The verse "The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son" (Genesis 21:11) refers to Abraham's deep distress and sadness over having to send Hagar and his son Ishmael away. Let's break it down:
"The thing was very grievous": This highlights the intensity of Abraham's emotional pain. The situation caused him significant sorrow and distress.
"in Abraham’s sight": This means Abraham perceived and felt the full weight of the situation. It wasn't just a casual inconvenience; it deeply affected him personally.
"on account of his son": This specifies the reason for Abraham's grief. It was because the situation involved his son, Ishmael. Despite the divine instructions, Abraham loved his son and sending him away was a painful decision.
Context is Key:
To fully understand the verse, we need the surrounding context:
Sarah (Abraham's wife) demanded that Hagar (her maidservant, who had borne Abraham's son Ishmael) and Ishmael be sent away. This was because Sarah had finally conceived and given birth to Isaac, and she didn't want Ishmael to share in Isaac's inheritance.
God told Abraham to listen to Sarah, promising that Ishmael would also become a great nation.
Even though God assured him of Ishmael's future, Abraham still struggled with the idea of sending his son away into the wilderness with little provision.
In essence, the verse emphasizes the internal conflict Abraham faced. He had to obey God's command, but it went against his natural paternal love and concern for his son's well-being.
Therefore, the verse shows Abraham's love for his son, his distress at having to send him away and highlights the conflict between his personal feelings and divine instructions.
The verse "The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son" (Genesis 21:11) refers to Abraham's deep distress and sadness over having to send Hagar and his son Ishmael away. Let's break it down:
"The thing was very grievous": This highlights the intensity of Abraham's emotional pain. The situation caused him significant sorrow and distress.
"in Abraham’s sight": This means Abraham perceived and felt the full weight of the situation. It wasn't just a casual inconvenience; it deeply affected him personally.
"on account of his son": This specifies the reason for Abraham's grief. It was because the situation involved his son, Ishmael. Despite the divine instructions, Abraham loved his son and sending him away was a painful decision.
Context is Key:
To fully understand the verse, we need the surrounding context:
Sarah (Abraham's wife) demanded that Hagar (her maidservant, who had borne Abraham's son Ishmael) and Ishmael be sent away. This was because Sarah had finally conceived and given birth to Isaac, and she didn't want Ishmael to share in Isaac's inheritance.
God told Abraham to listen to Sarah, promising that Ishmael would also become a great nation.
Even though God assured him of Ishmael's future, Abraham still struggled with the idea of sending his son away into the wilderness with little provision.
In essence, the verse emphasizes the internal conflict Abraham faced. He had to obey God's command, but it went against his natural paternal love and concern for his son's well-being.
Therefore, the verse shows Abraham's love for his son, his distress at having to send him away and highlights the conflict between his personal feelings and divine instructions.