Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 21:14-21

"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 [gave her] the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. And the water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot. For she said, Let me not look upon the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. 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. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thy hand. For I will make him a great nation. 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. And God was with the lad, and he grew. And he dwelt in the wilderness, and became, as he grew up, an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran. And his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt." — Genesis 21:14-21 (ASV)

If Hagar and Ishmael had behaved well in Abraham's family, they might have continued there; but they were justly punished. By abusing privileges, we forfeit them. Those who do not know when they are well off will be made to know the worth of mercies when they lack them. They were brought to distress in the wilderness.

It is not said that the provisions were spent, or that Abraham sent them away without money. But the water was spent; and having lost their way, in that hot climate Ishmael was soon overcome with fatigue and thirst. God's readiness to help us when we are in trouble must not slacken, but quicken our efforts to help ourselves. The promise concerning her son is repeated, as a reason why Hagar should exert herself to help him.

It should engage our care and efforts for children and young people, to consider that we do not know what great use God has designed them for, and may make of them. The angel directs her to an immediate supply. Many who have reason to be comforted go mourning from day to day because they do not see the reason they have for comfort. There is a well of water near them in the covenant of grace, but they are not aware of it, until the same God who opened their eyes to see their wound, opens them to see their remedy.

Paran was a wild place, fit for a wild man, such as Ishmael. Those who are born after the flesh content themselves with the wilderness of this world, while the children of the promise aim for the heavenly Canaan, and cannot be at rest until they are there. Yet God was with the lad; his outward welfare was owing to this.