November 8, 2020
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Reading along with us in Genesis? Here’s today’s reading:
Genesis 21 (ESV)
The Birth of Isaac
1 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.......Continue Reading
Enduring Word drew attention to the parallels between the birth of Isaac and the birth of Jesus that I found interesting.
· Both were specially promised sons.
· Both conceptions were miraculous.
· Both were born after a period of delay.
· Both mothers were given assurance by truth of God’s omnipotence (Genesis 18:13-14; Luke 1:34, 37).
· Both were given names rich with meaning before they were born.
· Both births occurred at God’s appointed time (Genesis 21:2; Galatians 4:4).
· Both births were accompanied by great joy (Genesis 21:6; Luke 1:46-47; 2:10-11).
Genesis 21
My faithful God keeps promises. I remember His promises, and I have a faith that He will fulfill the promises in my life.
Genesis 21
It is hard for me to say how I would feel if I were Sarah. On the one hand, great joy at bearing the child of promise in my old age. On the other hand, the evidence of my lack of faith living in my household and mocking my toddler.
I know that in today’s world, sending Ishmael and Hagar away seems mean and cruel of Abraham. It is interesting to look at God’s plan for Ishmael clearly given. This also required faith on Hagar’s part. She ALSO heard from God, “And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”
It is not that God doesn’t have a plan for Ishmael, it is that His plan for the redemption of ALL mankind will come through Isaac.
1Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.
We are so fortunate that we have a God who keeps His promises; that we can rely on Him rather than ourselves or other humans.
12But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 13And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.”
Genesis 21
Genesis 21
I too was struck by the first verse of this chapter “Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what He had promised”. How faithful God is and how powerful to do the impossible! He accents His plan by doing special things. So Isaac is born and Abraham follows the covenant by circumcising him on the 8th day.
It amazes me though, that the very one that Sarah gave to Abraham to have a child with is sent away because of a childish act. Maybe it would have eventually become untenable for them to stay, but the inherent conflict that exists is exactly what would have been avoided if they had trusted God from the beginning. It is also interesting that God will make Ishmael a great nation because He is Abraham’s son (Ie every son of Abraham receives a promise to become a great nation, that’s how pervasive the promise God gave to Abraham was). And God once again rescues Hagar and Ishmael and is faithful to His promise to them.
And Abimelech shines again. I love the clear communication that is in Genesis 21:26. “I don’t know who did it. You didn’t tell me and I am just hearing about it”. How important clear communication is in conflict resolution. Mutual understanding is also important and that’s what Abraham provides in bringing these sheep and sealing the covenant. And so Beersheba makes a name for itself as it will be in the history of Israel and Abraham lives amongst the Philistines, the ones who later will become the enemies of Israel. How easily good relationships can become bad. We must remain diligent to apply all the resources God gives us to make and keep them right.