Genesis 17:20-2720And 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. 21But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year. 22And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. 23And 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. 24And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. 27And 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)
It is sad to learn in Ishmael’s history that he spurned the blessings that God had for him and did not live in the good of what might have been his. It was equally true of Israel after the flesh, whom he foreshadowed — the “wild man” who was “contrary to all men.” Psalms 78, which gives a summary of God’s dealings with his people Israel states, in part: “For their heart was not right with Him, neither were they steadfast in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not.” v. 37,38. Then finally it is recorded: “He was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: so that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which He placed among men; and delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.” 10:59-61. This is the tragic place where Israel was later found. Their glory has departed from them as a nation, and will remain so until they turn in repentance and righteousness to their true Messiah. This will not be until the tribulation period, after Christian believers are taken out of this world to heaven.
Such was Ishmael’s character—claiming the privileges of the covenant, but not accepting responsibilities toward it. Stephen, addressing the Jews, after the Lord’s death and resurrection said to them: “Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” Acts 7:5151Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. (Acts 7:51).
“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 did as God had said unto him.” v. 22. Abraham not only listened to and enjoyed God’s words, but he heeded the call to obedience, as well. In fa it was this character of behavior that marked his life in a general way in spite of his mistakes.
As Abraham proved that obedience to God and laying aside of his own schemes resulted in blessing, so toe will the child of God today find his path established for him in blessing if he will follow in the path of obedience. James tells us: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:22-2522But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:22‑25).
The secret of full blessing to Abraham was that he was faithful in all his house. God wants His own to be wholehearted in faith — not just going part way. How important it is, Christian reader, to give Him first place in all things — not merely it our Sunday devotions, not merely it reading His word faithfully, but having all things in subjection to His truth. This will embrace the whop household, as well as one’s business affairs. With Abraham it included “all that were bought with his money every male among the men of Abraham’s house.”
ML 08/08/1965