Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • Elle Aye - 2 years ago
    If the first born are blessed by the father, why then did Abraham not bless Ishmael as he was the firstborn of him. I understand that God had blessed Ishmael, but that doesn't change the fact that Isaac is still the second born. I also understand that Sarah was blessed to be pregnant but she still gave birth to Abrahams 2nd child.
  • Richard H Priday - In Reply - 1 year ago
    I see that both of your questions are about firstborn. I was always under the assumption that it was the firstborn child of mothers who were still giving birth (in other words just children) that died; of human and animal offspring. I suppose that could be conjecture on my part. Pharoah was kind of the last standout in a way; it doesn't appear that in the Exodus he personally went all the way out into the Red Sea and perished with the rest of his army.

    As to the second question; you will find that repeated with Jacob and Esau as well. I am not aware of a firstborn son having a scriptural demand; but a cultural one as to obtaining the greatest blessings. Apparently Reuben and Manasseh had the same thing happen to them. God did a lot to turn things around from what was accepted as tradition; He looks on the hearts of men not outward appearances. He brings blessings and curses in regard to many things such as childbirth; results of war; food resources and other things based on obedience or disobedience. He has used women to prophesy in Judges (in that case to demonstrate that the victor in Sisera would be a woman) and Deborah and other women to prophesy and praise God. He has used children such as Samuel to rebuke the evil house of Eli and his sons (which God asked him to do the FIRST time he heard His voice audibly). He has used a donkey to rebuke a madman prophet Baalam who was able to see an angel of God which the man couldn't detect. He chose a sheepherder to be the King of Israel; the last of all the sons who his father had to be prompted to appear. And the ceremonial laws were preempted by the Divinity of Christ; who is the "Lord of the Sabbath" ( Mark 2:27-28). God is not a respecter of persons ( Romans 2:11). There is even a verse where women who didn't have male relatives asked for part of the inheritance ( Numbers 27:2-7). And one where those who ridiculed Moses Ethiopian wife were dealt with ( Numbers 12:1). Bible culture shock!
  • Denise - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Dear Elly, Because Ishmael was born of the slave girl Hagar. Even though Ishmael's was fathered by Abraham, Ishmael is not included in the promise. Ishmael was to just populate the earth , nothing else.
  • Elle Aye - In Reply - 1 year ago
    From What I understand, Ishmael become the forefather of Islam, hense the name. Like Abraham became the forefather of Judaism. thats where history branched off into two different religions.
  • GiGi - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hello Elle Aye,

    From what I know, Islam teaches that Abraham is their religious forefather and "head" to Ishmael and that Abraham brought Ishmael to Mecca to worship there. So, Abraham is an intricate part of Islam as they believe the promise of God to Abraham was fulfilled through Ishmael and not Isaac.

    So, Ishmael parted was with his Abrahamic family and married a Canaanite woman and fathered a dozen sons, which grew into the Arab peoples.

    Isaac stayed with Abraham, received the blessing and promise of Abraham from God. Isaac's sons Jacob and Esau also were split up, Jacob being the son of the blessing and promise, and Esau being blessed, too but not carrying on the lineage of the promise. Esau left his family and married several foreign women. In subsequent generations, Ishmael and Esau's descendants intermarried.
  • S Spencer - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hi Elle.

    Great question., Here's a few scriptures you can look over that may have answers to your questions.I would chime in when time permits. In the meantime hopefully someone can help us.

    NOTICE THE PROMISES AND COVENANT MADE BY GOD WITH NO PARTICIPATION ALLOWED BY MAN.

    Genesis 15:1-12.

    Genesis 17:18-19.

    Romans 9:6-9.

    Galatians 4:22-31.

    EMPHASIS.

    This Promised Covenant is the work of God and can't be annulled by man.

    Likewise you see a similar method as a allegory in the birth of Jacob and Essau.

    Gods elected way, "By grace ".

    Romans 9:10-12. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

    (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

    It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

    All for now

    God bless.
  • THE END OF DAYS IS HERE - In Reply - 1 year ago
    This is the short version. Ishmael was the child of Hagar the maid; and of Abraham.

    God made a COVENANT with Abraham and Sarah, a year before she was even pregnant.

    Ishmael was not the Perfect Will of God. He was born due to the Permissive Will of God. He allowed it. He even blessed Ishmael later with power, property, renown children. BUT HE WAS NOT part of the Land Covenant.

    The land dimensions of Israel are fixed. No one has Gods permission to change it. He ratified it with Abraham and Sarah's seed. In their ancestors, Jacobs name was changed to ISRAEL.

    Jesus's Geneology comes through Abraham and Sarah.

    IT IS ALL RECORDED IN THE BIBLE and Hebrew records. It's a DEED, if you will.

    If you stand back and look at a map of Israel's Land versus land that was given to Ishmael and his descendants: the comparison is almost ridiculous. Israel is not even 10 miles wide. A distance that can be walked every day; or jogged.

    Israel's boundaries are chipped away constantly. God blessed Hagar and Ishmael, and all of their descendants. But it was never enough. So all of humanity is rushing towards the Last Great War: Armageddon. To be fought in the Valley of Megiddo.

    Any peoples that launch a nuclear weapon at Jerusalem will be witness to the presence and power of Gods intervention. He sees it all. And He will intervene. GOD is not dead. He is the first party of the Abrahamic Covenant made way back in the Book of Genesis; which describes the "Cutting of the Covenant" completely. It is still IN FORCE, as far as God is concerned.

    If Russia tries to challenge the Covenant; their nation will cease to exist. They are not the lineage of Ishmael. They're not Jewish. They have no part in the COVENANT.

    Christ Followers are to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. It wasn't a suggestion.

    Book of Daniel, Matthew 24, Luke 21.

    Ezekiel. Nelson Walters on YouTube

    Mishael



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