Studies In Genesis: Chapter 21 Series

Note: When doing a study on a book in the Bible you use a lot of resources. The major influence for me on this study of Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris.

Genesis 21

1. And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did

unto Sarah as he had spoken.

2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age,

at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

Who else do we know of that was born at a set time? A time set aside by God?

Jesus, John the Baptist,

Let us compare these births

(1) both had been promised Issacc-to Abraham 25 yrs earlier Jesus-Is 7:14

(2) long interval of time between promise and actual birth

Issac-25 yrs Jesus 1000's yrs

(3) both miraclous and seemed Sarah barren Mary virgin

(4) both named before their birth

(5) both occured at Gods apointed time

(6) both miraclous

(7) both obedient to father

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his

Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

God prepared us for the birth of His son through the lives of others.

3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto

him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old,

as God had commanded him.

5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was

born unto him.

How many years ago did God first promise to Abraham to have a son?

Genesis 12:4. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot

went with him: and Abram [was] seventy and five years old when he

departed out of Haran.

Lamentations 3:25 The LORD [is] good unto them that wait for him, to the soul

[that] seeketh him.

6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, [so that] all that

hear will laugh with me.

Isaac-"he laughs"

Abraham laughed in 17:17 at the birth of a son at his age

Sarah laughed in 18:12 in disbelief

Isaac was laughed at or mocked by Ishmael as we will see

All rejoice when Christ came even Mary the mother

7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah

should have given children suck? for I have born [him] a son in

his old age.

Was this birth a miraclous birth?

Paul said of Abaraham in

. Romans 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body

now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the

deadness of Sara's womb:

God wanted to use a miracle in the lives of Abraham and Sarah to make sure that they understood that they had no part in this birth. This was a miraclous birth only done by the power of God. God used death to bring life into the world. God also works in our lives through miracles. Mainly to let us know that he is working.

8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great

feast the [same] day that Isaac was weaned.

What is so important to a father when his son in weaned? Is there any spiritual signifcance here?

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that

ye may grow thereby:

Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of

righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by

reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

9. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had

born unto Abraham, mocking.

10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and

her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my

son, [even] with Isaac.

Here we have a prime example of the two natures of man. Up until now Ishmael seemed to be a sweet little boy but now we see that his true colors have shown. Now we see the two natures. The old sinful nature always mocking and making fun of you as a Christian and the new nature one to come and follow God.

Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I

would not, that I do.

In the seventh chapter of Romans we see a struggle. Between man and his will. He wills to do right but he cannot because the old nature will not let him. Only through the casting out of the old self will we be allowed to follow God and his commandments. As long as the old nature stays with us then we will be in sin and do wrong.