Thursday, August 10, 2006

Ishmael Often Precedes Isaac
Several months ago I began to share a word the Lord has placed in my spirit concerning the arrival of Isaac in our lives. Isaac means joy, and prophetically speaks of the arrival of what God has promised into our lives. We know that often God speaks a prophetic word into our spirits and that we must be willing to wait on that promise or we may become foolish in our flesh and create for ourselves a substitute. In the case of Abraham, there was 25 years between the time God promised him a son and the birth of Isaac...in between that time Abraham and Sarah impatient and created Ishmael...and he created problems...the flesh is always too much for us to handle! The name Ishmael means God Hears, the Bible says of Ishmael that he would be a wild ass of a man, a wild man that would produce wild children. As you read the account of Isaac and Ishmael you quickly find that these were not loving brothers, from early on there was conflict. In our spiritual lives Ishmael often precedes Isaac, in our desire to produce what God has promised we get hasty, make quick decisions, and take things into our own hands. Sometimes we mean well, in fact, most of the time, our intentions are right, we're just in a hurry to help God along, and as the result we produce something that we have a hard time living with. The tragedy of it is that we want what is best for us, but are willing to settle for less just to say we have something...all the while God is saying, "Just hang in there, Isaac is coming!" As I look at the events of our day I know that Isaac is coming, that we will see the fulfillment of the prophetic word, that the last days are here and will be filled with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit...I also know that we will have to contend with Ishmael, the wild man that is fighting to find his place...don't settle for less...wait for the best!

4 comments:

Jesse said...

Good word Pastor Neil! In our microwave society we've lost the art of waiting on the Lord for His promises to be fulflled. I'm reminded of that scripture that says in essence, "God is not slack concerning His promises" I'm finding myself more and more identifying with Peter. I'm jealous of those who like John, do everything right, and seem to be God's golden child, thankfully we have Peter, who as you mentioned last night, cussed and got angry, yet was still used of Him when he got it right with the Master, he too had to wait, yet Jesus' promise to him came to pass!

Unknown said...

Thanks Neil ,this is so true, i know in my own life that im very impatiant ,God has told me some awesome things about my life but to my natural eyes it seems imposible or im just plain tierd of waiting, so i to do things i think that will""hurry up God"" but it fails and falls apart becase it was me and not God!!I know that my issac will come , IN GODS TIMEING, and I must keep my spiritual eyes open and focused on him .

Henry Haney said...

Good word- satan seems to always offer a counterfeit just before the real deal comes along. May God give us the grace to wait for a spiritual answer!

The book of Hebrews has a lot to say about faith, but sometimes we forget that it is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God! (Heb 6:12)

ruthrap said...

just wanted to say HI! and i'm readin' ya!!