בראשית, פרק כ״א, פסוק י״ח

In moments of profound despair, when all hope seems lost and a child's life hangs in the balance in the unforgiving desert, divine intervention demands a radical shift in perspective. The angel's call to Hagar is not merely a physical rescue mission; it is a profound demand for her to reclaim her maternal responsibility, accompanied by a promise of a bright future.

She is instructed to physically lift and support her son. The boy is weak and sick, unable to stand on his own, requiring Hagar to carry or drag him [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם] so that he is in a position to drink [רבנו בחיי]. The description of carrying him raises a chronological question, as calculating Abraham's years suggests the boy should be sixteen at the time of the expulsion. However, the physical acts of carrying and casting him away indicate he is still a small child, leading to the conclusion that these events are not recorded in strict chronological order [רבנו בחיי]. Beyond the physical act, lifting the boy carries a deep emotional and spiritual demand. Hagar is called to shake off her despair and stand firm as a strong mother, for only in this state of resilience is she worthy of God's assistance [רש״ר הירש]. This also implies a renewed commitment to guide and lead him [רס״ג].

She is further told to hold onto him. This instruction can be understood as an immediate, physical action—holding him tightly in her arms as an expression of a mother's deep love [ביאור יש״ר], and supporting him so he does not collapse [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, it serves as a long-term directive to be a steadfast pillar of support and a guiding light in his life [רש״ר הירש]. Embedded in this command is a message of comfort: she will not have to carry him for long. Soon, he will walk on his own strength, and in time, their roles will reverse. He will grow strong, eventually supporting her in her old age and becoming her foundation [העמק דבר, מלבי״ם].

The angel concludes with a powerful promise that the boy will become a great nation. One might wonder why the angel takes the time to speak of distant futures instead of simply pointing out the nearby well of water. The necessity of this promise lies in Hagar's fragile mental state. Consumed by anger and hopelessness, she had cast her son away, reasoning that if his own father, Abraham, showed no pity, she had no reason to either. Her intention was to let him die. To jolt her out of this fatalistic mindset and motivate her to give him water, the angel must assure her of his grand destiny [צאינה וראינה]. This promise makes it absolutely clear that the boy will not die of thirst in the desert [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ], strictly forbidding her from abandoning him to despair. It serves as a reaffirmation of God's earlier guarantee to multiply her descendants, a blessing granted through the merit of Abraham [ביאור יש״ר].