Genesis 17:18

Memory Verse

And Abraham said to the God, “If only Ishmael should live before Your face.” Genesis 17:18.

After changing his name and making a new covenant with Abram, God spoke to Abraham about his wife. Not only would Abraham’s name change—Sarai’s would too, for she would be the mother of nations and kings (Genesis 17:15–16). However, Abraham did not understand how this was possible, since Sarai was ninety years old when God made this promise (Genesis 17:17). Faced with this, Abraham asked whether it could be Ishmael who would live before God instead.

Ishmael, however, was not born out from faith but was a result of Sarai’s skepticism. After Hagar became pregnant, she realized her error (Genesis 16:5). This was not what God had promised. Because of this, God rejected Abraham’s request regarding Ishmael.

Instead, the son of promise would come through Sarah. Her son would be called Isaac, and God would establish His covenant through this son (Genesis 17:19). Yet, although Ishmael was not the son of promise, God did not disregard Abraham’s request entirely. God would still make Ishmael’s seed multiply, and twelve kings would be born to him (Genesis 17:20).