The promised Son

Genesis 17:15-27

Convinced that she would never be able to have a child, but believing that God meant it when he said Abram would, Sarai had gotten her maid to have a surrogate son for her. He was not the son God had promised. Many people spend huge amounts of money in fertility clinics trying to have children. Some even adopt a child, convinced God will not give them one. When they stop trying, they have a child of their own. Doctors believe that the stress of trying often prevents pregnancy. Just trusting God to do what is best would eliminate the stress, whether they had children or not.

“And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.” (Genesis 17:15-16)

Speaking of marriage, God had said they should be one flesh. A promise to one can generally be taken as a promise to both. God told Abraham specifically that Sarah’s name was no longer to be a mother, but Sarah, “a mother of nations,” because God was going to give her a son of her own. The promises to Abraham were for her as well.

“Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!” (Genesis 17:17-18)

Loving Sarai as he did, Abraham was thrilled at the thought of having a son with her. She would be thrilled as well, especially since they no longer expected to have children. He still loved his son Ishmael, however, and having seen the division between Hagar and Sarah, he had reason to fear more conflict when Sarah had a son of her own. Abraham had a tie to Ishmael Sarah did not. His statement implies that Ishmael was somewhat rebellious toward God, probably in part because of the conflicts between Sarah and Hagar. Parents play a major role in their children’s attitude.

“And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. 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. And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.” (Genesis 17:19-22)

Sarah would really have a son and he was to be named Isaac, or ‘laughter’ because of the pleasure he would bring. While God would bless Ishmael, and later Abraham’s other children, making great nations of some of them, the covenant was specifically for Sarah’s son. God then announced that Isaac would be born about a year later. Since Sarah was almost ninety, and did not think she could have children, They would have probably thought it was some kind of cancer or other disease whn she began having symptoms of pregnancy. The advance warning would alleviate some of the stress.

“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 circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him. And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.” (Genesis 17:23-27)

When God finished talking to Abraham, he proceeded to follow the instructions he had been given. Even though the covenant did not apply directly to Ishmael, He was circumcised along with the others, identifying him as a part of the family.