Hagar and the Angel of the Lord

“As for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly.” (Genesis 17:20). This text, whether one holds that Ishmael is elect or reprobate, cannot validly be used to prove the common grace theory that God has a general goodness out of which He bestows common blessings upon all men, including the reprobate. For there are many opposed to the idea of common grace who interpret this text to mean that God would bless Ishmael, not...