Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 16:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 16:10

"And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude."

The angel is speaking to Hagar, who was Sarai's maid. She was given by Sarai to Abram to be his wife and bear her children. Hagar bore a son and his name was called Ishmael. Why did Ishmael not receive the blessing of Abraham if he was the first born son?

I think these scriptures help explain it.

"They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham."

(John 8:39-40)

This was Jesus Christ speaking to the Jews who were Abraham's seed through Isaac and Jacob. If they did not believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God, then they would not be counted as Abraham's children.

If we are the literal seed of Abraham or adopted into it, it all comes down to do we believe in Jesus Christ. If the answer is yes then we would do the work of Abraham to inherit those promised blessings.

"This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham, and the promise was made unto Abraham; and by his law is the continuation of the works of my Father, wherein he glorifieth himself.

Go ye, therefore, and do the works of Abraham; enter ye into my law and ye shall be saved.

But if ye enter not into my law ye cannot receive the promise of my Father, which he made unto Abraham"

(Doctrine and Covenants 132:31-33)

Day 2175