“Ishmael: Blessed, Fruitful”

October 31, 2016

“Ishmael: Blessed, Fruitful”

Blessings folk!

The Lord had said “no” to Abraham’s request that Ishmael would “live before You.”
Ishmael would not be the child of inheritance.
He was, and would always be, a child of Abraham.
Yes, Ishmael and his descendants are “children of Abraham.”
But, they are not of the line of the Promise.

“No” can sound harsh.
“No” can sound like defeat.

Look at what comes after the “no”…

Gen 17:19-20

But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

“As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.


After the “no”?
“But…”
Great hope!
Great joy!
Impossible things!

Sarah…your wife!…not another…will bear you a son.
The Lord named the child - “Isaac” (means “laughter&rdquoWinking
The Lord would establish His covenant through this son.
An everlasting covenant.

There is more.

The Lord had heard the cry of Abraham.
He knew the heart of Abraham.
Ishmael would be blessed!!
God would bless Ishmael.
God would make Ishmael multiply…exceedingly.
Ishmael would be the father of twelve princes.
Ishmael would be a great nation.

We see them in the middle east today.
Children of Abraham.
Blessed by God.
Yet, not of the Promise.

Much insight to the dynamics of the middle east can be gleaned from this truth.