This question is about the Covenant of Abraham with God.?

Question

According to the Bible, Abraham has sons by two women -- his previously infertile wife Sarah and a slave girl named Hajar. Hajar gave birth to a son named Ishmael and Sarah gave birth to a son named Isaac. According to the Bible, why is Isaac the only son included in God's Covenant? However, the Covenant was between God, Abraham, and Abraham's desecendants (sons) not with Sarah or Hajar.

Answer 1

Good question.

Im just here to read the answers as Ive no proper knowledge related to this area.

I hope people state verses too.

Answer 2

God's intentions were for Sarah to have a son. God never wanted Abraham to have a son wtih Hagar the salve woman. God wanted the covenant to be given to a descendant of both Abraham and Sarah. Part of the giving of the covenant from God to Abraham involved Abraham having faith that God will provide a Sarah a child. Great Question by the way. Ask more like this.

Answer 3

Isaac was given by promise to Abraham. Ishmael was born by flesh. Galations 4:22,23. God told Abraham that he would have a son by his own wife and that He would establish His covenant with THAT son. Gen. 17:19,21. God made provisions for Ismael also in saying that He would make him fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, and that he would have 12 princes and be a great nation. Gen.17:20.
Abraham even asked God about Ishmael...because he thought he was to be the promised heir. Gen. 17:18. But God had His own plan. And even though Hagar had come to believe in the true God, the influence of her earlier Egyptian training proved to be decisive in the life of Ishmael and his sons, for his descendants became pagans.

Answer 4

1) God *also* made a covenant with Abraham with respect to Ishmael - a separate covenant.

Gen 17:18-21
18. And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!"
19. But God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
20. "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
21. "But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year."

2) Isaac was the son that God promised He would provide for Abraham and through whom he would make his descendants number like the grains of sand. Ishmael was also Abraham's son, but not the "son of promise". (Gal 4:21-31)

Jim, http://www.life-after-harry-potter.com

Answer 5

Read the Bible again. God's covenant was not between Abraham and his descendants, it was between God and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Ishmael did not fit in, nor did Esau)

Genesis 17:19 But God said, "No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

Answer 6

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Galatians 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.