Chapter 9: The Bowshot

Hagar wandered in the Desert of Beersheba. Scripture does not say how many days she walked. It only tells us that the water ran out.

She found a bush, the only shade in the open desert, and placed the boy under it. Then she walked away. About a bowshot, roughly a hundred yards. Close enough to hear him. Far enough not to watch him die.

She sat down and wept.

HAGAR“Let me not look on the death of the child.”— Genesis 21:16

Then Scripture says something remarkable. The boy whose name Ishmael means "God hears", cried out in the desert. And God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her:

ANGEL OF GOD“What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”— Genesis 21:17-18

The first time God met Hagar, she was at a spring. This time, He revealed one. God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water that had been there the whole time.

She filled the skin and gave the boy a drink.