Events can change IN A MOMENT. Our emotions can go from the top of the world to
the bottom of the barrel in flash of time.
The year was 1986. By now, the launch of the Space Shuttle was news but not like it was
during the first few launches. This launch was different because for the first time in
history, a teacher was part of the crew and would conduct class instruction from orbit on
the space shuttle. Out of 11,000 teachers, one was chosen. Her name was Christa
McAuliffe. Students at Concord HS in New Hampshire gathered in the school
auditorium. It was an atmosphere of celebration. McAuliffe was THEIR teacher and she
was a celebrity. But the joy and celebration that filled the school auditorium was
displaced just 73 seconds into the flight of the Challenger. Something had gone terribly
wrong and within minutes it was obvious that everyone on board was killed. The
children’s cheers and party horns went silent, as a day of celebration turned into a day of
mourning.
Throughout our lives, we encounter both triumphs and tragedies. Victories and struggles.
In all of them, God’s care is constant, as we will see in Genesis 21. This section begins
with the joyful celebration of Isaac’s birth, and ends with the sad expulsion of Hagar and
Ishmael. In both parts of the story, God demonstrates his GRACE for those who call
upon him.
God’s Showed His Grace When He Visited Sarah. Gen 21:1-7.
Verse one sa“God was gracious to Sarah.” root meaning = to “attend to with care”
(TWOT)
God fulfilled what he said. God promised in Genesis 17 that a child would be born to
Abraham through Sarah, his wife. Although this was humanly impossible, God
demonstrated his power. As instructed by the Lord, Abraham named his son Isaac. Gen
17:19... “your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish
my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.” (Genesis
17:19)
Sarah gives testimony to God’s faithfulness and power. (21:6-7). She proclaims that God
has brought ME laughter. 21:6. Everyone who hears will LAUGH. 21:7. God did
something impossible for Sarah. Compare 21:7 with Gen 18:12 “So Sarah laughed to
herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this
pleasure?”
The details of this part of the story reveals that God was teaching something to Abraham
and Sarah. These lessons are true for us today! Ray Pritchard makes the following
observations in his sermon “God’s Good vs. God’s Best” (Ray Ray Pritchard, “God’s
Good vs. God’s Best,” preached June 1996, www.keepbelieving.org) .
1. They learned that God keeps his word. Gen 21:1 “the Lord did for
Sarah what He had promised...”
2. They learned that God’s timing is always Perfect. This birth
means more now than it would have 25 years ago, or even 75 years
ago.
We MESS UP on our Timing.
*Saying the WRONG thing at the WRONG TIME
*Investing when the Market is UP and withdrawing when the
Marked is DOWN
*The main dish is ready but the Potatoes are not done.
*But GOD’s TIMING is always perfect.
3. They learned that God’s power is unlimited. Gen 21:7 “who would
have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?”
4. They learned that God can turn sorrow into joy.
a. The scene in Abraham’s tent would have been joyous.
b. But the JOY soon turned to SADNESS.
2-3 years pass, but the TEXT gives us the indication that it passed from one event to the
next. The focus of the narrative switches from the birth of Isaac to the time when he was
weaned, most likely about 2 years later. This part of the story continues to teach us
something about God’s grace.
God’s Grace in Comforting Abraham. Gen 21:8-13
Ishmael is now 16-17 years old. We know this because in Gen 16:3 Abraham is 85 when
Hagar gets pregnant. Abraham is 86 when Ishmael is born. In Gen 17:1 Abraham is 99
when God reveals that Sarah will have a son. Abraham is now 100 when Isaac is born,
making Ishmael about 14 . NOW, Isaac is weaned, prob 2 years later, making Ishmael
16. If you have seen paintings of Hagar fleeing with Ishmael, they normally make
Ishmael to look as if he is a little child of 6-7 years of age. Actually, he would have been
a young man at this time. It does not make the story less tragic, but it does fit the details
of the Abraham narrative more clearly.
At this time in Isaac’s young life, his teen half-brother Ishmael mocks Isaac. Perhaps is
jealous. Perhaps he is angry or has sensed Sarah’s hostility toward him. There is MORE
going on here than a dysfunctional home.... This battle represents a SPIRITUAL conflict.
Representing the battle of the flesh and the spirit. The Apostle Paul reveals this truth in
Galatians 4:29 “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.”
Sarah responds in the FLESH and expels Hagar and her son. However, GOD
COMFORTS Abraham with a promise in Gen 21:12, ”Your blessing will come through
ISAAC.”
God would bless ISHMAEL and give him offspring. BUT ABRAHAM’S LACK OF
FAITH would be a burden to future generations!
God’s Grace in Sparing Hagar and Ishmael. Gen 21:14-21
Abraham could not provide for Hagar’s needs. Only God’s promise brings him comfort
as he sends Hagar away with his son. But GOD would provide for her needs, as He alone
can do.
Gen. 21:17 presents another play on words. “God has HEARD the boy crying...”
Ishmael’s name means “God Hears.” Just as ISAAC’S NAME reveals God’s character,
also ISHMAEL’S name reveals God’s Character. God heard the boy’s cries and shows
his Grace.
When all other hope was gone, God reveals to Hagar a spring of water. Gen 21:19 The
WATER was there, but God had to OPEN her EYES so that she could see it. God must
open our eyes to see his provision as well.
God’s Grace in the Joys and Sorrows of Life.
God showed his Grace to Sarah. And although Sarah and Hagar were opponents, God
also showed his Grace to Hagar. He showed his grace to Abraham with a promise to
bless his son Ishmael, even though Ishmael was the result of Abraham’s lack of faith.
And God promises to show his grace to you and me if we call upon him.
2 Cor 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all
times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
2 Cor 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so
that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
There is one final observation before we move on from this passage. One more lesson
taught to us from the life of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael.
God’s Grace in Teaching us about Salvation through Hagar and Sarah.
Galatians 4:21-31 contains an important and profound bit of information concerning this
story. Paul uses this story as an analogy of the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit
and relates it to the way in which we are saved. The passage in Galatians is a difficult
one to interpret, but it is best explained in the central verse. Relating to Ishmael as
representing the fleshly effort to be saved by works, Paul writes, “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.” (Galatians 4:23)
Paul uses the picture of Hagar and Sarah to teach us about salvation. Hagar represents the
LAW. Sarah represents the SPIRIT. Sarah gave birth to Isaac in a SUPERNATURAL
way. Salvation comes in a SUPERNATURAL way.
God will show his GRACE to you
All you have to do is CALL on HIM
“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
