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NASB | Genesis 17:20 "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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 17:20 "As for Ishmael, I have heard and listened to you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will greatly multiply him [through his descendants]. He will be the father of twelve princes (chieftains, sheiks), and I will make him a great nation. [Gen 25:12-18] |
Bible Question:
Regarding Genesis 17:18 Where Abraham asks God to bless Ishmael.I'm wondering if Abraham asked this because he knew he had stepped out of God's will by fathering Ishmael with another woman? |
Bible Answer: Hi sixsmiths2! I think that Abraham was being a good father. Just as Joseph was when he attempted to correct Israel from giving the blessings of the first-born to Ephraim (the second born) instead of Manasseh (the first born). Certainly God could have chastised both Abraham and Sara for their decision to have an offspring... but their action was not that of David with Bathsheba and Uriah. I see Ishmael as a "must happen" so that God may bring about His Plan according to His own design and not according to ours: God chooses us to accomplish His Will: before her children were born, so that neither had yet done anything either good or bad, but in order that it should be God's choice which prevailed--not human merit, but his call-she was told: the elder one will serve the younger. Or as scripture says elsewhere: I loved Jacob but hated Esau. (Romans 9:11-13--reference to verse 13 is found in Malachi 1:2-3.) God Bless! Angel |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Gen 17:20 | Author | ||
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heisthe1 | ||
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Rasqui | ||
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sixsmiths2 | ||
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Ray | ||
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JCrichton | ||
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ShOgO | ||
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Laptopboy |