ISHMAEL’S INHERITANCE

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God holds to the promise that He has made.

Genesis 17:20-27 KJV

[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.

[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

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.

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• The Lord would bless Ishmael, but not as it regards the Covenant.
• The blessing here pronounced was not because of Ishmael, but because of Abraham, and Abraham alone.

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.

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• So now they know when the child will be born.

Genesis 17:22

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

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• The Lord
• Communion with the Lord is the most profitable exercise there is.

Genesis 17:23

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.

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• The obedience of Abraham in circumcising the entirety of his house, servants and all, should be a lesson to us.

Genesis 17:24

And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

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• Circumcision is the badge of the covenant which God has made with Abraham. Someone will ask, “Why was Ishmael included?”
• Hasn’t God promised that Ishmael is going to be a great nation also?
• He is included in it in that sense, but he is not the one whom God had promised to Abraham at the beginning.
• He is not to be the father of the nation that God will use and the nation through which the Messiah will come.

Genesis 17:25

And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

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• Even though Ishmael was circumcised, he who was born after the flesh was by his natural birth a rebel, even though he may enter in an outward covenant.

Genesis 17:26

In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.

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• Two men were circumcised; by that rite both men entered the Covenant; however, only one of the men, Abraham, was saved.

Genesis 17:27

And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.

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• This one Passage tells us that every single man in the house of Abraham was saved, whether servants, slaves, or family, that is, if they believed.
• The Epistles to the Romans, to the Galatians, and to the Colossians teach that Christians are circumcised in the Cross of Christ, baptized into the Death of Christ, and raised in the Resurrection of Christ, all of which circumcision was a Type.

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,

 

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