God Blesses Ishmael

God Blesses and Recreates

A Troubled Birth

Genesis 21:8-13; 25: 17-18 The Message 8 The baby grew and was weaned. Abraham threw a big party on the day Isaac was weaned. 9-10 One day Sarah saw the son that Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham, poking fun at her son Isaac. She told Abraham, “Get rid of this slave woman and her son. No child of this slave is going to share the inheritance with my son Isaac!” 11-13 The matter gave great pain to Abraham—after all, Ishmael was his son. But God spoke to Abraham, “Don’t feel bad about the boy and your maid. Do whatever Sarah tells you. Your descendants will come through Isaac. Regarding your maid’s son, be assured that I’ll also develop a great nation from him—he’s your son, too. 17-18 Ishmael lived 137 years. When he breathed his last and died, he was buried with his family. His children settled down all the way from Havilah near Egypt eastward to Shur in the direction of Assyria. The Ishmaelites didn’t get along with any of their kin.

For Reflection

Abraham, a man of God, was a fair man. He understood what ignoring Ishmael would do to his son. In spite of his wife's advice, Abraham followed God.

Pray

Pray so that you will have the confidence in God's plan to defy advice to the contrary.

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