"Abraham Sending Away Hagar and Ishmael"

Adriaen van der Werff (21 January 1659 – 12 November 1722) was a Dutch painter of portraits and erotic, devotional and mythological scenes in the Baroque style. He painted several works for the Medicis. Van der Werff became one of the most lauded Dutch painters of his day, gaining a European reputation and a fortune but his reputation suffered in the 19th century, when he was alleged to have betrayed the Dutch naturalistic tradition. In the Victorian Age, people could not appreciate his art.

This painting shows that God calls us to obedience, and that requires us to be willing to give up personal desires in order to follow Him. Those who love the Lord know that the Lord’s will is what matters most. Abraham obeyed God and was known as a friend of God (James 2:23). His faith followed God’s will, even in difficult times.