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Genesis 21,22
! Introduction
He had shown a lot of potential early on and so the coach put a lot of effort in to guiding him and helping him become a better player.
He had all the moves, good skating ability and the coach thought that with the right kind of direction, he could really go places.
The only problem was that whenever he was in a game situation, he was not able to translate all that ability into scoring goals or even contributing significantly to the team.
The coach thought that with more time, he would be able to get over that, but as time went on, it became obvious that he was not going to be able to do it.
It was disappointing that after all the effort, he did not measure up to expectations.
When God called Abraham, he made significant promises to him.
He guided him through some challenging situations and brought things into his life that were intended to help him grow in his faith towards God.
After all this time spent and direction given, would Abraham be the kind of a man God could use to build his plan on?
Would he be a man of faith who would pass a deep faith along to his descendants?
Would he be a man who would be looked upon in future generations as a worthy individual, someone you would be proud to call your ancestor?
God needed to test Abraham to see what kind of a man he really was.
The story of that test and how Abraham did in it is found in Genesis 22.
God has sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for you and me.
He has given us His Word, His Spirit and has worked in our lives to make us like Himself.
Are we worthy of this investment of energy?
Are we the kind of people that God can entrust His plan to?
Are we God’s people or are we people rooted and bound to this world?
The story of Abraham’s testing give us an opportunity to examine our own motives and commitments and desires and goals.
The questions asked of Abraham are also asked again in the New Testament.
After Peter had blown it by denying Jesus and after the resurrection of Jesus, Peter was confronted by Jesus with the question, given in John 21:15ff, “do you love me more than these?”
Much later, at the end of the first generation of the Christian church, Jesus came to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:4 and warned them, “you have forsaken your first love.”
These are the questions raised for us as we examine the story of Abraham.
!
I.
The Joy Of A Baby Genesis 21:1-7
To understand this test, we need to start at the beginning of Genesis 21.
!! A. God Keeps His Promise
Recently in the news, there was a story of a 57 year old woman giving birth to her first child.
With fertility drugs, this is possible today, but so unusual that it is newsworthy.
In Genesis 21:1-7, we have a story that is even more newsworthy.
We discover there that God visited Sarah and she conceived and gave birth to a son at the age of 90.
“God visited her” means that the conception was possible not with fertility drugs, but by the power of God.
It was an act of God given because God had promised.
It is interesting to note in this passage how many times the promise of God is mentioned.
In verses 1,2 we read that it happened “as He had said,” “what he had promised,” “at the very time God had promised him.”
God had made the promise at least six times between Genesis 12:2 and 18:10 and now it had come to be.
Promises: 12:2; 12:15, 16; 15:4,5; 17:1-7; 17:16,19,21; 18:10.
After the birth of the baby, Abraham obeyed all that God had told him to do.
He obeyed by naming the child Isaac.
He also obeyed by circumcising him.
In Genesis 17, God had told Abraham to have all the males in his house circumcised as a sign of the covenant between God and him.
He was to do this from then on.
Abraham carried out this covenant of circumcision.
!! B. Joy
Last Sunday as we were heading out of church to go to Pleasant Valley, Alvina was coming into church.
She flagged us down and I could see half way across the parking lot that there was good news.
Her smile was quite large as she told us about the birth of her grandson.
The birth of a child is good news and we rejoice over this news greatly.
Can you imagine the rejoicing when after you have had your 90th birthday you have a child?
The theme of joy at the birth of Isaac is strong.
Earlier, in chapter 17:17, we read that when Abraham heard from God that he and Sarah would have a child, he laughed.
It was not the laughter of joy, but of wonder and questioning.
When Sarah heard, in 18:12, that in one year she would bear a son, she also laughed.
Hers was also not the laughter of joy, but the laughter of unbelief and of cynicism because of disappointment.
Now, when Isaac was born, Sarah laughed again and commented that others would laugh with her.
This now was the laughter of joy and celebration.
It was an experience of amazement.
The question she asks “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?” is a question of joyful wonder at what they had been given.
God had brought great joy into their life.
Abraham and Sarah and all who knew them rejoiced greatly at the gift they had been given - an unexpected gift, a surprising gift, a very much desired gift.
They were very happy about Isaac.
Isaac means laughter and what an appropriate name for a child who was so much wanted.
!
II.
The Blessing Of A Promise Genesis 21:8-21
!! A. The Son of Promise
Their rejoicing was great, but there was a problem.
Although Sarah’s first child, Abraham already had a son, a son he loved, a son who was by now not a child any more.
When Isaac was born, the question became, who would be the primary heir?
At the celebration of Isaac’s weaning, Ishmael laughed at Isaac - here we have laughter again - only this time, it was a mocking laughter.
What was the intent of his attitude towards Isaac?
Was he feeling superior that as the son of a slave woman he was the primary heir?
Sarah saw what was happening and it concerned her.
Once again we see her against Hagar and Ishmael.
Was it jealousy or was she concerned for the proper place of her son?
Was she concerned that as long as Ishmael was around Isaac was not secure as the primary heir?
Whatever her motive, she asked Abraham to get rid of “that slave woman and her son.”
One writer says, “Sarah was not motivated by jealousy or pride so much as by a ruthless maternal concern for her son’s future.”
This caused Abraham a great deal of distress.
He loved his son, Ishmael.
How could he get rid of him?
But God came to him and affirmed this direction.
What Abraham had to realize was that Isaac was the son of promise.
What Ishmael did not realize was that because Isaac was the son of promise, the promise of 12:3 indicated that “those who curse you I will curse.”
His mockery brought a curse upon himself.
“Here the story of Ishmael is tidied up so that the narrative can concentrate on the main line of Isaac.”
And so Hagar and Ishmael were sent away.
According to the promise of God in Genesis 17:19, it was Isaac who was the elect line.
This reminds us of the significant position of Isaac.
He is the one God had chosen to work through in his “plan.”
Not only was he a very much loved and desired child, he was also the child through whom God has promised to work.
He was the child through whom all the promises made to Abraham in Genesis 12:2,3 would be fulfilled.
He was the child through whom God would bless all nations on earth.
!! B. God Takes Care Of Ishmael
It is interesting, however, that in spite of allowing Hagar and Ishmael to be sent away, God still took care of them.
Abraham provided some food and water and they went off into the desert.
After a while, their water and food ran out and they were in trouble of dying of thirst.
At this time, Ishmael was not a baby any more.
The word “lad” is used in the text, which suggests a boy or a teenager.
Furthermore, if he was born when Abram was 86, as it says in Genesis 16:16 and if this was after Isaac was born at which time Abraham was 100 as it says in 21:5, then at this point Ishmael was at least 14 years old.
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