Tag Archives: Ishmael

Bible Study – Descendants of Ishmael

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Genesis 25:12-18

12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

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.

17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

It is generally acknowledged that modern day Arabs are descended from Ishmael.  This understanding comes from the Bible itself, Jewish Rabbis, and from a meager oral tradition.  Mohammed claimed this descent himself, though it is truly impossible to determine his actual pedigree, due to the fact  of the wandering and unsettled nature of the Ishmaelite tribes.  There is no known literature to support any genealogy, outside of the Holy Bible.  The Ishmaelites are mentioned on only three occasions in Scripture: Genesis 37: 25, 27, 29; 39:1, Judges 8:24, and Psalm 83:6.

Most Arabs believe that as the first born of Abraham, Ishmael was offered on the altar, not Issac, and therefore the Biblical Covenants and blessings belong to them, and not the Jews.  However, many nomadic Arabs, still hold to the early pagan traditions from long ago – believing in a law of blood-revenge which requires a man to know his ancestors going back for four generations, but no father back than that.  The physical attributes, language, customs and traditions (pre-Mohammed corruption) along with the infallible testimony of the Holy Bible, makes the Arab nations, largely Ishmaelite in all respects.

Psalm 83 

83 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:

6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;

7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:

10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.

11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:

12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.

13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.

14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.

17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:

18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth

Bible Study – Ishmael to be a Nation

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Last week, the focus was entirely on the anticipated son of promise, Isaac. This week, the focus is Ishmael, who up until this point is Abraham’s only son. We learned in the last study, that Ishmael was born after the flesh, while the promised Isaac would be born of the Spirit. It is interesting to observe – that once again God presents us with the two lines – the Godly and the ungodly. . .

Abraham has expressed his desire that the Lord bless Ishmael [Gen. 17 : 18]

abraham-map1

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.

21 But My covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

22 And He left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

The Lord promises Abraham that his son Ishmael will be blessed with twelve sons, and that they will all be princes. For thirteen years, since Abraham had succumbed to his wife’s manipulation to anticipate God, he has lived according to the flesh. His faith is still in the physical realm. God has “left off talking with him.” It is now time for Abraham to put off the flesh. Please recall that the outward circumcision represents what is to take place internally when the man is fully surrendered to God.

ishmael

23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.24 And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.26 In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.27 And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him. Genesis 17: 20-27

I am not advocating for or against circumcision – all I am doing is explaining what it means! Also consider that circumcision is the only flesh that can be severed without physical deformation. God would never require anything from us that He would not do Himself. Our Savior was circumcised at eight days old.

AND WHEN EIGHT DAYS WERE ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE CIRCUMCISING OF THE CHILD, HIS NAME WAS CALLED JESUS, WHICH WAS SO NAMED OF THE ANGEL BEFORE HE WAS CONCEIVED IN THE WOMB.

Luke 2: 21 Jesus the Christ was the only One in all of history Who kept the entirety of the Law perfectly. All of it. The last devotional covered the important distinction between the bondage of the flesh or Law, (Hagar) and the freedom of the Spirit, (Sarah). Circumcision is the sign of the Covenant. It is the seal of the covenant, which must be sealed in blood.

emboss

A good way to understand this is to think about an important document, which is only considered viable when it has an authentic, impressed or embossed seal. Without the seal – it is fraudulent.  Please go here to review God’s part of the Covenant. Now, as we arrive at the end of Genesis 17, both God and Abraham have committed to the Covenant by “sealing” it.

The Jews came to think of the actual circumcision as being more than a sign, and regarded it as their actual justification. It is important to understand that Abraham was part of the Covenant long before he was circumcised. Much like a Biblical betrothal period, in where the bride is considered fully the wife of the groom, but the marriage has not been consummated yet. Paul enlarges this for us –

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.

Romans 4: 11

Bible Study – Sarai and Hagar

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We will now see the fruit of Abram’s Sojourn in Egypt. Recall that it was a crisis in Abram’s faith that lead him to run to Egypt during a period of famine. Rather than fully trusting God’s promise – he went to Egypt, which represents the flesh. Even so, he came out of Egypt more full than when he arrived, which is testimony to God’s faithfulness, even in our time of weakness. But, Abram came out of Egypt with more than goods, he also brought home a slave girl named Hagar.

1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

Abram is now 85 years old, and he had arrived in Canaan 10 years previously. In our last devotional, Abram had suggested to God that perhaps he could obtain an heir though his servant – Eliezer. God said no. So what just happened in verse two? Abram did not consult the Lord – Abram heeded his wife. Many wives give very wise counsel; but in this case, Sarai’s manipulation was in direct opposition to God’s promise.

4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.

6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

Hagar conceives easily, and consequently feels superior to her mistress, Sarai. Now feeling the pain of her foolish and impulsive decision, Sarai complains to her husband, who then gives her permission to do whatever she wants to her maidservant. After harsh treatment – pregnant Hagar runs away.

7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

The Lord does not want us to run away from our problems.

10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

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.

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.

Here, Hagar is given the prophecy of the descendants of Ishmael her son, who will become some of the very same people in conflict with Israel today.

13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Thou God seest me – for the first time, God is called “El Roi,” the God who sees.

14 Wherefore the well was called Beer–lahai–roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Genesis 16: 1-16

  • Again and again, the failure to trust in God’s solemn promises reap terrible consequences.
  • Ishmael is foreseen to be a “wild man,” and his hand is against everyone, meaning innate violence
  • Sarai tries to anticipate God – as if He needs help!
  • Abram gives his wife’s desires precedence over his covenant with God.

To this very day – almost 4,000 years later, the entire world is reaping the repercussions of this tragic episode.