Yes — God promised to bless Ishmael, make him fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, give him twelve princes, and make him a great nation.
God heard Abraham's plea and answered with specific promises in Genesis 17:20. He also made clear that His everlasting covenant would be with Isaac, not Ishmael.
Genesis 17:20 — This verse records God's promise to bless Ishmael, make him fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, give him twelve princes, and make him a great nation.
Genesis 17:21 — This verse shows God's clear distinction: His covenant would be established with Isaac, not Ishmael.
In Genesis 17, Abraham asked God, "O that Ishmael might live before thee!" God answered by saying that Sarah, Abraham's wife, would bear a son named Isaac and that He would establish His covenant with him. Then, about Ishmael, God said: "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." Immediately after this, God added: "But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year."
Les Feldick teaches that whenever God says "I will," it is a promise that is guaranteed. In Genesis 17:20, God promises to bless Ishmael, make him fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, give him twelve princes, and make him a great nation. Les points out that God has indeed done this, noting that the Arabs outnumber the Jews 50 to 1 today and possess much of the world's oil. At the same time, Les is careful to distinguish blessing from covenant. He explains that Ishmael was born after the energy of the flesh, while Isaac was the son of promise. The covenant is established with Isaac and his seed, not with Ishmael. Les also stresses that God loves the Arab people just as much as anyone else when it comes to salvation, and they are just as eligible for salvation by grace through faith.
Abraham and Sarah had no child, so Sarah suggested that Abraham take her slave girl Hagar, and Ishmael was born through that arrangement. When God later told Abraham that Sarah would bear a son, Abraham laughed and said, "O that Ishmael might live before thee," asking whether Ishmael could fulfill God's promises. God answered that Sarah, not the slave girl, would bear a son, and that his name would be called Isaac. God said, "I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant."
God said to Abraham, "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." Les Feldick emphasizes that God said "I will make him a great nation" and that God did it, pointing to the Arabs outnumbering the Jews 50 to 1.
After promising to bless Ishmael, God said, "But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year." Les Feldick says, "Don't lose that." He explains that the Abrahamic covenant continues through Isaac, not through Ishmael. Yet he also notes that God loves the Arab just as much for salvation, and an Arab has the same opportunity for salvation by grace through faith.
Who is the Angel of the Lord? Genesis 16 Bible Study
another, what would they do? Oh, they would take a knife blade and they would just put a little slit in each hand, and then they would shake hands and they would literally mix their blood, and it was a blood covenant. Now I think this is the whole aspect of the institution of circumcision, that God now has a blood covenant with the nation of Israel, or the children of Abraham.
God's Promise to Ishmael
Les quotes God's promise to make Ishmael fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, give him twelve princes, and make him a great nation, and then states that God did it.
Fulfillment of Ishmael's Blessing
Les explains that God heard Abraham, has blessed Ishmael, and has fulfilled the promise — the Arabs outnumber the Jews 50 to 1 — while noting the covenant is with Isaac.
Blessing vs. Covenant
Les emphasizes that God's covenant is established with Isaac, not Ishmael, and that God loves Arabs just as much for salvation.
Ishmael Born After the Flesh
Les explains that Ishmael was not the son of promise but was after the energy of the flesh; Isaac is the son of promise.
Abraham's Plea and Isaac Promised
Les shows Abraham's plea 'O that Ishmael might live before thee' and God's response that Sarah would bear Isaac, making Isaac a promised son.
The Sovereign Choice of Isaac
Les highlights God's sovereign declaration that His covenant would be established with Isaac and with his seed after him.
God's 'I Will' Is a Promise
Les connects God's words 'I will' to certainty — God's promises are guaranteed, including the promise about Ishmael and Isaac.
Genesis 17:18: And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
This records Abraham's plea for Ishmael, which prompted God's response.
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.
This shows God's promise that the covenant would be with Isaac, not 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 core promise God made regarding Ishmael.
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.
This clarifies that the covenant belongs to Isaac, while Ishmael receives a blessing.
Yes. In Genesis 17:20 God told Abraham, "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."
No. God told Abraham that His covenant would be established with Isaac, not Ishmael. In Genesis 17:21 God says, "But my covenant will I establish with Isaac."
Les Feldick teaches that God has fulfilled it. He notes that today the Arabs outnumber the Jews 50 to 1 and possess much of the world's oil, showing that God has blessed Ishmael's descendants.
Watch the Teaching: Who is the Angel of the Lord? Genesis 16 Bible Study