Ishmael
Ishmael was the first son of Abraham by Sarah's slave-maid Hagar. When Ishmael turned thirteen, God appeared to Abraham and told him that this son would not be the promised heir. God told Abraham that the covenant would be passed down through Isaac. Because Abraham loved Ishmael, God promised to make of Ishmael a great nation also. The conflict between the two mothers caused God to tell Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Ishmael grew up in the wilderness of Paran. He gained fame as an archer. He married an Egyptian woman and became the father of twelve princes and one daughter, Mahalath. She later married Esau. Ishmael lived 137 years. Ishmael was the father of the Ishmaelites, a nomadic nation that lived in northern Arabia.
Lessons from the life of Ishmael:
- There are circumstances over which we have no control, but there are others that we can control by making good choices.
- God's plans can incorporate the mistakes made by people.
Ishmael's story can be found in Genesis 16 and 17; 21:8-20; 25:12-18; 28:8-9; 36:1-3. He is also mentioned in I Chronicles 1:28-31; Romans 9:7-9; and Galatians 4:21-31.
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