A child may be rebellious and wayward, but as long as he maintains close ties with the previous generation which transmits tradition and morality - or at least as long as his parents retain close ties with him, there is always the possibility of repentance. As long as Ishmael remains close to Hagar, a woman of high morality, and as long as Abraham does not completely sever his relationship with Ishmael, Ishmael might repent. The rebellious son, on the other hand, has broken all ties with his past, with his traditions and with his parents. He must be judged in accordance with his inevitable end. Only parental forgiveness, fighting hate with love, may create a change.
Death row is then no longer inevitable.
Ethiopian Jews have a tradition that the day when Joseph was reconciled with his father Jacob after 22 years of estrangement was the 10th of Tishrei, the future date of Yom Kippur. The thematic link is clear. If we can each traverse the distance between ourselves and our physical fathers, then there is hope that the Jewish people can traverse the distance between itself and God, ending its estrangement. And God, our heavenly Parent, is always ready to forgive. His arms are constantly outstretched, and the gates of heaven are always open to receive His errant children.