Post by Zac Loh on Jun 28, 2010 13:20:42 GMT -5
Covenanted Isaac Blessing
Genesis 17:20-21
And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” (Genesis 17:20-21)
Ishmael would be blessed. But Ishmael was incidental. Ishmael was Abraham’s and Sarah’s doing. God did not plan Ishmael. Yet God blessed. I call this Incidental Ishmael Blessing.
I feel so sad for many Christian who stayed put at Incidental Ishmael Blessing. Yes, God blessed their careers/businesses, health and families. True indeed, God blessed – the work of their hands, the fruit of their labor, their loved ones.
But they missed out on God’s better blessing. Either they are ignorant that God has a better blessing in store waiting for them or they quietly opt to remain - refusing to move on – refusing to move out of the comfort zone.
To move from Incidental Ishmael Blessing to Covenanted Isaac Blessing, one has to be willing to forsake human reliance, to move into a territory where there is no ready strategy nor set formula nor easy life.
Ishmael was a natural child. Isaac was a supernatural child. No human making can produce an Isaac without God’s divine intervention.
Through Isaac, came Israel, came Christ, and came salvation for the whole world. The Covenanted Isaac Blessing is God’s specific plan for you in this world.
The covenanted Isaac Blessing zone is where you are willing to pay the price to develop your gifting, calling and ministry.
Have you settled for God’s second best in Incidental Ishmael Blessing?
Genesis 17:20-21
And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” (Genesis 17:20-21)
Ishmael would be blessed. But Ishmael was incidental. Ishmael was Abraham’s and Sarah’s doing. God did not plan Ishmael. Yet God blessed. I call this Incidental Ishmael Blessing.
I feel so sad for many Christian who stayed put at Incidental Ishmael Blessing. Yes, God blessed their careers/businesses, health and families. True indeed, God blessed – the work of their hands, the fruit of their labor, their loved ones.
But they missed out on God’s better blessing. Either they are ignorant that God has a better blessing in store waiting for them or they quietly opt to remain - refusing to move on – refusing to move out of the comfort zone.
To move from Incidental Ishmael Blessing to Covenanted Isaac Blessing, one has to be willing to forsake human reliance, to move into a territory where there is no ready strategy nor set formula nor easy life.
Ishmael was a natural child. Isaac was a supernatural child. No human making can produce an Isaac without God’s divine intervention.
Through Isaac, came Israel, came Christ, and came salvation for the whole world. The Covenanted Isaac Blessing is God’s specific plan for you in this world.
The covenanted Isaac Blessing zone is where you are willing to pay the price to develop your gifting, calling and ministry.
Have you settled for God’s second best in Incidental Ishmael Blessing?