God promised Abraham that a nation of descendants would come through his wife Sarah, specifically through the promised son Isaac.
Scripture records God telling Abraham that Sarah would bear him a son and that He would establish an everlasting covenant with Isaac and his seed after him. Les Feldick emphasizes that Ishmael was not the promised son because he came through human effort. The promise remained certain even after decades of waiting.
Genesis 17:19 — Records God's specific promise that Sarah will bear Isaac and that the everlasting covenant will be with Isaac and his descendants.
Genesis 17:20 — Shows God also promised to make Ishmael a great nation, even though Isaac carried the covenant.
God spoke directly to Abraham about the child who would carry the promise. In Genesis 17:19 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." The promise of descendants was tied specifically to Isaac, not to any child born by human arrangement. The Scripture also shows that God did not ignore Ishmael. In Genesis 17:20 God promised, "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." So Abraham would become the father of nations, with the covenant line running through Isaac.
Les Feldick explains that Abraham and Sarah had no children and grew impatient, so Sarah suggested Abraham have a child through their slave girl Hagar. Ishmael was born, but Les stresses that Ishmael was not the son of promise; he came after "the energy of the flesh." God did not accept Ishmael as the promised son. Les points to Genesis 17, where God refutes Abraham's suggestion that Ishmael could fulfill the promise. God says Sarah herself will bear the son and that His covenant will be established with Isaac. Les emphasizes that whenever God says "I will," it is a promise, and what God promises He will not let fail. Les also notes that Abraham had almost 50 years to wait after the promise was first given. He says Abraham's impatience was humanly understandable, but God's timing is sure — His wheels grind slowly but surely. In addition, Les points out that Abraham pled for Ishmael's life and that God was not casting off Ishmael; God promised to make him a great nation.
Scripture identifies Isaac, not Ishmael, as the child through whom God's covenant would continue. Les Feldick explains that Ishmael was conceived through human effort after Sarah suggested Abraham take Hagar as a surrogate. He calls Ishmael "after the energy of the flesh" and says this distinction runs through Scripture.
Les Feldick says Abraham had almost 50 years of promises with nothing happening. At the fulfillment, Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90. Les comments that this is the way God works—His wheels grind slowly but surely, and what He promises will come to pass.
Yes. Genesis 17:20 records God's promise to make Ishmael fruitful, to multiply him exceedingly, to give him twelve princes, and to make him a great nation. Les notes that God was not casting Ishmael aside even though the covenant went through Isaac.
Les Feldick teaches that Abraham feared for Ishmael's life because Ishmael had been brought on the scene without God's instruction. Abraham pleaded with God, saying, "O that Ishmael might live before thee," and God responded by confirming that Sarah would bear Isaac.
Les describes Abraham's faith as believing "against hope" that he would become the father of many nations. Even at 100 years old, with Sarah at 90, Abraham knew that regardless of how impossible it seemed, God was going to bring His promise to pass.
Ishmael Was Not the Son of Promise
Les teaches that Ishmael was the result of Abraham and Sarah's impatience and was not the promised son; Ishmael came after the energy of the flesh.
God Promises Isaac
Les highlights Genesis 17:19, where God promises Sarah will bear Isaac and establishes the covenant with him; an 'I will' from God is a promise.
God's Promise Concerning Ishmael
Les notes God's promise to bless Ishmael with twelve princes and make him a great nation even though Isaac carries the covenant.
Everlasting Covenant with Isaac
Les emphasizes that the Sovereign God says, 'I will establish my covenant with him, Isaac, for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.'
Abraham's 50-Year Wait
Les explains Abraham waited almost 50 years for the fulfillment, and God's timing moves slowly but surely.
Faith Against Hope
Les shows Abraham believed against hope that he would be the father of many nations, trusting God to fulfill what He promised.
Abraham Pleads for Ishmael
Les teaches that Abraham pleaded for Ishmael's life, fearing what God might do to the son he had brought on the scene without divine instruction.
Sarai's Name Changed, Isaac Chosen
Les observes that God changed Sarai's name, said she would bear a son, and then explicitly refused Ishmael as the covenant son by choosing Isaac.
Genesis 17:16: And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
Confirms that the promised son would come from Sarah herself.
Genesis 17:17: Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
Shows Abraham's human reaction to the promise of a son in old age.
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 is the central promise naming Isaac as the descendant through whom the covenant would continue.
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.
Shows God also gave Ishmael a distinct promise of becoming a great nation.
No. God specifically told Abraham that Sarah his wife would bear the son and that he was to be named Isaac. Les Feldick says Ishmael came through human effort and was not the son of promise.
Les points out that Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 when God fulfilled the promise. He also notes that Abraham waited almost 50 years for the promised child.
Yes. God promised to make Ishmael fruitful, to multiply him exceedingly, and to make him a great nation, with twelve princes from his line. Les notes that God did not cast Ishmael aside.
God established His covenant with Isaac and with his descendants after him. Les emphasizes this was the Sovereign God's decision given in Genesis 17:19.
Watch the Teaching: Why Christ Had to Be Virgin Born — Romans 9 & Genesis 3:15