Question for the Blogged Bible Study
Two sons born to Abraham, one son strictly from a union of flesh representing the law, and the son of promise representing the Messiah to come. God even referred to Isaac as Abraham’s only son.
“Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”” – Gen 22:2
I looked up seven translations/versions of the Bible and found thal all but one (The Message) used the term only son, referring to Isaac. Abraham had two sons, and God actually conferred a blessing on Ishmael after he was cast out of Abraham’s camp, along with his mother.
What might God’s reference to Isaac as Abraham’s only son signify to us as believers? I don’t think Is there a principal there that we can apply to our lives?
And by the way, I’m still working on it, in case you think I would be asking questions for which I thought I had an answer.
🙂
The Battle Cry 
Hagar was a legal wife, so Ishmael was legitimate. Even tho there are scriptures that say only son, there are others like:
Genesis 21:13 “When Ishmael and Hagar were sent away it was clear that Ishmael was not to be the rightful heir, but it is also clear that Ishmael would remain Abraham’s son. God said, “And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.” that indicate he was viewed as Abraham’s son.
Genesis 25:12 “Also, “Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham:” Gen 25:12.” and
Gen 25:9 “Even after Abraham died Ishmael is still called Abraham son. “And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah…”
It’s a chiasm. it’s an idea that is placed in a special order, in a mirrored structure to emphasize them. Like in Matthew 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.” A chiasm places the last first and the first last. When you break one down, the letters on the right are used to show which parts of the chiasm correspond to each other…like a mirror image, the second half reflects the first. Other chiasms are, Cain is born first, Abel last, but Abel’s offering is accepted and Cain’s isn’t.
Ishmael is born first, and Isaac last, but Ishmael is rejected in the Messiah’s lineage and Isaac is accepted.
David was rejected by his brothers but ended up in the Messiah’s bloodline…
The ones who are rejected are rejected only from the bloodline of Christ…they are not being rejected by His love. It is not about the individual, but the bloodline that Jesus came through. So making it all about Jesus, God calls israel His firstborn son, yet He calls Jesus His “ONLY” begotten Son, which pretty much echos His words to Abraham in Genesis 22:2 “”And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac…”
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Ishmael was surely a legitimate son of Abraham’s flesh, but not the legitimate son of God’s promise to Abraham?
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Wow, there is a whole “thing” that goes with this, I’m not sure how much detail to get into, but yes, that’s what I think it means. Look at these scriptures:
Exodus 4:22 “Israel is my son, even my firstborn”
Luke 3:38 “Adam, which was the son of God.”
He even calls you and I sons of God Romans 8:14 “”For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” John 1:12 “”But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:” ….. and several more. Yet there was only one, Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the promise. That’s why I say, it had to do with bloodline. Isaac was the one that God chose, had in mind, when He made the promise. I don’t believe he loved Ishmael any less, but He was not the one predestined for the promise to be fulfilled. Good lesson in trying to help God along when He gives us a promise. His plan will still come to pass, but He is not the Burger King, we can’t have it our way.
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Excellent point, Deb! John 1:12 tells us who is a true child of God. We are all God’s creation but not all God’s true children.
I wonder if that contrast is a picture of what is called “common grace” that is extended to all and the “special grace” extended to those God chose to become His true children. The same could be said of the fact that God blessed both Isasc and Ishmael, but Isaac was the true child of promise.
Just thinking out loud.
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