Ishmael or Israel, Who did God choose?

Pastor Tony Butler

Prattville Alliance Church

Gen. 16:10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. 11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. 12 And he will be a wild (Heb. Pere – def. wild ass) man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

Ishmael was the firstborn son of Abraham. He was not the promised seed of God but the product of human endeavor in order to help God out. As usual, when man tries to do things his way instead of God’s way, the law of unintentional consequences comes into play. In this case it resulted in the birth of the Arab nation. The promised seed of Abraham was Isaac through whom Jacob would come, who in turn would give birth to the twelve tribes of Israel. The land of Canaan was promised by God to them, not Ishmael. The Arabs rightly claim that Abraham was their father, and that Ishmael was the firstborn of Abraham. As the firstborn they believe Ishmael and his seed should receive the inheritance of the land. This is a wrong conclusion simply because God gave it to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Israel. God calls Ishmael a wild ass whose hand will be against every man. This truth of the Arab nations, coupled with the acceptance of Islam through the false prophet Mohammed in 600 AD, has created grief to the whole world. Islam is a globalist ideology that calls its adherents to conquer with the sword. All pagans, Jews and Christians are their enemies. The Jesus they believe in will return to the earth to destroy all Christians and Jews.

Israel is the chosen nation of God to whom He gave the land. Read Genesis twelve for the truth. (And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curse thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed Gen 12:3; In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: Gen. 15:18) Believe God and stand with Israel.