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Daily Devotions

Genesis

Genesis 
Day 
Day 91

"Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!" Psalm 32:11

Text: Genesis 17:1-27

GOD’S PLAN FOR ISHMAEL

Just as the Angel of the Lord had promised Hagar, so the same message is given to Abraham. Ishmael would be blessed as well!

“And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him,
and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly.
He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.”

GENESIS 17:20

What more could a man ask for in life? Abraham was naturally concerned for Ishmael. He was after all his offspring! Hagar was his legal second wife, even though Sarah was upset with the way things turned out! God knew Abraham’s paternal heart of concern. Assurance was given to Hagar and she believed that God knew all about her and that He beheld her with His eyes! Abraham too must believe that what was said to Hagar by the Angel of the Lord would be upheld by El Shaddai!


GOD’S PLAN FOR ISAAC

It must have been hard for Abraham to understand the Lord and to accept the Word of promise given to him! There was Ishmael, his own flesh and blood son! There must have been a special bond established between Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael already! Nevertheless, God wanted him to believe that He had another plan. There would be another son called Isaac! He was the one God had chosen to continue the line of Abraham.

The promise of descendants was given to Abraham some twenty-five years back! There had been nothing more than just God’s word of promise to fall back on! Was Abraham expected to believe that there would truly be an Isaac through whom the everlasting covenant would be established? YES! Abraham must not vacillate in his faith! He must not consider adoption, nor must he consider other means, such as obtaining another wife! He must believe all that God had promised implicitly and explicitly! He must believe God in the deepest part of his heart! How we all struggle in believing God!


ANOTHER WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

What did God do to encourage Abraham further? He gave him another word of promise! God gave word upon word! His word was meant to be enough!

“‘But My covenant I will establish with Isaac,
whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.’
Then He finished talking with him, and God
went up from Abraham.”

GENESIS 17:21-22

God had spoken and repeated Himself time and again concerning His promise! If there had been full faith in the first place, there would not have been the need for so much repetition! Would Abraham now fully believe in ALL that God had said?