Gen 17:18
And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!”

We see the heart of Abraham for his son through Hagar, Ishmael.

Abraham loved him.

We often forget this.

Our attention is usually drawn exclusively to the child of the Promise…the one yet to come.

Ishmael was around 12 years of age.

Consider how Abraham must have felt about Ishmael.
He loved him.
He desired that he would live before the Lord.
He desired that he would share in the promise of God.

Abraham would likely have known of the promise that the Lord had made to Hagar…that Ishmael would be the father of many.

Yet, Abraham knew that he needed to “live before You”.

Abraham was not questioning the Lord as to the child to come.
Abraham was interceding for the child that was.

Never give up.
Bring the children before the Lord.

May they live before Him.