As for Ishmael, I will bless him
also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and
multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I
will make him a great nation. Genesis 17:20.
A second great nation was promised to
Abraham…and to his son, Ishmael. Twelve sons…just like Jacob’s family. Twelve
tribes—just like the tribes of Israel. These
This is the account of the family of
Ishmael, the son of Abraham through Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian servant. Here is a
list, by their names and clans, of Ishmael's descendants: The oldest was
Nebaioth, followed by Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,
Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These twelve sons of Ishmael became the founders
of twelve tribes named after them, listed according to the places they settled
and camped. Ishmael lived for 137 years. Then he breathed his last and joined
his ancestors in death. Ishmael's descendants occupied the region from Havilah
to Shur, which is east of Egypt in the direction of Asshur. There they lived in
open hostility toward all their relatives. Genesis 25:12-18.
 |
| From a seed will come a Great Nation. |
That area where the Ishmaelites settled was
in the region that is now Saudi Arabia. Twelve tribes…a great nation. Actually
it was a first…since this nation was born before the nation of Israel, but the
nation of Israel was established when God promised to make a great nation of
Sarah’s offspring.
Then God said to Abraham, "Regarding
Sarai, your wife--her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will
be Sarah. And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless
her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations
will be among her descendants." ... But my covenant will be confirmed with
Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year." Genesis
17:15-16, 21.
Ishmael’s family tribes were fighting with
each other…and likely with others. A hostile group. Did these tribes learn about
hostility from Ishmael? Did Ishmael learn bitterness from watching his mother
Hagar and Sarah? There was a deep resentment between those two women…and
rightfully so. That hostility still exists—and likely will continue until the
end of the age.
Do you have a pocket of bitterness in your
heart? Did you learn that from someone you know…like Ishmael learned it from
Hagar?
Prayer
~ Lord God…Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share
its joy. Proverbs 14:10. Can a great
nation have bitterness hidden in its heart? Lord help our nation—to show love
not bitterness and hostility.
Bible
Reading: January 26 – Genesis 41-42
©
2017 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted
www.blueletterbible.org/dailyreading
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