Gen 17:18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” 19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son,…
Abraham and Sarah needed to patiently wait for the Lord for a son. Inevitably, they got restless and attempted to answer their own supplications by bringing Ishmael. They felt time was running out as they aged.
Ishmael is the man-made answered prayer and not God’s. God’s promise of the seed was through Sarah his wife, not Hagar the servant.
I see how praying and waiting patiently for the Lord have yielded fruits. There are some areas when I look back it felt like I missed my Isaac (a true blessing). Nothing was coming forth and thought of settling for Ishmael (man-made promise). True story, I patiently waited for 8 years to meet my bride. It wasn’t the easiest time. Regularly I had a feeling that I had missed God’s will for my life. Days of discouragements were there but I held on to His word. In His time He blessed me with Judy (my wife of 14 years). I am thankful to God I waited for His true blessing.
God knows how to give the best. The individuals wishing to settle down, don’t give up on God. Don’t doubt His love and ability, and most definitely, don’t settle for an Ishmael when God has designed an Isaac for you. One is a true blessing from the Lord, the other is a false blessing made by man. What God gives, He blesses. A final thought, It’s not that the Lord is preparing the blessing for you, the blessing is ready, you are the one who needs preparation that is the difference.