Genesis 17:20
As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.
And as for Ishmael
The name "Ishmael" means "God hears" in Hebrew, which is fitting given the context of this verse. Ishmael is the son of Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian maidservant. His account is one of divine attention and care, even though he is not the child of the covenant. This phrase indicates God's acknowledgment of Ishmael's place in Abraham's life and God's plan, despite the primary covenant being with Isaac.

I have heard you
This phrase underscores God's attentiveness to Abraham's concerns and prayers. The Hebrew root "shama" means to hear or listen, implying not just auditory reception but an understanding and response. It reflects God's personal relationship with Abraham, where God is responsive to his desires and petitions, even those concerning his son Ishmael.

behold, I will bless him
The word "behold" is often used in Scripture to draw attention to something significant. God's promise to "bless" Ishmael is a testament to His grace and generosity. The Hebrew word for bless, "barak," conveys a sense of divine favor and empowerment. This blessing is not just material but encompasses a holistic well-being and prosperity.

and make him fruitful
The concept of fruitfulness is deeply rooted in the creation mandate given to humanity in Genesis 1:28. It signifies growth, abundance, and the continuation of life. For Ishmael, being made fruitful is a divine promise of progeny and legacy, ensuring that his lineage will thrive.

and multiply him greatly
This phrase echoes the Abrahamic promise of numerous descendants. The Hebrew word "rabah" means to increase or become numerous. God's commitment to multiply Ishmael greatly is a reflection of His abundant provision and the fulfillment of His promises, even to those outside the primary covenant line.

He will be the father of twelve rulers
This prophecy about Ishmael's descendants is specific and significant. The number twelve often symbolizes completeness and governance in the Bible, as seen with the twelve tribes of Israel. Ishmael's twelve sons, who become tribal leaders, indicate a structured and influential lineage, fulfilling God's promise of greatness.

and I will make him into a great nation
The promise to make Ishmael into a "great nation" parallels the promise given to Abraham regarding Isaac. The Hebrew word "goy" for nation implies a distinct people group with its own identity and destiny. This assurance highlights God's sovereign plan and His ability to bring about greatness from unexpected places, showcasing His inclusive grace and the unfolding of His purposes beyond human limitations.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ishmael
The first son of Abraham, born to Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian maidservant. Ishmael is a significant figure as the recipient of God's promise of blessing and multiplication.

2. Abraham
The patriarch of the Israelites, to whom God made several covenants, including the promise of a son through Sarah and blessings for Ishmael.

3. Hagar
An Egyptian maidservant of Sarah, who bore Ishmael to Abraham. Her account is intertwined with God's promises to Abraham and Ishmael.

4. Twelve Rulers
Refers to the twelve sons of Ishmael, who became leaders of their own tribes, fulfilling God's promise of making Ishmael a great nation.

5. Great Nation
God's promise to make Ishmael's descendants into a significant and numerous people, highlighting God's faithfulness to His word.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness to His Promises
Despite Ishmael not being the child of the covenant, God still honors His promise to bless him, demonstrating His faithfulness.

God's Sovereignty in Blessing
God's decision to bless Ishmael shows that His plans and purposes extend beyond human expectations and limitations.

The Importance of Intercession
Abraham's concern for Ishmael and God's response highlight the power and importance of intercessory prayer.

Legacy and Influence
Ishmael's descendants becoming a great nation reminds us of the lasting impact of our lives and the importance of leaving a godly legacy.

Understanding God's Plan
While Ishmael was not the child through whom the covenant would be fulfilled, God's plan for him was still significant, teaching us to trust in God's broader purposes.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does God's promise to Ishmael in Genesis 17:20 reflect His character and faithfulness?

2. In what ways can we see the fulfillment of God's promise to Ishmael in later scriptures, and what does this teach us about God's timing?

3. How can Abraham's intercession for Ishmael inspire us in our prayer lives, especially for those outside of our immediate covenant community?

4. What lessons can we learn from the account of Ishmael about God's sovereignty and His ability to bless beyond human expectations?

5. How does the account of Ishmael and his descendants challenge us to consider the legacy we are leaving for future generations?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 16
Provides the background of Ishmael's birth and the initial promise of his future.

Genesis 21
Describes the fulfillment of God's promise to Ishmael as he grows and God is with him.

Genesis 25
Lists the twelve sons of Ishmael, confirming the fulfillment of God's promise of twelve rulers.

Galatians 4
Paul uses the account of Ishmael and Isaac to illustrate the difference between living under the law and living by the promise.
A Mother's PrayersGenesis 17:15-22
Abraham's DilemmaA. Fuller.Genesis 17:15-22
Abraham's Prayer Far IshmaelJ. W. Lance.Genesis 17:15-22
Abraham's Prayer for IshmaelThe Congregational PulpitGenesis 17:15-22
Abraham's Prayer for IshmaelH. Stowell, M. A.Genesis 17:15-22
Parental Duties and EncouragementsJ. A. James.Genesis 17:15-22
Passion, Impatience, and ExpediencyW. J. AcombGenesis 17:15-22
Prayers of a MotherW. Arthur.Genesis 17:15-22
SarahThe Homiletic ReviewGenesis 17:15-22
Sarah: Abraham's Wife and Isaac's MotherW. H. Davison.Genesis 17:15-22
The Clearer Revelation of Covenant BlessingsT. H. Leale.Genesis 17:15-22
The Love of the Worldly LifeM. Dix, D. D.Genesis 17:15-22
The Prayer for IshmaelHomilistGenesis 17:15-22
Why Ishmael Could not Inherit the Covenant BlessingJ. O. Dykes, DD.Genesis 17:15-22
People
Abram, Isaac, Ishmael, Sarah, Sarai
Places
Canaan
Topics
Beget, Behold, Bless, Blessed, Blessing, Chiefs, Ear, Exceedingly, Fertile, Fruitful, Greatly, Increase, Ishmael, Ish'mael, Multiplied, Multiply, Nation, Numbers, Prayer, Princes, Rulers, Surely, Truly, Twelve
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 17:20

     5078   Abraham, significance
     8257   fruitfulness, natural

Genesis 17:1-22

     5467   promises, divine
     7915   confirmation

Genesis 17:9-22

     5658   boys

Genesis 17:9-27

     5076   Abraham, life of

Genesis 17:18-20

     5738   sons

Genesis 17:18-22

     5686   fathers, examples

Genesis 17:19-21

     1348   covenant, with Abraham

Library
Consecration to God --Illustrated by Abraham's Circumcision
Let me remind you of the order in which these blessings come. If we should speak of sanctification or consecration, it is not as a first thing, but as an elevation to be reached only by preceding stepping-stones. In vain do men pretend to be consecrated to God before they are called of God's Spirit; such have yet to be taught that no strength of nature can suffice to serve the Lord aright. They must learn what this meaneth, "Ye must be born again," for assuredly until men are brought into spiritual
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 14: 1868

Abraham
(First Sunday in Lent) GENESIS xvii. 1, 2. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. I have told you that the Bible reveals, that is, unveils the Lord God, Jesus Christ our Lord, and through him God the Father Almighty. I have tried to show you how the Bible does so, step by step. I go on to show you another step which the Bible takes, and which explains much that has gone before. From
Charles Kingsley—The Gospel of the Pentateuch

With, Before, After
'Enoch walked with God,'--GENESIS v. 22. 'Walk before Me.'--GENESIS xvii. 1. 'Ye shall walk after the Lord your God.'--DEUTERONOMY xiii. 4. You will have anticipated, I suppose, my purpose in doing what I very seldom do--cutting little snippets out of different verses and putting them together. You see that these three fragments, in their resemblances and in their differences, are equally significant and instructive. They concur in regarding life as a walk--a metaphor which expresses continuity,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Balaam's Prophecy. (Numb. xxiv. 17-19. )
Carried by the Spirit into the far distant future, Balaam sees here how a star goeth out of Jacob and a sceptre riseth out of Israel, and how this sceptre smiteth Moab, by whose enmity the Seer had been brought from a distant region for the destruction of Israel. And not Moab only shall be smitten, but its southern neighbour, Edom, too shall be subdued, whose hatred against Israel had already been prefigured in its ancestor, and had now begun to display Itself; and In general, all the enemies of
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Birth and Early Life of John the Baptist.
(Hill Country of Judæa, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke I. 57-80. ^c 57 Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her [mercy in granting a child; great mercy in granting so illustrious a child] ; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass on the eighth day [See Gen. xvii. 12; Lev. xii. 3; Phil. iii. 5. Male children were named at their circumcision, probably
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Circumcision, Temple Service, and Naming of Jesus.
(the Temple at Jerusalem, b.c. 4) ^C Luke II. 21-39. ^c 21 And when eight days [Gen. xvii. 12] were fulfilled for circumcising him [The rite was doubtless performed by Joseph. By this rite Jesus was "made like unto his brethren" (Heb. ii. 16, 17); that is, he became a member of the covenant nation, and became a debtor to the law--Gal. v. 3] , his name was called JESUS [see Luke i. 59], which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. [Luke i. 31.] 22 And when the days of their
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Covenanting Sanctioned by the Divine Example.
God's procedure when imitable forms a peculiar argument for duty. That is made known for many reasons; among which must stand this,--that it may be observed and followed as an example. That, being perfect, is a safe and necessary pattern to follow. The law of God proclaims what he wills men as well as angels to do. The purposes of God show what he has resolved to have accomplished. The constitutions of his moral subjects intimate that he has provided that his will shall be voluntarily accomplished
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Power of God
The next attribute is God's power. Job 9:19. If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong.' In this chapter is a magnificent description of God's power. Lo, he is strong.' The Hebrew word for strong signifies a conquering, prevailing strength. He is strong.' The superlative degree is intended here; viz., He is most strong. He is called El-shaddai, God almighty. Gen 17:7. His almightiness lies in this, that he can do whatever is feasible. Divines distinguish between authority and power. God has both.
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Confessing Christ an Indispensable Duty.
"--If we deny him, he also will deny us." This is predicated of Christ; and looks forward to the day when all mankind will stand before him as their judge. Denying Christ is here declared to be a mortal sin. Those found guilty of it will hear that sentence--"Depart ye cursed!" But this is to be understood only of a persevering denial of him. Those who turn by a timely repentance, will find mercy. This is true of every sin. But repentance may be too late. It must antecede death, or it will be of
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

A Short and Easy Method of Prayer
CHAPTER I The Universal Call to Prayer What a dreadful delusion hath prevailed over the greater part of mankind, in supposing that they are not called to a state of prayer! whereas all are capable of prayer, and are called thereto, as all are called to and are capable of salvation. Prayer is the application of the heart to God, and the internal exercise of love. S. Paul hath enjoined us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. v 17), and our Lord saith, "I say unto you all, watch and pray" (Mark xiii.
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of Prayer

All are Commanded to Pray --Prayer the Great Means of Salvation
CHAPTER I. ALL ARE COMMANDED TO PRAY--PRAYER THE GREAT MEANS OF SALVATION, AND POSSIBLE AT ALL TIMES BY THE MOST SIMPLE. Prayer is nothing else but the application of the heart to God, and the interior exercise of love. St Paul commands us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. v. 17). Our Lord says: "Take ye heed, watch and pray." "And what I say unto you, I say unto all" (Mark xiii. 33, 37). All, then, are capable of prayer, and it is the duty of all to engage in it. But I do not think that all are
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents

Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation,
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Covenant of Grace
Q-20: DID GOD LEAVE ALL MANKIND TO PERISH 1N THE ESTATE OF SIN AND MISERY? A: No! He entered into a covenant of grace to deliver the elect out of that state, and to bring them into a state of grace by a Redeemer. 'I will make an everlasting covenant with you.' Isa 55:5. Man being by his fall plunged into a labyrinth of misery, and having no way left to recover himself, God was pleased to enter into a new covenant with him, and to restore him to life by a Redeemer. The great proposition I shall go
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Baptism
Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them,' &c. Matt 28: 19. I. The way whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemptions, is, in the use of the sacraments. What are the sacraments in general? They are visible signs of invisible grace. Is not the word of God sufficient to salvation? What need then is there of sacraments? We must not be wise above what is written. It is God's will that his church
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of the Eleventh
An unfinished commentary on the Bible, found among the author's papers after his death, in his own handwriting; and published in 1691, by Charles Doe, in a folio volume of the works of John Bunyan. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR Being in company with an enlightened society of Protestant dissenters of the Baptist denomination, I observed to a doctor of divinity, who was advancing towards his seventieth year, that my time had been delightfully engaged with John Bunyan's commentary on Genesis. "What,"
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Supplementary Note to Chapter ii. The Year of Christ's Birth.
The Christian era commences on the 1st of January of the year 754 of the city of Rome. That our Lord was born about the time stated in the text may appear from the following considerations-- The visit of the wise men to Bethlehem must have taken place a very few days after the birth of Jesus, and before His presentation in the temple. Bethlehem was not the stated residence of Joseph and Mary, either before or after the birth of the child (Luke i. 26, ii. 4, 39; Matt. ii. 2). They were obliged to
William Dool Killen—The Ancient Church

Peaceable Principles and True: Or, a Brief Answer to Mr. D'Anver's and Mr. Paul's Books against My Confession of Faith, and Differences in Judgment About Baptism no Bar to Communion.
WHEREIN THEIR SCRIPTURELESS NOTIONS ARE OVERTHROWN, AND MY PEACEABLE PRINCIPLES STILL MAINTAINED. 'Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?'--Psalm 58:1 SIR, I have received and considered your short reply to my differences in judgment about water baptism no bar to communion; and observe, that you touch not the argument at all: but rather labour what you can, and beyond what you ought, to throw odiums upon your brother for reproving you for your error,
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
[Sidenote: Influences in the exile that produced written ceremonial laws] The Babylonian exile gave a great opportunity and incentive to the further development of written law. While the temple stood, the ceremonial rites and customs received constant illustration, and were transmitted directly from father to son in the priestly families. Hence, there was little need of writing them down. But when most of the priests were carried captive to Babylonia, as in 597 B.C., and ten years later the temple
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

John Bunyan on the Terms of Communion and Fellowship of Christians at the Table of the Lord;
COMPRISING I. HIS CONFESSION OF FAITH, AND REASON OF HIS PRACTICE; II. DIFFERENCES ABOUT WATER BAPTISM NO BAR TO COMMUNION; AND III. PEACEABLE PRINCIPLES AND TRUE[1] ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Reader, these are extraordinary productions that will well repay an attentive perusal. It is the confession of faith of a Christian who had suffered nearly twelve years' imprisonment, under persecution for conscience sake. Shut up with his Bible, you have here the result of a prayerful study of those holy
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Promise to the Patriarchs.
A great epoch is, in Genesis, ushered in with the history of the time of the Patriarchs. Luther says: "This is the third period in which Holy Scripture begins the history of the Church with a new family." In a befitting manner, the representation is opened in Gen. xii. 1-3 by an account of the first revelation of God, given to Abraham at Haran, in which the way is opened up for all that follows, and in which the dispensations of God are brought before us in a rapid survey. Abraham is to forsake
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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