b. The birth of Ishmael (16:1-16)

The following episodes (16:1-18:15) underline God’s commitment to the covenant despite any distrust on Abram’s part. God alone stands behind the promise, and Abram’s failure to trust God will not reflect negatively on God’s veracity. (“Let God be true, and every man a liar,” Ro 3:4.) By the end of ch. 18, Abram is still without an heir, and ch. 16 tells of Abram’s taking matters into his own hands. Having experienced God’s great promise and responding to it in faith, Abram functions in a way that will help the process along. Abram has failed to understand God as One who creates ex nihilo and effects redemption in situations of barrenness. Nevertheless, Ishmael participates in the Abramic blessing (16:10) but, in conflict with his kinsmen, will not enjoy the blessing of land.