Scripture Daily

Context No. 4085 of 4322 · Genesis

Context · Reflection

Genesis 25:12-18: in context

12Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. 13These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes, according to their nations. 17These are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up his spirit and died, and was gathered to his people. 18They lived from Havilah to Shur that is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria. He lived opposite all his relatives.

This short genealogy records the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son by Hagar, listing twelve sons who became twelve princes. It is easy to pass over such a list, but it is quietly significant. Ishmael was not the child of promise; that was Isaac. And yet God had made a promise concerning Ishmael too, that he would make him a great nation, that he would have twelve princes.

And here, in the genealogy, we see that promise kept: twelve sons, twelve princes, according to their tribes. God's faithfulness extends even beyond the main line of his covenant purposes. Ishmael was, in a sense, set aside from the covenant that ran through Isaac, and yet God did not forget the promise he had made about him, or fail to care for him and his descendants. The God who kept his central promise through Isaac also kept his word about Ishmael. God keeps his word, all of it, even the promises that seem secondary to the main story. And his care reaches even to those outside the direct line of his special purposes.

Do I trust that God keeps all his promises, even those that seem secondary, and that his care and faithfulness reach even to those who might seem outside the main line of his purposes?

Sources