Yes — God fulfilled His promise to Ishmael, making him fruitful, multiplying him, giving him twelve princes, and making him a great nation.
God told Abraham in Genesis 17:20 that He had blessed Ishmael, would make him fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, give him twelve princes, and make him a great nation. Les Feldick points to the genealogy of Ishmael with exactly twelve sons and to the Arab peoples far outnumbering the Jews as evidence this was fulfilled. The same passage makes clear that God's covenant was established with Isaac, not Ishmael.
Genesis 17:20 — This is the direct promise God made concerning Ishmael in answer to Abraham's plea.
In Genesis 16:10, the angel of the LORD told Hagar, 'I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.' In Genesis 17:18, Abraham pleads, 'O that Ishmael might live before thee!' God's answer in Genesis 17:19 is that Sarah shall bear a son named Isaac, and in Genesis 17:20 He says of 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.' Genesis 17:21 then says, 'But my covenant will I establish with Isaac.' The Scripture itself, therefore, records a specific and distinct promise that Ishmael would become a great nation, while the covenant line was reserved for Isaac.
Les Feldick repeatedly draws attention to Genesis 17:20, where God promises Ishmael twelve princes and a great nation. He says the genealogy of Ishmael records exactly twelve sons, just as God promised, and that the Arab nations have become a great nation because they far outnumber the Jew. Les also emphasizes that God's covenant continued through Isaac, not Ishmael, showing that Ishmael received a real blessing while the covenant promise was reserved for Isaac. In the age of grace, Les adds, an Arab is just as eligible for salvation by grace through faith as anyone else.
In Genesis 16:10, the angel of the LORD told Hagar, 'I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.' In Genesis 17:20, God answered Abraham's plea concerning 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.' The promise included a great nation and twelve princes.
Les Feldick says the genealogy of Ishmael shows exactly twelve sons, 'just exactly as God said he would.' He also says the Arab nations 'far outnumber the Jew' and that God did make Ishmael a great nation. For Les, these observable realities confirm that God kept His word to Ishmael.
No. God said, 'My covenant will I establish with Isaac' (Genesis 17:21). Les Feldick stresses that the Abrahamic covenant continues through Isaac, not Ishmael, even though Ishmael was blessed and made a great nation. Ishmael's descendants are children of Abraham physically, but the promised covenant line runs through Isaac.
Les Feldick says God loves the Arab when it comes to salvation just as much as anyone else, and an Arab has just as much opportunity for salvation by grace through faith as any believer. Ishmael's blessing as a great nation does not remove the equal spiritual opportunity of his descendants in the age of grace.
God's Promise of a Son and the Impatient Wait
Les explains that Abraham waited 50 years for the promised son and that not every child of Abraham was the promised son, which introduces why Ishmael was not the covenant line.
God's Blessing and Promise for Ishmael
Les highlights Genesis 17:20 and points to the genealogy of Ishmael with twelve sons and the Arab nations far outnumbering the Jews as proof the promise was fulfilled.
God Did Make Ishmael a Great Nation
Les repeats God's words to Ishmael and states plainly that God did make him a great nation, while adding that Arabs are eligible for salvation in this age of grace.
Blessing for Ishmael, Covenant with Isaac
Les stresses that Ishmael received a real blessing, but God's covenant was established with Isaac, not Ishmael.
Ishmael as the Son of the Flesh
Les describes Ishmael as Abraham's son by Hagar through a fleshly attempt to fulfill God's promise, which explains the continuing Middle East conflict over the land.
Abraham's Plea for Ishmael and God's Answer
Les recounts Abraham asking that Ishmael might live before God, but God reiterated that Sarah would bear Isaac and that Isaac would be the promised son.
God's Word to Hagar Before Ishmael's Birth
Les shows that God Himself spoke to Hagar before Ishmael was born, promising to multiply her seed exceedingly and foretelling Ishmael's name and character.
The Sovereign Covenant with Isaac
Les underlines God's sovereign declaration that He will establish His everlasting covenant with Isaac and his seed, not Ishmael.
Genesis 16:10: And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
God's first promise concerning Ishmael's descendants, spoken to Hagar.
Genesis 16:11: And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
God names Ishmael before his birth and explains why.
Genesis 16:12: And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
God foretells Ishmael's character and relation to others before he is born.
Genesis 17:18: And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
Abraham's plea for Ishmael prompts God's direct promise in the next verses.
Genesis 17:19: 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.
God distinguishes the covenant son from Ishmael.
Genesis 17:20: 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.
This is the central promise that God would make Ishmael a great nation.
Genesis 17:21: But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
Shows the covenant is established through Isaac, not Ishmael.
Genesis 25:16: These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
The record of Ishmael's twelve sons, which Les cites as the literal fulfillment of the twelve princes promise.
Yes. God promised in Genesis 17:20 to make Ishmael fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, give him twelve princes, and make him a great nation. Les Feldick points to Ishmael's twelve sons and to the Arab peoples far outnumbering the Jews as the fulfillment.
God told Hagar that her seed would be multiplied exceedingly so it could not be numbered, and that she would bear a son named Ishmael because the LORD had heard her affliction (Genesis 16:10-11).
No. God blessed Ishmael and made him a great nation, but He established His covenant with Isaac, as Genesis 17:19-21 clearly states. Les Feldick emphasizes this same distinction.
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