A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
GENESIS 21
Lesson #35
FULFILLMENT OF A PROMISE, THEN CONFLICT
- Memory verse: Gal 4:31
- Read Gen 21:1-21 Birth of Isaac
- Finally we see the fulfillment of God’s promise — 25 years in waiting for the birth of Isaac.
- A retrospective of God’s perfect timing:
- Gen 17:21 the Lord told Sarah that “at the set time” she would have a child.
- Gen 18:14 God would restore Sarah’s womb at the “appointed time”.
- Gen 21:2 Sarah conceived Isaac “at the set time”.
- Some truths about God’s perfect timing:
- God is in no hurry to work out His perfect will.
- God is the Almighty Sovereign, and nothing can prevent Him from working out His purpose.
- Nothing in God’s economy is left to chance.
- A retrospective of God’s perfect timing:
- Isaac’s name means = “he laughs.”
- While Sarah laughed in unbelief (18:12-15), her doubting laughter is turned to believing joy (18:6). The child is named for joyful laughter.
- Isaac was circumcised when 8 days old. He became part of the covenant.
- Isaac was weaned (21:8) when he was 2 or 3 years old, which was the accepted practice then.
- In what ways do we see that the birth of Isaac prefigures and illustrates the birth of Jesus Christ?
- Finally we see the fulfillment of God’s promise — 25 years in waiting for the birth of Isaac.
Birth of Isaac Prefigures the Birth of Christ
| Isaac | Christ |
| Born in God’s perfect time
Gen 12:2 | Born in God’s perfect time
Gal 4:4 |
| The son of promise
Gen 17:16 | The son of promise
Gen 3:15 Isa 7:14 |
| There was a long time between
The giving of the promise and The fulfillment of it — 25 years | There was a long time between
The giving of the promise and The fulfillment of it — about 4,000 years |
| Sarah’s response of surprise
Gen 18:13 “shall I of a surety bear a child?” | Mary’s response of surprise
Luk 1:34 “how shall this be?” |
| His birth is announced by angels
Gen 18 | His birth is announced by angels.
Mat 1:20 |
| A miraculous birth: Sarah was too old to have a child. | A miraculous birth: Mary was
A virgin. |
| Isaac was named before his birth
Gen 17:19 | Jesus was named before his birth. Mat 1:21 |
| Isaac was the delight of his father Abraham. Gen 17:17-19 | Jesus was the delight of his Heavenly Father. Mat 3:17 |
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- The sibling rivalry:
- Ishmael was between 14 and 15 years old when Isaac was born. He taunted his younger brother so that Sarah became upset.
- We are not told the extent or severity of the persecution by Ishmael on Isaac.
- Sarah demanded Ishmael be sent away so there would be no threat to Isaac’s inheritance (10).
- The only way Isaac’s inheritance would be jeopardized was if Isaac died.
- The rights of inheritance:
- The rights of Eliezer, the adopted son (15:2-4):
- If there were no other heir, he would inherit.
- He could legally expect his adoptive father to provide for him as long as the father lived.
- The rights of Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman:
- His right of inheritance precedes that of Eliezer.
- There was a law that prohibited driving him out of his father’s house.
- Sarah was not within her legal rights in requesting that Ishmael be driven out of the house.
- The rights of Isaac, the son of the promise:
- His right of inheritance precedes that of either Ishmael or Eliezer.
- There was, therefore, no threat to his legal inheritance by Ishmael.
- The rights of Eliezer, the adopted son (15:2-4):
The Allegory of Isaac and Ishmael: A Picture of Regeneration (being born again)
Read Gal 4:22-24,28-31
| Abraham and Sarah,
Isaac and Ishmael | The New Testament believer and the non-believer |
| Abraham and Sarah had come to the end of their own efforts. Their bodies were dead to having children. (Rom 4:19) | The non-believer is dead in trespasses and sins. (Eph 2:1 Eph 4:18 |
| Sarah’s womb needed a miraculous new life. (Gen 18:14) | The non-believer needs to be born again. (Joh 3:3) |
| Isaac’s birth caused opposition and conflict in Abraham’s household. (Gen 21:9-10) | Once a person is born again by receiving Christ into his life, he has two natures in conflict within: he still has the flesh nature, but he also has the Holy Spirit living inside. (Rom 7:15-25 Gal 4:29) |
| The birth of Isaac revealed the true character of Ishmael.
(Gen 21:9) | It is not until a person receives the new nature of Christ when he is born again that the true awfulness of his old flesh nature is revealed to him. |
| The circumcision of Isaac on the 8th day. (Gen 21:4) | The number 8 represents “new beginnings” in the Bible.
Believers are spiritually circumcised when they are born again having their flesh nature cut away giving them a new life in Christ, a new beginning. (Rom 2:29 Col 2:10-11 2Cor 5:17) |
| The child, Isaac, grew and was weaned. (Gen 21:8) | The new believer is a baby in Christ growing on the milk of the word of God. (1Pet 2:2) |
| The bondwoman and her son are cast out of Abraham’s household. (Gen 21:14) | The believer is to cast out the desires of the flesh nature. (Rom 13:12) |
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- God’s response to Hagar’s plight in the wilderness of Beersheba and Paran:
- God has mercy on anyone who calls upon him..
- Read Gen 21:22-34 Abraham and Abimelech
- Abimelech’s lack of trust in Abraham is based on past experience. (Chapter 20)
- The conflict over a well of water:
- Water was extremely important in this area and still is.
- Therefore, this is no insignificant conflict.
- Abraham’s offering of peace and the cutting of a covenant:
- Remember that there was always a shedding of blood to make a binding agreement.
- The animals were cut and the covenant was made similar to that in Gen 15:7-17.
- 7 lambs
- Remember that number 7 is God’s perfect number of completeness.
- A lamb was an humble animal considered pure. Abimelech asked what the animals meant. (29)
- Abraham is symbolically saying he is acting in humility and sincere honesty (purity).
- The conflict over a well of water:
- “Beer-Sheba” = “the well where the oath was made“.
- It is a play on words. It also gives the name the meaning, “well of the seven”.
- Abraham plants a tamarisk tree. The tamarisk tree is an evergreen having a very long life which is a symbol of the new name for God.
- “El-Olam” = the everlasting God
- This is the only scripture where this Hebrew name is used for God.
- The term is used of hidden or secret things of an indefinite time or age.
- Therefore, the eternal duration of a mysterious God is the significance.
- Abraham had experienced the duration of God’s promises to Him despite his years of failure at faith.
- Abimelech’s lack of trust in Abraham is based on past experience. (Chapter 20)
- Application:
- This chapter shows .God’s wonderful fulfillment of his promise to Abraham and Sarah. However, once the promise was fulfilled, then conflict began.
- The same is true for the person who comes to believe in Christ. God fulfills his promise and forgives the new believer’s sins. Then the conflict with the dual nature within begins. Then the external conflict with the world values begins.
- We see both conflicts in this chapter…the conflict within the household, and the external conflict with Abimelech.
- What Godly principles do we see for settling a conflict with another person? (Heb 12:14)
- Establish an honest reputation in your life.
- Even if I am right, I will do everything I can to mend the relationship.
- Even if I didn’t start the problem, I will be the first to try to end it.
- Even if it costs me something to mend the problem, I will gladly pay it.
- This chapter shows .God’s wonderful fulfillment of his promise to Abraham and Sarah. However, once the promise was fulfilled, then conflict began.
Homework
Genesis 22
- Application of Gen 21
- As believers, we are told to cast off the sins of the old nature like Abraham cast out Hagar and Ishmael.
- What part of the old nature do you struggle with in your Christian walk? (lying, stealing, sexual sins, gossip, etc.)
- What will you do this week to cast out this part of your old nature?
- As believers, we are told to cast off the sins of the old nature like Abraham cast out Hagar and Ishmael.
- Preparation for Genesis 22
- Read Gen 22:1-14 Isaac, the sacrifice
- In what ways does the sacrifice of Isaac prefigure the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross?
- Read Gen 22:15-24 Confirmation of the covenant to Abraham
- Read Gal 3:6-29
- Review your notes to see the promises in the Abrahamic Covenant.
- How can you specifically apply the promises in the Abrahamic Covenant to your life today?
- Read Gal 3:6-29
- Read Gen 22:1-14 Isaac, the sacrifice
- Memory verse: Gal 3:9
