Genesis 21:20-21 - Exposition

And God was with the lad . Not simply in the ordinary sense in which he is with all men ( Psalms 139:3-9 ; Acts 17:27 , Acts 17:28 ); not, certainly, in the spiritual sense in which he had promised to be with Isaac ( Genesis 17:21 ), and in which he is with believers ( Genesis 26:24 ; Isaiah 41:10 ; Matthew 28:20 ); but in the particular sense of exercising towards him a special providence, with a view to implementing the promise made concerning him to Abraham and Hagar. And he grew (literally, became great, i.e. progressed towards manhood), and dwelt in the wilderness ( i.e. led a roving and unsettled life), and became an archer . Literally, and he was רֹבֶה קַשָּׁת i.e. deriving רֹבֶה from רָבַה , to grow great or multiply, either

HOMILETICS