Hagar, the Egyptian, was before the face of Abraham, his father, in his place, and Abraham rejoiced and blessed God because he had seen his sons and had not died childless.
3 And he remembered the words which He had spoken to him on the day on which Lot had parted from him, and he rejoiced because the Lord had given him seed upon the earth to inherit the earth, and he blessed with all his mouth the Creator of all things.
Ishmael attempts to kill Isaac
Jasher 21:13-14
13 And when Isaac was five years old he was sitting with Ishmael at the door of the tent.
14 And Ishmael came to Isaac and seated himself opposite to him, and he took the bow and drew it and put the arrow in it, and intended to slay Isaac.
Sarah sees what Ishmael is doing and demands that Hagar and Ishmael be cast out
Genesis 21:9-10
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
Jasher 21:15
15 And Sarah saw the act which Ishmael desired to do to her son Isaac, and it grieved her exceedingly on account of her son, and she sent for Abraham, and said to him, Cast out this bondwoman and her son, for her son shall not be heir with my son, for thus did he seek to do unto him this day.
Jubilees 17:4
4 And Sarah saw Ishmael playing and dancing, and Abraham rejoicing with great joy, and she became jealous of Ishmael and said to Abraham, ‘Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman will not be heir with my son, Isaac.’
Genesis 21:11
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
Jubilees 17:5
5 And the thing was grievous in Abraham’s sight, because of his maidservant and because of his son, that he should drive them from him.
YHWH agrees with Sarah
Genesis 21:12-13
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
Jubilees 17:6-7
6 And God said to Abraham ‘Let it not be grievous in thy sight, because of the child and because of the bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, harken to her words and do (them); for in Isaac shall thy name and seed be called.
7 But as for the son of this bondwoman I will make him a great nation, because he is of thy seed.’
Abraham sends out Hagar with provisions
Genesis 21:14-15
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
Jasher 21:16
16 And Abraham hearkened to the voice of Sarah, and he rose up early in the morning, and he took twelve loaves and a bottle of water which he gave to Hagar, and sent her away with her son, and Hagar went with her son to the wilderness, and they dwelt in the wilderness of Paran with the inhabitants of the wilderness, and Ishmael was an archer, and he dwelt in the wilderness a long time.
Jubilees 17:8-9
8 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and placed them on the shoulders of Hagar and the child, and sent her away.
9 And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba, and the water in the bottle was spent, and the child thirsted, and was not able to go on, and fell down.
The angel of YHWH aids Hagar
Genesis 21:16-19
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
19 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.
Jubilees 17:10-12
10 And his mother took him and cast him under an olive tree, and went and sat her down over against him, at the distance of a bow-shot; for she said, ‘Let me not see the death of my child,’ and as she sat she wept.
11 And an angel of God, one of the holy ones, said unto her, ‘Why weepest thou, Hagar? Arise take the child, and hold him in thine hand; for God hath heard thy voice, and hath seen the child.’
12 And she opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled her bottle with water, and she gave her child to drink, and she arose and went towards the wilderness of Paran.
No notes.
(4-minute read)
Exposition
J: 42 | Y: 2054 | Abraham celebrates having children
Jubilees 17:2-3
Ishmael, the son of Hagar the Egyptian, stood before Abraham in his place, and Abraham rejoiced and praised God because he had lived to see his sons and had not died childless. He remembered the words God had spoken to him on the day Lot had separated from him and was filled with joy, knowing that the Lord had given him offspring on the earth to inherit it. With all his heart, he blessed the Creator of all things.
Rising Action
Ishmael attempts to kill Isaac
Jasher 21:13-14
When Isaac was 5 years old, he was sitting with Ishmael at the entrance of the tent. Ishmael came and sat across from him, took a bow, strung it, placed an arrow in it, and aimed to kill Isaac.
Climax
Sarah sees what Ishmael is doing and demands that Hagar and Ishmael be cast out
Genesis 21:9-11, Jasher 21:15, Jubilees 17:4-5
Sarah saw Ishmael, the son of Hagar the Egyptian—whom she had borne to Abraham—mocking, playing, and dancing. She was deeply troubled because of her son. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son, for the son of this bondwoman will not be heir with my son, Isaac.”
This request was very upsetting to Abraham because of his maidservant and his son, and the thought of sending them away grieved him.
YHWH agrees with Sarah
Genesis 21:12-13, Jubilees 17:6-7
God said to Abraham, “Don’t be troubled about the boy or your bondwoman. Listen to everything Sarah says, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be named. But I will also make a nation from the son of the bondwoman, because he is your child too.”
Falling Action
Abraham sends out Hagar with provisions
Genesis 21:14-15, Jasher 21:16, Jubilees 17:8-9
Early the next morning, Abraham got up and took 12 loaves of bread and a bottle of water. He gave them to Hagar, placed them on her shoulder along with the child, and sent her away. She left and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba, in Paran, and Ishmael became an archer. When the water in the bottle ran out, the boy grew thirsty, and she laid him under one of the shrubs.
Resolution
The angel of YHWH aids Hagar
Genesis 21:16-19, Jubilees 17:10-12
She went a short distance away and sat down across from him, under an olive tree, about a bow shot away. She said, “Let me not watch the death of the child.”
She sat down across from him, lifted her voice, and wept. God heard the boy’s cries, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said, “What’s troubling you, Hagar? Why are you weeping? Don’t be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Get up, lift the boy, and hold him in your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”
Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy a drink. Then she got up and made her way toward the wilderness of Paran.
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