What did God promise concerning Ishmael in Genesis 17:20?
Scripture records in Genesis 17:20 that God promised to make Ishmael fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, and that he would beget twelve princes and become a great nation. God fulfilled this, blessing the Arab people with great population and vast oil wealth.
Les teaches that after promising Abraham and Sarah a son named Isaac, God also dealt with Ishmael in Genesis 17:20. God said He would make Ishmael fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, and that Ishmael would beget twelve princes and become a great nation. Les emphasizes that God did exactly that. He points to the Middle East, where there are about fifty Arabs for every Jew, and says God blessed the Arab people with far more people than Israel and with the world's oil and wealth. Les also notes that Arabs are just as eligible as anyone for God's salvation in the age of grace. Yet the covenant God made with Abraham was established with Isaac, the son of promise and of God's miracle-working power, born at the set time even though Abraham and Sarah were beyond normal childbearing.
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.
More Questions
What did God promise to do for Ishmael, and did He keep it?
God promised regarding Ishmael that He would make him fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, give him twelve princes, and make him a great nation — and God did it.
Did God keep His promises to Ishmael in Genesis 17?
God promised to bless Ishmael, make him fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, give him twelve princes, and make him a great nation, and God did do it.
Did the Abrahamic covenant continue through Isaac or through Ishmael?
The Abrahamic covenant did not pass through Ishmael; God continued it through Isaac and Isaac's descendants.