As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him and will make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly

 Good morning. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him and will make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly (still very true today). He shall become the father of 12 princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year. [My Bible says that the apostle Paul cites the choice of Isaac and not Ishmael as one proof of God‘s sovereign right to choose to save by grace alone.] When He finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham (which sounds like God was physically present with Abraham). Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those with him, every male in his household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the very same day, as God had said to him. [My Bible points out that Abraham was characterized by prompt obedience.] Father help us to be characterized by prompt obedience to You.

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