The Last Chance Bible Study Network The Last Chance Bible Study The Last Chance Bible Study The Last Chance Bible Study Every Wednesday We Post Studies in the Word (google: "Last Chance Bible Study) "BIBLE STUDY GUIDES" 6 Bible Study Guides Weekly (currently) -David Guzik- 
A. The birth of Isaac. 1. (1) God fulfills His promise to Abraham and Sarah. And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. a. The Lord visited Sarah as He had said: It took a long time (25 years) for this promise to come to pass, but God was faithful to His promise. God’s promises never fail. b. As He had spoken: The promise of a son was not fulfilled because Abraham was perfect in his obedience, but because God was faithful to His Word. i. Some promises of God are conditional and depend on something we must do. But other promises of God are unconditional, and God will fulfill them not because of what we do, but because of who He is. 2. (2-7) The child is named Isaac. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him; whom Sarah bore to him; Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.” a. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him; whom Sarah bore to him; Isaac: Originally, the name Isaac was meant as somewhat of a rebuke of the laughter of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 17:17-19 and 18:12-15), but God turned a gentle rebuke into an occasion for joy. b. Isaac becomes a wonderful type (picture) of Jesus: B. Conflict between Ishmael and Isaac. 1. (8-11) Sarah wants Abraham to cast out both Hagar and Ishmael. So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son. a. The child grew and was weaned: Some ancients say children were not weaned until 12 years of age and some say five years, but the most reliable research indicates an age of three. b. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar . . . scoffing: This conflict between the two sons was almost inevitable, even though they are some 13 years apart. Abraham found it hard to side with Sarah when he did not want to reject his son, Ishmael. i. Notice the conflict came from Ishmael unto Isaac. Ishmael was the one scoffing at Isaac. Galatians 4:22-29 describes for us a spiritual application of this conflict between Isaac (the son born of the promise) and Ishmael (the son born of the flesh). ii. In Galatians 4, the Jewish legalists who troubled the Galatians protested they were children of Abraham and thus blessed. Paul will admit they are children of Abraham, but they are like Ishmael, not Isaac! The legalists claimed Abraham as their father. Paul wants to know who was theirmother, Hagar or Sarah? Ishmael was born of a slave, and born according to the flesh. Isaac was born of a freewoman, and born according to promise. Even so, the legalists promote a relationship with God based in bondage and according to the flesh. The true gospel of grace offers liberty in Christ and is a promise received by faith. iii. Even as Ishmael and his descendants have persecuted Isaac and his descendants, we should not be surprised that the modern-day people who follow God in the flesh persecute those who follow God in faith through the promise. 2. (12-14) Under God’s instruction, Abraham puts out Hagar and Ishmael. But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. a. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice: Perhaps Abraham did not want to give up Ishmael because he was sort of a “backup” plan. If something should happen to Isaac, there would always be Ishmael. But God wanted it clear there was no backup plan for Abraham other than God Himself. i. Abraham might have been tempted to reject Sarah’s counsel just because it was Sarah; but he sought the Lord in the matter, did what Sarah suggested, and without feeling he was “giving in” to Sarah. b. Sent her away: God’s solution was clear - get rid of the son of the flesh. There is to be no reconciliation with the flesh, no peaceful coexistence. The son of the flesh must simply be put away forever. i. The solution is the same in our own battle between trusting in the flesh and trusting in the Holy Spirit: cast out this bondwoman and her son. Law and grace cannot live together as principles for our Christian life, and there is no question we belong to the free, not the bondwoman. c. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba: It may have seemed ruthless of Abraham to do this, but it was exactly what God wanted, and exactly what needed to happen. i. Flesh and blood do not make the strongest bond God wants us to honor. There are circumstances where we can do nothing other than put away family for the glory of God. ii. God wants us to be ruthless with the flesh in the same manner: And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). d. Took bread and a skin of water: Abraham was a wealthy man and could certainly spare more provisions, even giving them a donkey or several pack animals. But Abraham realized that without God’s help, no matter what he gave them, it would not be enough. But with God, things would turn out all right. 3. (15-21) God preserves Ishmael and Hagar in the desert. And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt. a. Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is: As God protects and preserves them out in the desert; He answers them by hearing the voice of the lad. God is showing special favor to Ishmael because he is a descendant of Abraham. b. I will make him a great nation: The descendents of Ishmael became the Arabic people. C. Abraham makes a covenant with a Philistine king. 1. (22-24) Abraham makes a no-hostility treaty with Abimelech. And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do. Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.” And Abraham said, “I will swear.” a. Abimelech . . . spoke to Abraham: How could this be the same Abimelech of Genesis 20? It isn’t the same. Abimelech is the title of a ruler among the Canaanites, not a specific name. b. God is with you in all that you do: Abimelech noticed this because of Abraham’s integrity and because of the blessing evident in his life. 2. (25-31) In return for the treaty, Abraham clears up a dispute about an important well. Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized. And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.” So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set bythemselves?” And he said, “You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well.” Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there. 3. (32-34) Abraham calls on the name of the Lord. Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rosewith Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines. Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days. a. Called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God: Even through this time of conflict in his family and among his neighbors, Abraham kept a real, live walk with God. Conflict can drive us away from God, but we should allow it to push us closer to Him. ©2006 David Guzik - No distribution beyond personal use without permission. Yes! Jesus is Coming! -The Classic Christian Network- -Biblical Prophecy Today Network- -Last Generation News Report- -Christian Issues Network- -Last Call Devotional Network- -Natzsal The Jewish Network- The Biblical Christian Network is composed of Seven Networks. Posts related to Biblical Prophecy appear only in Biblical Prophecy Network; etc.. Click on the Link above; At the top of the page of each Network there is a tab to see "alternative sites" if you cannot view the Home Network Page. Each Home Network Page has a 'specific Network Tab' and a "Biblical Network' tab exlplaining details. Each "Network" has a tab called "Content" to explain when new posts appear and what features are on that Network. Genesis 21 - The Birth of Isaac
