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A Man Known For His Faith?


Annette

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I read that Abraham was a man known for his faith. And if the Bible says it, I do not want to doubt it. 

But I do wonder what thoughts people have, when it comes to him choosing a woman other than his wife to be the father to Ishmael.

Was it an acceptable thing to do in his time?

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No, it wasn't. But the Bible never says he was perfect. David was "a man after God's own heart" and he peeped on a married woman bathing, called her to the castle, and then had her husband murdered to cover it up. Even the best of us stumble, and it should be well-remembered that we are open to failure at a moment's notice when we let our guard down against temptation and sin.

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So true. I guess that is something we can all benefit from reading and learning. 

I also thought of David as I wrote this question. His life is another example of how our lives can be influenced by our own actions and sometimes even with forgiveness there is still the consequence to deal with.

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You ask a very good question. In those days, in most of the cultures at that time in history, if a woman was barren, she would choose a maidservant for her husband to impregnate, then, when time for delivery came the pregnant maidservant would lay between the wife's legs and give birth, the child then belonging to the wife, not the maidservant.  Please note that this was a "cultural custom" known to both Abraham and Sarah. After waiting nearly 75 years, we can understand their impatience at the promise of God.

The result of that whole affair was the creation of the Arab nation/culture and today's perpetual conflict.  Nowhere in God's Word does any sort of cultural custom supercede God's law or God's Word. So Abraham made a mistake by agreeing to what his wife wanted to do. In the flesh we could say that Abraham was just a horny old man, but I don't think that's true. When Ishmael grew up, even though Abraham loved him, Sarah despised him and made Abraham's life very uncomfortable until he sent them away after Isaac was born.

Hence Paul's scriptural admonition, "all things are lawful, but not all things are expedient."

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On 4/12/2017 at 4:38 PM, Annette said:

I read that Abraham was a man known for his faith....

Welcome~!

~

By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son; even he to whom it was said, "In Isaac will your descendants be called;"

concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead.


Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead. Hebrews 11:17-19 (New Heart English Bible)

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Blessings Annette....

   Welcome to Worthy.....you have indeed asked a very good question and is wonderful to see you are reading the Word of God.....are you a Christian,it may sound like an odd question if you are but the "Seekers Lounge" is the place unbelievers,Seekers & guest come to ask us questions about are Faith...are you seeking the Way,the Truth & the Life......only ONE is all that & much more,,,Jesus Christ,Messiah                                                                  With love-in Christ,Kwik

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It took a very long time from the first time that God said that Abraham and Sarah would have a child to the time they actually did.

25 years.  Twenty. five. years! :blink:

Most people - even the faithful ones - aren't good with patience.  And both Abraham AND Sarah had ideas about how to help God out with his plans. 

  • Abraham wanted to use his faithful servant as his heir.  He even went to God about it and told him "let's use this guy".  God said no.  [He even later said to God - let's use Ishmael.]  God said the heir would come from his own body which by the time God was ready for Isaac to be conceived  - was impotent.  So says Hebrews 11.
  • Sarah, too, was "past the time of women" and her plan was to use her handmaiden.  Since God has told Abraham the heir would come from his own body - he agreed to the plan.  Sarah could not conceive. So, it made sense to Abraham.  Ergo, Ishmael was born.

It's not that Abraham and Sarah didn't have faith in God to believe him about an heir - they just couldn't wrap their heads around a miracle for them both and made human plans to bring God's plans to fruition [no pun intended].

Abraham laughed at their both being unable to bear children in Genesis 17.  In Genesis 18, Sarah laughs at the same thing.

Ergo, the son of the promise is named "laughter" - Isaac.

It wasn't a lack of faith.

It was trying to help God out - and we all do that from time to time.

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5 hours ago, FresnoJoe said:

Welcome~!

~

By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son; even he to whom it was said, "In Isaac will your descendants be called;"

concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead.


Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead. Hebrews 11:17-19 (New Heart English Bible)

Thank you, appreciate your response.

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4 hours ago, kwikphilly said:

Blessings Annette....

   Welcome to Worthy.....you have indeed asked a very good question and is wonderful to see you are reading the Word of God.....are you a Christian,it may sound like an odd question if you are but the "Seekers Lounge" is the place unbelievers,Seekers & guest come to ask us questions about are Faith...are you seeking the Way,the Truth & the Life......only ONE is all that & much more,,,Jesus Christ,Messiah                                                                  With love-in Christ,Kwik

Thank you Kwik,

I appreciate your response. I do love God. As I have been reading through my Bible, this is something I have wonded about. And thought others may have some thoughts on too.

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On 4/12/2017 at 5:38 PM, Annette said:

I read that Abraham was a man known for his faith. And if the Bible says it, I do not want to doubt it. 

But I do wonder what thoughts people have, when it comes to him choosing a woman other than his wife to be the father to Ishmael.

Was it an acceptable thing to do in his time?

I think Abraham's story is something that speaks to me at least as that which warns what happens when we grow impatient with God's timetable for our life. I do believe God used it all for furtherance of his intentions for this world. And for Abraham and his future as well.

Did you notice also that none of God's chosen men of prophecy and destiny were perfect? They all had their human flaws. And yet God used them to further his kingdom. When we think we're not good enough that's a great reminder that we are able to serve God and his purpose.

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