but I thought

a particular passage in the book of Genesis always catches me a little offguard.
Because I know
Relationships, the development, restoration,and illustration of them in Scripture are so vital to picturing who God is and how he works. Because relationships means so much to God I have always slightly surprised when I read Genesis Chapter 21.

In Genesis chapter 21 God confirms to Abraham that he is to break relationship with Ishmael and Ishmael's mother Hagar.
Abraham first hears about this from Sarah his wife. It is not unusual for me to hear things that God wants me to do through my wife. I have no problem imagining why Sarah would want any competition with the promised son Isaac removed from the camp and take away any possibility of confusion regarding the inheritance or blessing of God.
Given the earlier story of how Haggar and Sarah did not get along, to put it mildly. The fact that Sarah had Haggar so emotionally distraught that she ran away into the desert with no supplies and almost died with her infant child in her arms.
The fact that Haggar had mistreated Sarah to such a point that Sarah beat the slave girl/Egyptian princess into submission and ultimately drove her away.
I am sure there were many slaves who celebrated the birth of Ishmael with excitement knowing that one of their own had given birth to a son that was promised to inherit the immense wealth of Abraham as well as the promises of God.
I have no doubt that the House of Abraham was divided, and probably filled with many innuendos, bad blood, sarcasm, and a whole host of relational destroyers in the atmosphere.

But despite all of this, I still am amazed that God agreed with Sarah, confirmed it to Abraham, and sent Hagar and her teenage son on the road by themselves back to Egypt.

When is a relationship no longer worth any more time, prayer, or effort.?
I personally have no idea. I trust the fact that God does and that's why he confirmed such an action would Abraham. I know in the end Hagar gets all turned around in the desert, her and the son are dying of dehydration and ultimately God hears the son crying out. God intervenes saves both the child and Hagar and ultimately blesses Ishmael with a nation of his own.
But
I also wonder how confused Abraham must had been. The questions that he must've had in his mind, well at least the ones I imagined he would have in his mind as a father, and covenant holder with God.
What would happen to his son, his firstborn son? What would happen to this Egyptian princess who was the mother of his firstborn son and evidently held a pretty high position within the hierarchy of servants and workers within the household of Abraham?.or was Abraham's faith so great that once he knew what God wanted to be done he did it, and trusted God with all the details.
He rose up early in the morning, which basically means he did what he was told to do immediately. There is no fanfare, no big farewell banquet, just an immediate obedience to what God was asking them to do. I still have no doubt that this was difficult. I still personally cannot put together all of the layers of emotions and thoughts that I'm sure were interwoven into that final morning as the sun was rising and he sent Hagar and Ishmael on the road.

My main questions for Abraham, and myself are these.
Did he know but was too afraid to admit that that relationship was not good and had to come to an end?
Do I know when a relationship needs to be ended, or does God need to confirm it a couple different times before I do what I know should be done?
Do I trust God enough to break off a bad relationship and believe that God will still provide for, not forget the one from whom I am separating?