8. Birth of Isaac – chapter 21

Read 1-2.

Notice AGAIN the actor. (the LORD – inverted in Hebrew to EMPHASIZE.)

How was the LORD’S gift of a son “gracious”? (consider the past – Sarah’s laughter / Hagar / also Abraham’s behavior with Abimelech.)

What is the anchor from which God’s actions come from? (His WORD and PROMISE.)

LORD gives

Word divine action

human life where? Down here

points where? Back to Word

Note the TIMING, how it is PRECISE.

Galatians 4:4-5 When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

Joshua 10:12-13 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies.

Read 3-7. Isaac = (he laughs.)

How is this apropos? (he laughed and Sarah when they were told she would give birth.)

What does Abraham do next? (according to Genesis 17:11.)

What was the reason for this rite? (to connect the promise to the seed to come.)

How does Sarah respond to the name? (in repentance and faith – is willing to laugh in the right way. Notice also how she longs to make Abraham happy – to say that she is bearing child for him.)

Read 8-13. A boy back in those days would take 3 or 4 years to wean. (celebration – infant mortality rate much greater in other countries with bad nutrition, etc.)

What might Abraham have thought? (was petty jealousy.)

How does God clarify it for Abraham? (reiterates what she says – she’s right.)

This was not harmless teasing: Galatians 4:29 The son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.

Notice the way Sarah speaks of Hagar. (doesn’t mention her name – though Moses mentions she was an Egyptian.)

Why is Sarah so terse with the situation? (the inheritance is at stake – the line of the Savior - don’t mess with the situation – teen kids can be very cruel.)

So the purpose was three-fold –

1. (so Isaac not persecuted)

2. (Ishmael was not spiritual – bad influence on Isaac.)

3. (So Abraham wouldn’t be tempted to give inheritance to Ishmael – or Ishmael wouldn’t try to get it by doing something bad.)

Paul uses this as a picture of salvation under grace vs. the law: Galatians 4:21-31:

Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written:

"Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children;

break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains;

because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."

28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Hagar = (slavery of the law)

Isaac = (children of promise – born by the power of the Spirit)

Paul’s application is . . . (to get rid of the law – circumcision even.)

Read 14-21. Notice Abraham’s obedience in vs. 14. (early the next morning . . . doesn’t delay.)

Notice vs. 18. What does this tell you about this “angel of God”? (preincarnate Christ.)

Think about the significance of where the wife comes from in vs. 21. (she is choosing the Egyptian identity, not the Jewish one; back to her roots.)

What does this show you about God? (still merciful even to this child – for Abraham’s sake; talks to Hagar; is merciful to him and her. Opens her eyes to see a well of water.)

Genesis 25: 12 This is the account of Abraham's son Ishmael, whom Sarah's maidservant, Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. 16 These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers according to their settlements and camps. 17 Altogether, Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. 18 His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt, as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers. (AGAIN – wonder WHY does God bother? God knows what is best – allows a thorn to Israel and Egypt.)

Read 22-34. What does this show us about Abraham’s prosperity? (must have been powerful to make king and commander worried about him.)

Abraham was willing to . . . (work with the government and in conjunction with it as long as it didn’t infringe on his faith.)

PB: Abimelech would enjoy the security of a nonaggression pact, and Abraham would continue to enjoy squatter’s rights. (181)

Beersheba = (well of seven or well of the oath)

In response to the treaty, Abraham . . .

1. (planted a tamarisk tree) (as a memorial – every time you see tree . . . / so we have a memorial tree.)

2. (worshiped the LORD – the eternal God.)

Ironically Isaac almost does and goes through the exact things as Abraham does years later with the same Abimelech in Gerar in Genesis 26! Like father, like son!