No — Ishmael's descendants are blessed by God, but the covenant promises were established through Isaac, not Ishmael.
God told Abraham that Sarah would bear Isaac and that He would establish His covenant with him, not with Ishmael. Though God promised to bless Ishmael and make him a great nation, Romans 9 makes clear that being Abraham's physical offspring does not automatically place someone in the line of the covenant promises.
Genesis 17:19-21 — God directly answers Abraham's plea for Ishmael by promising Isaac and establishing the covenant with him.
Romans 9:7-8 — Paul explains that not all Abraham's physical descendants are children of promise.
Genesis 17:19-21 records God's answer to Abraham when Abraham asked, "O that Ishmael might live before thee." 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 then promised to bless Ishmael with fruitfulness, multiplication, twelve princes, and a great nation, but He added, "But my covenant will I establish with Isaac." Romans 9:7-8 declares, "Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
Les Feldick points out that Ishmael was born after the energy of the flesh: Abraham and Sarah got impatient and Sarah suggested Hagar the slave girl. So Ishmael was not the son of promise; Isaac was the promised son because God specifically said Sarah would bear him and that He would establish His covenant with Isaac. When Abraham asked, "O that Ishmael might live before thee," God answered by repeating that Sarah would bear Isaac and that the covenant would be established with him.
Yes. In Genesis 17:20, God told Abraham that as for Ishmael, He had heard him, and promised to bless him, make him fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, give him twelve princes, and make him a great nation. Les notes that God kept His word: Ishmael had twelve sons, and the Arab nations far outnumber the Jews today.
Romans 9:7-8 says not all Abraham's seed are children, but "In Isaac shall thy seed be called" and "the children of the promise are counted for the seed." Les explains that those from Ishmael and later Esau are children of Abraham but not in the line of the covenants — the covenant promises belong to Isaac and Jacob's line.
No. Les expressly says, "God loves the Arab when it comes to salvation just as much as He does anybody else. An Arab has just as much opportunity for salvation by grace through faith as you and I." Being outside the covenant line does not exclude anyone from personal salvation in God's grace.
Covenant Established with Isaac, the Promised Son
God tells Abraham that Sarah will bear Isaac and that He will establish His covenant with him — not Ishmael — and what God promises He will not let fail.
God Blesses Ishmael but Establishes Covenant with Isaac
Les explains that the Abrahamic covenant continues through Isaac, yet God also promised to bless Ishmael, and Arabs have the same salvation opportunity as anyone else.
God's Physical Blessings on Ishmael's Descendants
Les points to the fulfillment: Arabs outnumber Jews fifty to one and possess the world's oil, but God's covenant is established with Isaac.
Covenant Line Only Through Isaac and Jacob
Les corrects the Palestinian claim to the Abrahamic covenant promises by placing the covenant line in Isaac and Jacob's family.
Ishmael's Twelve Sons Fulfill God's Promise
God promised Ishmael twelve princes and a great nation; Les notes that Ishmael's genealogy shows exactly twelve sons.
Sarah, Not Hagar, Would Bear Isaac
God answered Abraham's plea by saying Sarah would bear Isaac and the covenant would be with him, while not casting off Ishmael's people as nothing.
Ishmael After the Flesh, Isaac the Promised Son
Ishmael was born through human impatience after the flesh, while Isaac is the son of promise — a distinction that continues throughout Scripture.
Romans 9: Children of Flesh vs Children of Promise
Les applies Romans 9 to Ishmael and Esau: they are Abraham's children but not children of God in the covenant line; the children of promise are counted for the seed.
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 directly names Isaac as the son with whom the covenant will be established.
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.
God promises physical blessings to Ishmael while making a separate provision for him outside the covenant line.
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 verse makes the distinction explicit: the covenant belongs to Isaac, not Ishmael.
Romans 9:7: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Paul shows that physical descent from Abraham is not enough to be in the promised seed.
Romans 9:8: That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
This contrasts Ishmael's line with Isaac's line as the children of promise.
Yes. In Genesis 17:20 God promised to make Ishmael fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, give him twelve princes, and make him a great nation. Les Feldick points to the Arab nations as the fulfillment — they outnumber the Jews and possess great oil wealth.
Yes. Les Feldick is explicit that God loves the Arab when it comes to salvation just as much as anyone else, and an Arab has the same opportunity for salvation by grace through faith. The covenant-line distinction refers to national promises, not personal salvation.
Paul says not all Abraham's physical descendants are children of God; the children of promise are counted for the seed. Les explains this means the covenant promises follow Isaac's line, not Ishmael's or Esau's, even though those descendants are still Abraham's children.
Watch the Teaching: Jacob Becomes Israel — What Romans 9 Says About True Faith