Abraham

Now Abram loved Sarai very much. Sarai thought certainly her young servant Hagar could have a baby with Abram. Abram listened to Sarai and went along with her plan for having a baby. Hagar was obedient to her boss Sarai. So soon Abram and Hagar gave birth to a son called Ishmael. It was Sarai's plan that Hagar would have a baby but Sarai was jealous so from that day on she treated Hagar very harshly. None of this was a part of God's will but God still has a plan. God loved Hagar and blessed Hagar and Ishmael.   I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.*   After this God returned to Abram.   Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. "No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.*   Today the Arabs share Abraham as their father through Ishmael. God blessed and created a mighty nation of people through Ishmael. God loved Abraham; God loved Ishmael and God loves the Arab people.   The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.*   The good news is that our plans may go sour but God loves us and directs our steps so we do not stumble.   Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.*   Genesis 16:10, 17:3-5, Proverbs 16:9, Jude 1:24 (NASB)

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