Genesis 12:1-17:27
Isaiah 40:27-41:16
Introduction
Abram is unable to understand the fulfillment of the promise without having an heir, for Sarai is childless. God promises him a son. Meanwhile, Sarai advises Abram to consort with her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, who bears him a son, Ishmael, who is not destined to be in the direct line of succession.
Genesis 16:1-12 1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!" 6 But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please." Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. 7 The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai." 9 The angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress and submit to her." 10 The angel of the LORD also said to her, "I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude." 11 And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen." (ESV)
With everything that is currently happening with Israel, the PLO, and the neighboring Muslim countries, I felt it appropriate to revisit what the angel had told Hagar concerning her son. The angel’s message to Hagar sets the stage for what we are seeing today. No matter what we may think, the Holy One is in control. It is interesting how the story takes place, and the players in it. It all starts with the promise the Almighty made to Abraham concerning an heir. Abraham was in despair, because he thought his heir would be his servant, that he would not have a son to whom his name would pass. Despite prayer for his wife Sarah, she remained barren; up to this point in time she was unable to bear Abraham any children. With everything that was going to happen, we need to keep in mind it was Sarah who suggested that Abraham sleep with Hagar, Sarah’s servant, and attempt to produce a child through her.
Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!" 6 But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please." Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. (ESV)
While this whole scenario might be shocking to some, it was the custom that if a Master had children with his servant, the child would be his and his wife's. In this case, Sarai offered Abram her servant, Hagar to be his wife, and she became pregnant. But God had made it very clear that it would be Sarai who would become pregnant, because she was Abram's first wife. Even though she was beyond child bearing years, we must remember that when God makes a promise He does not break that promise. He would follow through, despite what Abram and Sarai thought. Remember when the Lord came to Abram’s tent and told Abram what was going to happen, Sarai heard it and laughed. The Lord heard her laugh and asked why. She tried to deny it, but you cannot hide what you do from God. I have often told my congregation that even if we hide away from the world, we cannot hide what we do or think from the Almighty. We are not in a vacuum by ourselves. We exist with Him, in Him and through Him. He breathed His Spirit into Adam to give him life, and through Adam we each receive a piece of God as we are born. It is why we all feel there is something or someone beyond us, just out of reach. I believe it is the Ruach HaKodesh, or Holy Spirit who is there, waiting for us to turn the “switch” on. God’s Spirit indwells all of us, but it is what we do that will either fill us with His Spirit, keep it on off, or just on pilot light. This is our connection to the Holy One, and how strong or weak that connection is – that is up to us. That is the feeling we get that there is something more than just us out there. God exists in a place apart from us, because He is God. He is just waiting for each one of us to make the decision that will bring Him closer.
This is where we step out in faith and embrace the Messiah Yeshua. It is through Him we draw closer to the Father. Ishmael was not the son of promise. The son of promise would be Isaac; it would be through Him the promise would be passed down. Ishmael would be blessed because he was Abraham’s son, but it would not be his place to receive what was promised to Isaac.
He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.
This is Genesis 16:12, and it really describes the Arab people. We must remember that not all Muslims are Arab. Those in Iran come from a Persian background, and so on. Arabs distrust other Muslims, which is a fulfillment of this prophecy about Ishmael and how they stand in opposition, not just with Israel, but with others they identify as their allies. In Israel’s case we can see the descendants of Ishmael as our step-brothers. They are angry because they believe they are the sons of promise, and the blessings of Abraham are theirs, which is what their bible claims. We, the sons and daughters of Abraham and Sarah, are the inheritors of the promises to Abraham. Ishmael and his descendants would be against everyone, and the only reason others associate with them is because of the oil and money. This is what drives the world, and the fact that somehow most of the world hates Israel and would like to see them wiped off of the face of the earth. An old saying instructs us to keep our friends close, and our enemies closer. We can see this happening in the Middle East. On the flip side is the fact that we, as Believers who understand we are grafted into Israel – the Israel of Biblical promise - need to stand with our Jewish brethren, because they are a key part of the Almighty’s plan. Nothing their step-brothers are trying to do will stop His plan unless He allows it to happen, and this is not what He says He will allow in His Word. Granted, the Jewish people will have to go through some more trials and tribulations, but so will all of us. In the end, the veil covering the eyes of the Jewish people will be lifted, so they can finally see and recognize their Messiah Yeshua. What a glorious day of promise that will be!
2 Corinthians 3:12 Therefore, with a hope like this, we are very open- 13 unlike Moshe, who put a veil over his face, so that the people of Isra'el would not see the fading brightness come to an end. 14 What is more, their minds were made stonelike; for to this day the same veil remains over them when they read the Old Covenant; it has not been unveiled, because only by the Messiah is the veil taken away. 15 Yes, till today, whenever Moshe is read, a veil lies over their heart. 16 "But," says the Torah, "whenever someone turns to ADONAI, the veil is taken away." (CJB)
The only way for the veil to be removed is for them to turn to Messiah, because He is the only way to come into the presence of the Father. We are told the only way to the Father is through the Son. He stands as our High Priest, our intermediary, between the Holy One and us. The place of the High Priest was to stand between man and God, and bring temporary reconciliation until Yeshua brings permanence to it all. He is not a temporary fix like sacrifices were, but He is the permanent solution to the problem – a solution that was put in place before man was even created. God’s plan has played itself out in the world beyond time, but for now it moves along in our time. We are the physical world, separated from the realm of the Holy One of Israel, waiting for the day when all things are brought to an end and the spiritual world becomes one with the physical, as Yeshua’s Body is now. He is spirit and flesh, and the day is coming when all who are His will receive the gift. Think of living forever without pain and suffering. What a blessing it will be!
Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. (ESV)
Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (JPS)
Isaiah 51:11 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (JPS)
Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." (ESV)
Even though Ishmael has his hands on his brother Judah’s throat, the promise to Israel cannot be taken away, and in the end God will make all things right. No matter who you are you can become joint heirs in the covenant with Yeshua. This has always been the promise, the promise that all who have gone before us saw and yearned for. One day soon we will be walking with Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and most importantly of all – Yeshua!
Isaiah 41:8-16 8 "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend. 9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, `You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: 10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' 11 "Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish. 12 You shall seek them and not find them-- those who contended with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing. 13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, `Fear not, I will help you.' 14 "Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I will help you," says the LORD and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15 "Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, and make the hills like chaff. 16 You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; you shall rejoice in the LORD, and glory in the Holy One of Israel. (NKJ)
The sons of Ishmael can try as they may, but the Holy One has promised He will not cast Israel aside in favor of another. The Holy One had one Son, and that Son is Yeshua. He is a Son of Israel, the people God has called out to be His own special treasure.
Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a people set apart as holy for ADONAI your God. ADONAI your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his own unique treasure. (CJB)
We are all a part of Israel, grafted in to the tree that is Israel, and partakers of the root that is Messiah. We all have to be grafted in, and no one is any better than anyone else. But for those who believe the Jewish people have been cast aside, you have not read your Bibles very closely. The Almighty made a covenant with them, and many of our Jewish brethren love the Lord and His Torah, but they have been blinded to the reality of Yeshua. This is so those of the Goyim, or nations could receive the message of Yeshua, the truth of who He is, and what He brings to those who accept Him as their Lord and Master. As the time grows shorter, things are changing in the physical world rapidly. More and more Jews are having the veils removed from their eyes, and they are seeing Yeshua and entering into the promises. At the same time, more and more Christians are seeing the truth of Torah, and are bringing it into their lives as they see the blessings that come with keeping the seventh day Sabbath, and the joy found in the Festivals of Leviticus, chapter 23. The list goes on, but I believe you can see what I am saying here. No one is lost, not even a Muslim, if they turn from following the lies of the Adversary and turn to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
1 Peter 2:7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone," 8 and "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (NKJ)
There are other connections to other passages in this section from 1 Peter 2:7-10, but I wanted to focus on verse 10 and its connection to Hosea 1:10 and 2:23. While He disciplines His children He does not cast them off. What parent would throw their children away? They bring correction to them when they are disobedient, but that correction is done out of love, because they want their children to walk correctly.
Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," it shall be said to them, "Children of the living God." (ESV)
Hosea 2:23 and I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, 'You are my people'; and he shall say, 'You are my God.'" (ESV)
The Holy One desires we do the same, and in the end He tells us we are His children – Children of the Living God. We will reply, "You are our God!" Hallelujah!
Blessings,
Mordecai Silver
Torah Man says, “Love is grand. Divorce is a hundred grand.”
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