"Yet God did care for Ishamael and his mother, correct? Do you think all of Ishamael's descendents were "lost?"
Hi tippet,
Here is my answer after all that time. I think God loved all men but chose the special Seed in Abraham to bless mankind. The spiritual descendants of Abraham formed the nation of Israel. First, Abraham's seed Ishamael was rejected and then Isaac, the son of the promise, accepted. Then Rebekkah bore twins for Isaac. Jacob the son and seed of the promised accepted and the seed Esau rejected. Esau and Jacob were apparently fraternal twins with very similar genetics but very different spiritual focuses. I believe it was the faith of Abraham that was working through Isaac, Jacob and finally through the nation of Israel to bring forth the SEED of promise which was Christ.
The entire purpose of the covenant with Abraham was to bring forth a SEED that would save all of humanity from their sins.
Jacob had twelve sons, but only Joseph seem to have the special faith of Abraham. The other sons sold their brother into slavery, one committed adultery with one of their fathers wives and in general gave Jacob grief. Neverthles, the Lord chose to use the twelve sons of Jacob to create the holy nation that would bring forth the Messiah and saviour of mankind.
Of course Ishmael was loved by God, but he did not possess that special faith that God was looking for to bring forth the Messiah.
Ishmael and Esau were also the natural seed and genetics of Abraham but lacked the special faith. On the other hand, Rahab the Moabitess, Ruth the Canaanite, and Joseph's Egyptian wife apparently had the faith and because heirs to the faith of Abraham. Rahab and Ruth the non-Israelites became direct ancestors of David and the LOrd Jesus Christ in the flesh. It was the faith of Abraham that cause themselves to be joined to the nation of ancient Israel.
In Christ Jesus, the descendants of Ishamael have the same opportunity as all men to either accept or deny the gifts of God that come through faith in his son. They had the same choice in the Old Test. but the New Covenant in Christ Jesus has destroyed the veil that separates man from God. In Christ, we all become the spiritual sons of Abraham and heirs to all Abraham's promises and even greater promises added in the New Covenant in Jesus's blood. Some of the sons of Ishmael now sit at the banquet table with their brothers Isaac while the stubborn without faith gnash their teeth at the door of Christ refusing to enter the banquet set forth by God.
Emile |
