Isaac, Ishmael and Jesus

In the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, we are told the stories of Isaac and Ishmael who were Abraham’s sons. Isaac was the promised son through Sarah. Ishmael was the son from their mistrust in God.

Now Abraham is the Father of Faith. He made a covenant with God. He had faith in God. He was going to sacrifice Isaac because God told him to do so. And because God had made a covenant with Abraham, Abraham knew that God would provide another way. So, as Abraham went through with his son’s sacrifice, he just kept trusting in God. How difficult would that be? Your precious child bound to an altar to be sacrificed? That, my friend, is trust in God! And yes, God came through with a ram in the thicket for Abraham’s sacrifice.

Abraham did some things that were not God’s plan, like becoming the father of Ishmael through Hagar, but Abraham loved Ishmael too and God made provision for him as well.

When Jesus bore everything including death, that sacrifice provided for the benefit of all. Even though Isaac was the son of promise and his seed after him receives the benefit of Jesus’ sacrifice, Ishmael’s seed can also receive the benefit of Jesus’ sacrifice. Isn’t that wonderful news! It doesn’t matter if you were born out of wedlock, or in a third world country, or in horrible circumstances. You can be saved through Jesus Christ – the same way those who seem to have a better life than you also can.

Jesus is Lord and Saviour of all that will receive Him. The Bible says that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord before the end. So, you have a glorious opportunity to receive Him and all that He has provided, not only to go to Heaven after we leave this earth, but also, right here, right now you can have a successful life on earth. It starts with Jesus. Ask Him to come into your heart and be your Lord and Saviour now. Ask Him to take your life and do something wonderful with it. When you do with your whole heart, He forgives you of all of your sins (sin means missing the mark) and washes you clean as though you had never sinned. And welcome to the family of God, our creator, our Heavenly Father, the One who loves us.