Abram was 86 years old when Ishmael was born, and he was 99 years old before God spoke to him again. That is thirteen long years!
God's silence was indicative of His displeasure with Abram, because Abram had violated the unilateral Covenant that God had entered with him. Abram violated the Covenant by impregnating Hagar, so God did not communicate with him for thirteen long years after the birth of Hagar's son [Ishmael].
The first words that came from God's mouth when He finally appeared to Abram again, was: "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." Genesis 17:1
Whoa! What a way to greet someone you dearly love. Especially when it has been as long as thirteen years!
Abram probably expected God to be more pleasant when He would return again, but instead of joyous words God told him right away to straighten up! In more accurate words, He told Abram to stop violating the Covenant, and walk righteously before Him!
"And Abram was fourscore and six years old [86 years old], when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine [99 years old], the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." Genesis 16:16 and Genesis 17:1
Its obvious that Abram had joyous times with his son [Ishmael] during the thirteen silent years, because the bible scriptures talk about how he loved Ishmael. On the other hand, I'm sure Abram miss his fellowship with God too.
After God spoke those stern words to Abram, he understood clearly why it took Him so long to talk to him again!
Even though God's words might have shocked Abram at first, I really believe he was well aware that he had broken the Covenant with God, even before God returned from the thirteen silent years treatment. He and his wife [Sarai] had a disscussion before God reappeared, that leads me to believe this way:
"And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom. . ." Genesis 16:5
I also believe that the silent years treatment from God came as a result of the following three primary reasons, in conjunction to Abram violating the Covenant:
- 1. It was a cooling off period for God.
Several years after God converted Abram and Sarai into Abraham and Sarah, Sarah got tired of Ishmael persecuting her son [Isaac], and ask Abraham to get rid of Hagar and her son from their house. But Abraham didn't want to do it, until God spoke up and reinforced what Sarah asked him to do. Then Abraham sent them both on their journey to Egypt.
"And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called." Genesis 21:9 - 12
Abram's sin with Hagar caused Ishmael to be born in sin, and out of the will of God. Primarily because God had promised Abram that he would have a son from his own bowels. Which meant that the child would come from Abram and his Covenant wife, Sarai. Both Abram and Sarai's bloodlines were pure [Meaning, their ancestry linkage to Adam was free from violations of the Covenants that God had previously established with Adam and Noah.]
Hagar's bloodline was not of the pure blood from Adam. She was an Egyptian, and her acestry linkage traced back to Noah's evil son, called Ham. Ham's bloodline was pure until he violated a previously established Covenant of God for all men to keep.
Have you ever wondered why the Bible contains so many people in the old Testament who married within the same family?
For example:- Cousins married each other,
It was because of the promise that God made to Adam, Eve and Satan, in Genesis 3:15.
"And I will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman [Eve], and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Genesis 3:15
The blood of Adam and Eve had to be kept pure until the seed called Jesus the Anointed One was born in the earth!
Be Blessed, and enjoy all future articles from Robert J. Parker, Sr.
Robert J. Parker, Sr., is one of the owners of The Storehouse Center Ministries (TSCM}, and we ask you to please make a generous donation to our ministry by click on the PayPal button below:
