S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

"Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. So she said to Abraham, 'Cast out this slave woma...

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July 01 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

RICK PORTER Supporter Chaplain [ Truckers Chapel ]-- Undeserving Child of God

Looking at what happened in a theological way, since Ismael was born of human effort by Abraham and a younger Hagar, there was nothing supernatural about his birth. Whereas the union of Abraham and Sarah who were both of none child bearing age physically was completely supernatural by God's providence.


In the same way human effort in a spiritual new birth will bring only a form of godliness 1Timothy 3:5 but not a true new birth as Jesus told a religious leader John 3:3 He said is from above not of flesh but of the spirit. 

Human effort to please God never works, complete trust or faith Hebrews 11:6 is only way God accepts.

March 26 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Meluleki Maphosa Supporter Amateur Bible Student

We recall that Ishmael was born out of Abraham and Sarah's attempt to help God and expedite the fulfillment of God's promise. Subsequent history shows that their decision was ill-advised and regrettable. 


It is possible that after God had made His promise to Abraham that he would have progeny as numerous as the stars, Abraham expected a quick fulfillment of that promise. When the promise delayed the pair was tempted to loose trust in God fulfilling the promise. But why were they so keen to have a son? 

I don't think it takes too much speculation to realize that from the time of Adam and Eve, believers looked forward eagerly for the "Seed" promised in Gen 3:17. We see Eve giving birth to a son and they probably thought that was the "Seed" and they named him Cain or "The Man". They died in their disappointment as they still awaited the Seed whom we now know was Christ the Messiah. That is why Abraham and Sarah were eager for a man child. Either him or one of his descendants were going to be the Seed. 

“Now you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac. Furthermore, at that time the son who was conceived in a natural way persecuted the son conceived in a spiritual way. That’s exactly what’s happening now. But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, because the son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.””
Galatians 4:28-30 GW


These verses make it clear that when Isaac the child of promise was born Ishmael out of "connivance" (The Message Bible) persecuted Isaac. My understanding here is that Ishmael who was older than Isaac might have attempted to kill Isaac through whom the Seed or the Messiah was going to be born. 


With this perspective, therefore, it appears that it was a good but painful decision to banish Ishmael and his mother. Without this painful action, the plan of God was under very serious and intimate threat. 


My view is also that the idea to conceive Ishmael was planted by Satan in Sarah's mind in an attempt to thwart the plan of salvation. We are forever grateful to God for seeing the original plan succeed.

January 12 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report