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ISAAC & ISHMAEL—UNSOLVABLE PROBLEM
Noah begat Shem; and Shem begat Arphaxad; and Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber; and Eber begat Peleg; and Peleg begat Reu; and Reu begat Serug; and Serug begat Nahor; and Nahor begat Terah; and Terah begat Abram; and Abram begat Ishmael by the bondwoman, called Hagar. Abram's name was changed by God to Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac by his wife, Sarah, the freewoman.
The unsolvable problem: this is what exists in the Middle East since
.AND TERAH TOOK ABRAM HIS SON, AND LOT THE SON OF
NOW THE LORD HAD SAID UNTO ABRAM, GET THEE OUT OF THY COUNTRY, AND FROM THY KINDRED, AND FROM THY FATHER'S HOUSE, UNTO A LAND THAT I WILL SHOW THEE: AND I WILL MAKE OF THEE A GREAT NATION, AND I WILL BLESS THEE, AND MAKE THY NAME GREAT; AND THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING: AND I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS THEE, AND CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE: AND IN THEE SHALL ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED-Gen
AND HAGAR BARE ABRAM A SON: AND ABRAM CALLED HIS SON'S NAME, WHICH HAGAR BARE, ISHMAEL. AND ABRAM WAS FOURSCORE AND SIX YEARS OLD (86 years old), WHEN HAGAR BARE ISHMAEL TO ABRAM-Gen
AND WHEN ABRAM WAS NINETY YEARS OLD AND NINE (99), THE LORD APPEARED TO ABRAM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, I AM THE ALMIGHTY GOD; WALK BEFORE ME, AND BE THOU PERFECT-Gen
FOR SARAH CONCEIVED, AND BARE ABRAHAM A SON IN HIS OLD AGE...AND ABRAHAM CALLED THE NAME OF HIS SON THAT WAS BORN UNTO HIM, WHOM SARAH BARE TO HIM, ISAAC. AND SARAH SAW THE SON OF HAGAR THE EGYPTIAN, WHICH SHE HAD BORN UNTO ABRAHAM, MOCKING. WHEREFORE SHE (Sarah) SAID UNTO ABRAHAM, CAST OUT THIS BONDWOMAN AND HER SON: FOR THE SON OF THIS BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE HEIR WITH MY SON, EVEN WITH ISAAC-Gen
NOW WE, BRETHREN, AS ISAAC WAS, ARE THE CHILDREN OF PROMISE (but the Arabs believe they are the children of the promise). BUT AS THEN HE THAT WAS BORN AFTER THE FLESH PERSECUTED HIM THAT WAS BORN AFTER THE SPIRIT, EVEN SO IT IS NOW. NEVERTHELESS WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURE? CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON: FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREEWOMAN-Gal
Note: Hagar, the bondwoman, bore a son by Abram named, Ishmael, who was expected to be the heir.
Hagar despised Sarai.
Sarai mistreated Hagar.
Sarah bore a son named Isaac, who became Abraham’s heir.
Ishmael mocked.
Sarah wanted Hagar and Ishmael cast out.
Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away at God’s direction.
Hagar received only food and water.
The stage was set nearly 4000 years ago by God. A war that will destroy one-fourth of the world's population is about to take place. This war is outlined in Ezekiel 38 and other parts of the Bible.
NOW THE LORD HAD SAID UNTO ABRAM, GET THEE OUT OF THY COUNTRY, AND FROM THY KINDRED, AND FROM THY FATHER'S HOUSE, UNTO A LAND THAT I WILL SHOW THEE-Gen
l. Get thee out of thy country.
2. Get out from thy kindred.
3. Get out from thy father's house.
He had to go by faith, because he did not know where he was going, but only that he was going to a land, which the Lord had promised to show him. SO ABRAM DEPARTED, AS THE LORD HAD SPOKEN UNTO HIM-Gen
After Lot had separated from Abram, God said to Abram, LIFT UP NOW THINE EYES, AND LOOK FROM THE PLACE WHERE THOU ART NORTHWARD, AND SOUTHWARD, AND EASTWARD, AND WESTWARD: FOR ALL THE LAND WHICH THOU SEEST, TO THEE WILL I GIVE IT, AND TO THY SEED FOR EVER-Gen
ARISE, WALK THROUGH THE LAND IN THE LENGTH OF IT AND IN THE BREADTH OF IT-Gen
KNOW YE THEREFORE THAT THEY WHICH ARE OF FAITH, THE SAME ARE THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM-Gal
As we read, consider the words "faith, obedience, and faithfulness," and may we each examine our own faith, obedience, and faithfulness by God's Word.
BUT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM (God): FOR HE THAT COMETH TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM-Heb
ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS-Ro
FAITH WAS RECKONED TO ABRAHAM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS-Ro
BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO GO OUT INTO A PLACE WHICH HE SHOULD AFTER RECEIVE FOR AN INHERITANCE, OBEYED; AND HE WENT OUT, NOT KNOWING WHITHER HE WENT.
BY FAITH HE SOJOURNED IN THE LAND OF PROMISE, AS IN A STRANGE COUNTRY, DWELLING IN TABERNACLES WITH ISAAC AND JACOB, THE HEIRS WITH HIM OF THE SAME PROMISE-Heb
THROUGH FAITH ALSO SARAH HERSELF RECEIVED STRENGTH TO CONCEIVE SEED, AND WAS DELIVERED OF A CHILD WHEN SHE WAS PAST AGE, BECAUSE SHE JUDGED HIM FAITHFUL WHO HAD PROMISED-Heb
AND (Abraham) BEING NOT WEAK IN FAITH, HE CONSIDERED NOT HIS OWN BODY NOW DEAD, WHEN HE WAS ABOUT AN HUNDRED YEARS OLD, NEITHER YET THE DEADNESS OF SARAH'S WOMB: HE STAGGERED NOT AT THE PROMISE OF GOD THROUGH UNBELIEF; BUT WAS STRONG IN FAITH, GIVING GLORY TO GOD; AND BEING FULLY PERSUADED THAT, WHAT HE (God) HAD PROMISED, HE WAS ABLE ALSO TO PERFORM. AND THEREFORE IT WAS IMPUTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS-Ro
THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH, NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PROMISES, BUT HAVING SEEN THEM AFAR OFF, AND WERE PERSUADED OF THEM, AND EMBRACED THEM, AND CONFESSED THAT THEY WERE STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH. FOR THEY THAT SAY SUCH THINGS DECLARE PLAINLY THAT THEY SEEK A COUNTRY. AND TRULY, IF THEY HAD BEEN MINDFUL (or thinking) OF THAT COUNTRY FROM WHENCE THEY CAME OUT, THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE RETURNED. (In other words, don't look back.) BUT NOW THEY DESIRE A BETTER COUNTRY, THAT IS, AN HEAVENLY: WHEREFORE GOD IS NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED THEIR GOD: FOR HE HATH PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY-Heb
BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS TRIED, OFFERED UP ISAAC: AND HE THAT HAD RECEIVED THE PROMISES OFFERED UP HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, OF WHOM IT WAS SAID, THAT IN ISAAC SHALL THY SEED BE CALLED-Heb
(By faith) Abraham accounted THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO RAISE HIM (Isaac) UP, EVEN FROM THE DEAD-ref Heb
BUT WILT THOU KNOW, O VAIN MAN, THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD? WAS NOT ABRAHAM OUR FATHER JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, WHEN HE HAD OFFERED ISAAC HIS SON UPON THE ALTAR? SEEST THOU HOW FAITH WROUGHT WITH HIS WORKS (or faith and his actions were working together-NIV), AND BY WORKS WAS FAITH MADE PERFECT? AND THE SCRIPTURE WAS FULFILLED WHICH SAITH, ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS IMPUTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS: AND HE WAS CALLED THE FRIEND OF GOD-Ja
(By faith) Abraham bought THE FIELD OF EPHRON...AND THE CAVE...AND…BURIED SARAH HIS WIFE IN THE CAVE OF…MACHPELAH-ref Gen 23.
BY FAITH ISAAC BLESSED JACOB AND ESAU CONCERNING THINGS TO COME.
BY FAITH JACOB, WHEN HE WAS A DYING, BLESSED BOTH THE SONS OF JOSEPH; AND WORSHIPED, LEANING UPON THE TOP OF HIS STAFF.
BY FAITH JOSEPH, WHEN HE DIED, MADE MENTION OF THE DEPARTING OF THE CHILDREN OF
We are to WALK IN THE STEPS OF THAT FAITH OF OUR FATHER ABRAHAM, WHICH HE HAD BEING YET UNCIRCUMCISED. FOR THE PROMISE, THAT HE SHOULD BE THE HEIR OF THE WORLD, WAS NOT TO ABRAHAM, OR TO HIS SEED, THROUGH THE LAW, BUT THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH-Ro
God told Abram, GET THEE OUT OF THY COUNTRY, AND FROM THY KINDRED, AND FROM THY FATHER'S HOUSE, UNTO A LAND THAT I WILL SHOW THEE-Gen
AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO ABRAM...THERE BUILDED HE AN ALTAR UNTO THE LORD-Gen
Abram REMOVED...UNTO A MOUNTAIN...HE BUILDED AN ALTAR-Gen
Abram returned TO BETHEL...HE…CALLED ON THE NAME OF THE LORD-Gen
God told Abram, WALK THROUGH THE LAND-Gen
ABRAM REMOVED...AND DWELT IN THE PLAIN OF MAMRE…AND BUILT THERE AN ALTAR-Gen
Abram GAVE HIM TITHES OF ALL-Gen
God told Abram, THY NAME SHALL BE ABRAHAM-Gen
God told Abraham, EVERY MAN CHILD AMONG YOU SHALL BE CIRCUMCISED-Gen
God told Abraham, SARAI THY WIFE, THOU SHALT NOT CALL HER NAME SARAI, BUT SARAH SHALL HER NAME BE-Gen
ABRAHAM...IN BEERSHEBA...CALLED THERE ON THE…LORD-Gen
God told Abraham, TAKE...ISAAC, WHOM THOU LOVEST, AND GET THEE INTO THE LAND OF MORIAH; AND OFFER HIM THERE FOR A BURNT OFFERING-Gen
It is written, BECAUSE…ABRAHAM OBEYED MY VOICE-Gen 26:5.
KNOW YE THEREFORE THAT THEY WHICH ARE OF FAITH, THE SAME ARE THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM. SO THEN THEY WHICH BE OF FAITH ARE BLESSED WITH FAITHFUL ABRAHAM-Gal
It is written, BECAUSE…ABRAHAM OBEYED MY VOICE-Gen 26:5.
It is further written, THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH-Ro
And it is written, WE HAVE RECEIVED GRACE...FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH-Ro
THEREFORE IT IS OF FAITH, THAT IT MIGHT BE BY GRACE-Ro
Through faith, we are justified (salvation).
Works were the evidence of Abraham’s faith.
Do you truly believe all of God's Word (the Bible)? What is the evidence of your faith? Is it faithfulness and obedience?
God’s covenant with Abraham and his seed is the basis for many of the events that are happening in this generation, including the coming Tribulation, the Millennium, and much more. We need to study and understand this covenant in order to help us understand Bible prophecy.
· (God said to Abraham) I WILL ESTABLISH MY COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND THEE AND THY SEED AFTER THEE IN THEIR GENERATIONS FOR AN EVERLASTING COVENANT-Gen
· (God said to Isaac) I WILL PERFORM THE OATH WHICH I SWARE UNTO ABRAHAM THY FATHER-Gen 26:3.
· (To Jacob from Isaac) GOD ALMIGHTY...GIVE THEE THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM, TO THEE, AND TO THY SEED WITH THEE-Gen 28:3,4.
· (God said to Moses) I APPEARED UNTO ABRAHAM, UNTO ISAAC, AND UNTO JACOB...AND I HAVE…ESTABLISHED MY COVENANT WITH THEM...I HAVE REMEMBERED MY COVENANT-Ex
· (God said to Abraham) I will BE A GOD UNTO THEE, AND TO THY SEED AFTER THEE-Gen
· (God said to Abram) FEAR NOT, ABRAM: I AM THY SHIELD, AND THY EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD-Gen
· (To Isaac) I WILL BE WITH THEE-Gen 26:3. I AM WITH THEE-Gen 26:24. (God said to Jacob) I AM WITH THEE-Gen 28:15.
· (God said to Jacob) I...WILL KEEP THEE IN ALL PLACES WHITHER THOU GOEST-Gen 28:15.
· (God said to Abraham) I WILL MAKE OF THEE A GREAT NATION-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) I WILL BLESS THEE-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) I WILL…MAKE THY NAME GREAT-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) I WILL MAKE THEE EXCEEDING FRUITFUL-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) THOU SHALT BE A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) KINGS SHALL COME OUT OF THEE-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS THEE-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) I WILL…CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) IN THEE SHALL ALL FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) THY SEED SHALL POSSESS THE GATE OF HIS ENEMIES-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE, AND TO THY SEED AFTER THEE, THE LAND...ALL THE LAND OF CANAAN, FOR AN EVERLASTING POSSESSION-Gen
· (God said to Jacob) THOU SHALT SPREAD ABROAD TO THE WEST, AND TO THE EAST, AND TO THE NORTH, AND TO THE SOUTH-Gen 28:14.
· (God said to Abraham) I WILL MAKE THY SEED AS THE DUST OF THE EARTH-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) 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-Gen
· (God said to Abraham) THIS IS MY COVENANT, WHICH YE SHALL KEEP, BETWEEN ME AND YOU AND THY SEED AFTER THEE; EVERY MAN CHILD AMONG YOU SHALL BE CIRCUMCISED-Gen
· (Unto Rebekah) THEY (the family of Rebekah) BLESSED REBEKAH, AND SAID...BE THOU THE MOTHER OF THOUSANDS OF MILLIONS (billions)-Gen
· (Unto Rebekah) (The family of Rebekah said), LET THY SEED POSSESS THE GATE OF THOSE WHICH HATE THEM-Gen
· (Isaac blessed Jacob) LET PEOPLE SERVE THEE-Gen 27:29.
· (Isaac blessed Jacob) LET...NATIONS BOW DOWN TO THEE-Gen 27:29.
· (Isaac blessed Jacob) BE LORD OVER THY BRETHREN-Gen 27:29.
· (Isaac blessed Jacob) LET THY MOTHER'S SONS BOW DOWN TO THEE-Gen 27:29.
· (God said to Jacob) I WILL NOT LEAVE THEE UNTIL I HAVE DONE THAT WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN TO THEE OF-Gen 28:15.
· (Jacob prayed) AND THOU SAIDST, I WILL SURELY DO THEE GOOD-Gen 32:12.
· (General) BE YE MINDFUL ALWAYS OF (or remember) HIS COVENANT; THE WORD WHICH HE COMMANDED TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS; EVEN OF THE COVENANT WHICH HE MADE WITH ABRAHAM, AND OF HIS OATH UNTO ISAAC; AND HATH (also) CONFIRMED THE SAME TO JACOB FOR A LAW (or statute), AND TO ISRAEL FOR AN EVERLASTING COVENANT, SAYING, UNTO THEE WILL I GIVE THE LAND OF CANAAN, (as) THE LOT (or portion) OF YOUR INHERITANCE-1 Chr
· (General) HE HATH REMEMBERED HIS COVENANT FOR EVER, THE WORD WHICH HE COMMANDED TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS. WHICH COVENANT HE MADE WITH ABRAHAM, AND HIS OATH UNTO ISAAC; AND CONFIRMED THE SAME UNTO JACOB FOR A LAW, AND TO ISRAEL FOR AN EVERLASTING COVENANT-Ps 105:8-10.
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