I was really convicted of the life that Abraham lived. What a relationship Abraham must’ve had in order to negotiate for Sodom and Gomorrah. What’s even more interesting, is God blessing Ishmael on behalf of Abraham. I must’ve skipped over this part when I read it in the past, because I always assumed that Issac is the only blessed son because he was promised to Abraham, and the line in which Christ will arise. Yet in Genesis 17:20, God also promises to bless Ishmael and make him fruitful and multiply greatly. While the covenant is established with Issac, Ishmael who essentially fathered the Muslim world is also blessed by God. It really puts things into perspective in knowing that God is sovereign above the conflicts that are taking place in the Middle East, and that He has a plan to ultimately bring the Muslim world to HIM as well.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Really interesting point, Stephen. I always thought it was foolish of God to bless Ishmael, in light of what is happening today, but really it just shows that His fingerprint is, will be, and always has been on all of mankind.