What did God promise Ishmael in Genesis 17:20, and did He fulfill it?
Genesis 17:20 records God promising Ishmael fruitfulness, exceeding multiplication, twelve princes, and that he would become a great nation. The context affirms God fulfilled it, saying “and God did,” pointing to the numerous Arab peoples, their wealth, and the world’s oil.
Les teaches that what God promises He will not let fail. In Genesis 17:20, God deals with Ishmael and promises to make him fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, produce twelve princes, and make him a great nation; the text then says God did. Les connects this fulfillment to the Middle East, where Arabs greatly outnumber Jews, possess the world’s oil and wealth, and have been blessed by God. He also notes that in the age of grace Arab people are just as eligible for salvation. Yet the Abrahamic covenant itself was established with Isaac, the son Sarah would bear at the set time, a son of promise and miracle.
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
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 God fulfill His promise to bless and multiply Ishmael?
God fulfilled His promise to Ishmael — He blessed him, made him fruitful, and multiplied him into a great nation — and the evidence today is that the Arabs outnumber the Jews 50 to 1 and possess all the oil.
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.