With whom did God say he would establish his covenant after promising Sarah a son?
After promising Abraham and Sarah a son, God declared He would establish His covenant with Isaac, the child Sarah would bear. Abraham had pleaded for Ishmael, but God distinguished Ishmael's blessing from the covenant line, specifying Isaac as the son of promise.
Les explains that Abraham, fearing God might take Ishmael's life, pleaded, "O that Ishmael might live before thee." But God answered that Sarah would indeed bear a son to be named Isaac, and God said, "I will establish my covenant with him." Les urges readers to underline that verse because it identifies Isaac, not Ishmael, as the covenant heir. God did hear Abraham concerning Ishmael and blessed him, promising fruitfulness, multiplication, twelve princes, and a great nation. Yet the covenant was specifically with Isaac. Les notes that Ishmael's descendants, the Arab nations, far outnumber the Jew.
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
More Questions
What was God's promise to Abraham about Sarah bearing a son?
When God told Abraham that Sarah would bear a son and he would be called Isaac, that was a promise.
Who did God say the covenant son would be born to, Sarah or the slave girl?
God refuted Abraham's Ishmael proposal by saying Sarah his wife, not the slave girl, would bear the son, and the son was to be named Isaac.
What did God promise Abraham about the son he would have?
God had promised that Abraham would have a son and that he was to name him Isaac.