A. INTRODUCTION: GENESIS 21:9-21
1. What was the relationship between Sarah and Hagar? Confrontation. "Sarah dealt harshly with her" (16:6). "Ishmael the son of Hagar mocked (punched) the son of Sarah" (21:9).
2. What did Sarah ask Abraham to do to Hagar? Throw her out. "Cast out this bondwoman and her son" (21:10).
3. What was Abraham’s response? Emotional strain. "The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight" (21:11).
4. What revealed the argument between Sarah and Abraham?
a. Abraham called Ishmael, my son. "Because of his son" (21:11).
b. Sarah called Isaac, my son. "The son of this bondwoman will not be heir with my son, even with Isaac" (21:10).
5. Even when God promised that Isaac would be his heir, how did Abraham hang on to Ishmael? Wanted God’s blessing. Abraham prayed, "O that Ishmael might live before thee (God)" (17:18).
6. Whose side did God take? Sarah. "God said to Abraham . . . ’harken to her (Sarah’s) voice’" (21:12).
7. Where was Hagar from and where did she head? Egypt. "She departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba" (21:14). Both times she ran away toward her home in Egypt.
8. What did she expect in the desert? Death. "The water was spent in the bottle . . . she said let me not see the death of the child" (21:16).
9. How old was Ishmael? Mid-teens. Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born, (16:16) and 100 years old when Isaac was born (21:5).
B. PRACTICAL TAKE AWAYS
1. What divides a family? Parental preference. When Mom defends "my son," and Dad says of another "my son."
2. Who does God hold responsible for family harmony? The father. "God said to Abraham" (21:12).
3. What eventually happens among children when they play? Children squabble.
a. They are naturally selfish and must be taught to share.
b. They are the center of their world and must be taught the rights of others.
c. They are blind to know when they hurt others.
d. When they put another down, it makes them feel big.
4. Children must have strong family discipline; if parents won’t do it another agency will have to do it, i.e., police, school, business, consequences, etc. The desert dealt harshly with Ishmael.
5. When a father won’t make a hard decision nor discipline a child, the mother will have to do it. "Sarah saw . . . she said unto Abraham, ’cast out this bondwoman and her son’" (21:10). "God said unto Abraham . . . ’harken unto her voice’" (21:12).
6. In dealing with children, always look for God’s purpose in their life. "For in Isaac shall thy seed be called" (21:12). "Also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he (Ishmael) is thy son" (21:13).
C. PRACTICAL TAKE AWAYS ON LEGALISM.
Paul compares Ishmael to those who are in bondage to the law, and Isaac to those who are born again of the Spirit.
"My little children . . . I have a great desire to be with you because you have raised some serious doubts in my mind. Because you have become a legalist who lives by the law. Don’t you know Abraham had two sons? Ishmael was born in bondage to a bondwoman, and Isaac was born free of a freewoman. Hagar represents the law from Mount Sinai that puts us in bondage, and Sarah represents grace from Jerusalem that makes us free . . . We represent Isaac because we were born again of the promise, and the son born of Hagar represents the bondage of the law. Just as Ishmael persecuted Isaac, those who are in bondage to the law are persecuted by the law, but we should be free because we are born of grace - born of the Spirit.
Just as Abraham had to cast out the bondwoman, so we have to reject the bondage of the flesh and the law. Standfast in the liberty in which Christ made us free" (Gal. 4:19 - 5:1 ELT).
1. Can we get saved by the law? No. "For by grace are ye saved through faith . . . it is the gift of God, not of works" (Eph. 2:8,9).
2. Can we please God by keeping the law? No. "Are you so foolish to think you can get saved by the Spirit, then switch to live by the law?" (Gal. 3:3 ELT).
3. Is there any place for discipline, i.e., doing the right thing in the right way? Yes, self discipline for God’s purpose. "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23).
4. What is the relationship between grace and discipline?
a. Grace: For spiritual growth. "Walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16). "Ye in me and I in you" (John 14:20).
b. Discipline: For character growth. "Character is habitually doing the right thing in the right way."
5. Is the law ever desirable? Yes. "The law is holy . . . and just and good" (Rom. 7:12). "The law is a spiritual" (Rom. 7:14).
a. The law is good to convict of sin.
b. The law tells us God’s will and standards. (10 Commandments).
c. God runs the world by natural laws. (Laws of nature)
d. Governments run by legislative laws.
6. Why do we need grace? Human limitations. "The good that I want to do, I do not; and the evil I should not do, that I do?" (Rom. 7:19).
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If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at etowns@elmertowns.com and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
To get Dr. Towns’ Home Page for books, www.elmertowns.com.
