Anybody could have been tempted to retain him. His arrival was a great comfort and relief to the longing, dried and thirsty hearts of the aged couple. He had no rival or alternative; he looks like the original of what they had been waiting for, and on him the aged couple began to build their hope of succession and heirship until the son of the promise arrived! For thirteen solid years Abraham thought Ishmael’s birth had fulfilled God’s promise. He was surprised to hear God say that the promised child...