Whereas Isaac was entirely God’s doing, Ishmael was the result of Abraham’s doing. Where Isaac was a gift according to grace, Ishmael was a work of the flesh The contrast between self-reliance and God-dependence for our relational standing with Him These represent the 2 different ways of relating to God: law versus grace, flesh versus Spirit.  Ishmael people see God as mere collaborator versus Isaac people who see God as sovereign, absolute and gracious giver. Used by permission of Reality, Santa Barbara.