In the book Genesis chapter 17, God reveals to Abraham that through his wife Sarah, God would establish his covenant with their son, Isaac (Genesis 17:19, 21), but Abraham in response asks God, “if only Ishmael, the son born to Abraham’s concubine Hagar, would be blessed by God (instead).” God responds that his covenant shall be with the promised son, Isaac and not Ishmael. However, due to the generous and magnanimous greatness of God, God tells Abraham that Ishmael shall be made fruitful and that God will multiply Ishmael exceedingly as well making him a great nation, through the twelve princes that Ishmael shall bear. And then the Bible says, that God left off talking with Abraham and went up.
While it may seem that the request of Abraham to include his son Ishmael may speak of Abraham’s fatherly concern, we must not fail to recognize that such a request was not in line with God’s plan and God leaves the conversation.
Points to ponder:
Many a times we, like Abraham try to tell God what we think is best and step out of God’s plan, when it is not in line with his plan. Doing so can make God leave the conversation he has with us. Let us pray to accept God’s plan for our lives, no matter how improbable or impossible it may seem. Let us resolve and work toward always being in line with God’s plan.
Genesis 17: 18-22 (KJV)
18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
22 And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
