Abraham was an adulterer. God gave him a promise of a son, and yet Sarah, who doubted, took matters into her own hands and offered up Hagar as a ‘surrogate’ mother for Abraham’s son. This wasn’t God’s plan at all, and we see what happened as a result....the nation of Islam.
Abraham sinned, he was not perfect. His righteousness was credited to him because of his FAITH and not works. Each man, indeed even prophets, fail and sin. There is no one righteous not ONE. Even Abraham, but his faith MADE him righteous.
The New Testament pays great tribute to Abraham, the man of faith. His name appears 30 times in the gospels, 8 times in Acts (5 in one sermon), and 32 times in the epistles. When a New Testament writer wanted to teach a lesson on the nature of or importance of faith, Abraham was the model. When Paul taught about the righteousness which exists through faith, Abraham was the model (Rom. 4). When Paul taught that all people became the heirs of God’s promises through faith, Abraham was the foundation of the lessons (Gal. 3). In Hebrews’ roll call of the people of faith, one section pays tribute to Abraham’s sojourning and another to his offering of Isaac (Heb. 11). When James taught that obedient works were the natural expression of a living faith, Abraham’s faith was a primary evidence (Jas. 2).
When the Christian properly understands Abraham’s faith which was reckoned for righteousness, he will understand the faith which will allow him to be righteous before God.
Keep reading, chapter 21:
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. I will make him a great nation.
It might seem politically correct for you to judge the actions of one nation born out of the seed of Abraham, but you are not in a position to play God. The Muslims didn't come into existence until the 5th or 6th century after Christ. The children of Abraham through Ishmael are indeed a great nation, and was part of his plan.
The lord sent his angel to help and support Hagar. This is not the things of man.
Also, in Chapter 16, the angel of the Lord tells Hagar to return to Sarai and Abraham after Sarai chases her off, and the angel tells her she is with child, and will bear a son and call him Ishmael.
Pretty amazing happenings from angels and God to the adulterer mistress and seed of an adulterer!!!
Further, in Chapter 17 of Genises, the Lord Himself promises Abraham that Ishmael would begat 12 prices, and would become a great nation.
Gen. 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
The promises to Abraham was that the whole earth would be blessed with his posterity, not just the chosen people through Issac. The fact that multiple wives were a factor in making this happen does not diminish my respect for the prophets of old. I'm truly sorry that it does to you.
The fact cannot be ignored that the nations of the earth were peopled through Abraham, Issac and Jacob, as well as Ishmael and Abraham's other seed, all using multiple wives to make it happen.
Now, I really must go. Perhaps another time!
But...
But - what about his WORKS???
Don't THEY count for anything??
--MormonDude(Workin' my way back to you, Babe)