by: James Robert Kessler "07"Abraham's Two Sons?
Ishmael and Isaac. Two sons of the patriarch Abraham. One born of a slave woman and one born of a free woman. One born of a great promise but both equally blessed. These were the mighty sons of Abraham but in God's eye's and His plan for mankind, only one seen as the true "legitimate" son.
Gen 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Gen 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me.
Gen 22:16And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son]:
As far as God recognizing sonship or covenant through Abraham, it would seem Ishmael has been left out of the equation here. The equation being the salvation that would be brought through God’s only Son, Jesus Christ.No one I know who sees this in Scripture considers God as “tribal.” Quite the contrary. Covenant was established through Isaac alone because it was established by a promise, His Word.
Gen 17:20-21 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. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
God viewed Isaac as Abraham’s only legitimate son because of that covenant promise made to him that was to come from the barren womb of Sarah, the free woman. Abraham, the father from which all the nations on earth would be blessed through one day at Calvary.
Gen 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son]:
From the very beginning of Genesis through the book of Revelation the scriptures weave a story of relationship within this same covenant context. This is the character of the God of the universe, unconditional acceptance by way of His Word and promises He Himself declares and keeps. Using Issac as our example, this is the God of the covenant upon which all Scripture is formed.
James Robert Kessler
www.InChristVictorious.com
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