The Exile

Abraham stands in the wilderness placing provisions into the hands of Hagar as her son Ishmael waits behind her with a bow and quiver. The barren hills and open desert emphasize the painful separation recorded after Sarah demanded that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away from Isaac’s household. Abraham’s gesture recalls the bread and water he gave them before their journey into the wilderness of Beersheba.

The scene reflects Genesis 21, where human conflict, inheritance, and covenant promise collide. Though Hagar and Ishmael are cast out, God hears the boy’s cry, opens Hagar’s eyes to water, and preserves Ishmael’s life. This artwork is suited for teaching on Abraham’s family, God’s care for the rejected, covenant history, exile, mercy, and trust in divine provision.