And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
What a powerful chapter!
God is about to deliver on His promise of a son through Abraham and Sarah. This would be no ordinary childbirth. Neither Abraham nor especially Sarah was of that age anymore. Sarah knew she was past childbearing years.
· There is no question, as the chapter moves along, that God’s future covenant with Israel would be through the child Sarah would conceive and bear.
· There was no question that the blessing God had determined to bring upon all peoples of the world, both Jew and Gentile, would be of that child.
Abraham was delighted. Abraham believed God. Abraham understood God’s plan was through the son Sarah would deliver.
But Abraham loved Ishmael.
What about Ishmael?
“O that Ishmael might live before thee!”
I want to go on record as saying there is no soul alive we ought not long to see live before God. It ought to be the heart’s desire and prayer before God that people of every race, kindred, tongue, tribe, culture, and, yes, religious background, might come to faith in Jesus Christ and “live before God.”
That’s going to mean a separation. Coming to Christ as Savior requires a “cutting off” of the flesh. It is removing ourselves from our old race, kindred, tongue, tribe, culture, and religion to become one new man in Christ. In Christ, the former things are passed away.
Isaac, Ishmael, and for that matter, any other person, may live before God, but they do so only as they identify with Jesus.
#GodsPromise #FaithInGod #IshmaelAndIsaac #LiveBeforeGod #NewLifeInChrist
What about Ishmael?: Becoming New in Christ
Call to Action
Do you have someone in your life that you long to see live before God?
How do you pray for them?
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