"And Abraham said to God, 'Oh that Ishmael might live before You!'... 'As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.'" -Genesis 17.18, 20
God has promised Abraham a son with his wife Sarah, and Abraham laughs. He says, "Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" (verse 17a) The idea is unfathomable to him. He knows how things work, and he knows that things like this are impossible. Remember, he's still learning about God and all that He is able to do.
And so he presents another option, Ishmael, the son that he already has. But God, who is almighty, able to do everything we call impossible, tells him, "No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him" (verse 19b).
But none the less, God does not ignore the prayer of a father for his son. Ishmael will be blessed by God, and from him twelve princes will come. And we have the twelve Imams of Islam. The prayer to bless Ishmael has led to conflict for thousands of years. This prayer has led to seven crusades fought over the Holy Land between Christians and Muslims. It has led to constant fighting in the Middle East, as well as the desire of many to wipe Israel off the map.
We must be careful what we pray for, because our prayers, though they seem right in our eyes, could lead to things we never imagined. May we always seek the will of God, and take God at His word. When God says He will do something, may be believe and trust Him, no matter how impossible it may seem.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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