With which son did God establish His covenant with Abraham?
God established His covenant with Abraham through Isaac, the son Sarah would bear at the set time. Scripture declares God's covenant would be established with Isaac, not Ishmael, though Ishmael also received promises of fruitfulness and a great nation, as recorded in Genesis 17.
Les teaches that God's promise to Abraham was valid even though Abraham was nearing 100 and Sarah nearing 90, because what God promises He will not let fail. God said He would give them a son, and they were to call his name Isaac. In Genesis 17:20, God also dealt with Ishmael, promising to make him fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, bring twelve princes from him, and make him a great nation; God did bless the Arab people with great numbers and wealth. Yet God specifically said, "My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year." Isaac was the son of promise and a son of the miracle-working power of God, since both Abraham and Sarah were beyond normal childbearing. Les then returns to Romans chapter 9.
But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
More Questions
Are all of Abraham's descendants children of the promise?
Not all the children of Abraham are children of the promise; only those who came through Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve tribes are.