Aliya Summary: Isaac grew, and Sarah noticed that Ishmael, Isaac's
older half-brother, was a potentially negative influence on her young
child. She demanded of Avraham to expel Ishmael, along with his mother
Hagar, from the household. Despite Avraham's initial misgivings, G‑d
tells him: "Whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her voice!" Hagar and
Ishmael wandered in the desert and eventually ran out of water. Ishmael
was about to perish from thirst when an angel "opened Hagar's eyes" and
showed her a well of water. Ishmael grew up in the desert and became a
skilled archer.
The Gemara explains that although
Ishmael was destined to do evil things to do the Jews, G-d saved him now
because he was not yet evil, which by definition meant that he had the
opportunity to stay righteous. That's why the Passuk says "G-d has heard
the lad's voice in the place where he is." Where he was THEN, not where
he will be. This is one of the 13 Attributes of Mercy (the very first):
Giving us a chance to do the right thing, where He knows we'll take it
or not.
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