OT Characters: Ishmael

<p>For more notes and resources check out Douglas' <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/ot8-ishmaelmp3/" target="_blank">website</a>.</p><p><strong>Hebrew words:</strong></p><ul><li><i>Yishma'el </i>(Ishmael) -- God hears.</li><li>The point: God hears, and cares for, and works in the lives of all human beings -- not just the covenant people.</li><li>Note: the translations used in this podcast are the CSB and NASB.</li></ul><p><strong>Further study:</strong></p><ul><li>Biblical:<ul><li>Genesis 16:9-16: Ishmael is born as a result of human attempts to receive (accelerate) God's promises, after Sarah and Abraham had waited 11 years. In contrast, Isaac, born 14 years later -- 25 years after the promise was given -- was clearly the work of God. His birth was possible only because of the Lord.</li><li>Genesis 17:20, 23-26; 21:8-21; 25:7-17 (35:29).</li><li>Galatians 4:21-5:1; Revelation 3:12; 21:2, 10.</li><li>Ishmael and the Ishmaelites are mentioned in Genesis 16, 17, 25, 28, 36, 37; Judges 8:24; Psalm 83.</li></ul></li><li>Study Paul's use of <i>flesh</i> and <i>spirit </i>and <i>law</i> in Galatians and Romans. Flesh is the human tendency to take matters into our own hands, rather than trusting God to work in our lives. In connection with this, read the interesting articles on <a href="http://www.douglasjacoby.com/human-nature-by-michael-cameron/" target="_blank">Human Nature</a> and <a href="http://www.douglasjacoby.com/driven-men/">Driven Men</a>.</li><li>Extrabiblical:<ul><li>Read about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_view_of_Ishmael" target="_blank">Qur'anic view</a> of Ishmael, <i>'Isma'il</i> in Arabic. Seeking legitimacy, the Muslims eventually chose Ishmael as an "ancestor," although in fact many of the Arab peoples have no Ishmaelite blood in their veins at all.</li><li>If you want to learn more about Islam, <i>Jesus and Islam</i> (2009) has lots of material.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Some things we learn about God:</strong></p><ul><li>God often reverses the natural order of things.