Genesis 21:1-21
We
have here the contrast between Isaac, the child of promise, and
Ishmael, the fruit of unbelief. Ishmael was born as a result of
impatience, the failure to wait upon the Lord. In the birth of Isaac,
the initiative belonged with God, and the glory belonged to Him. In
Christ, we are the children of promise - ‘children born not of natural
descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of
God’(John 1:13). God did not forget Ishmael. There were blessings for
him (17-21). The difference between Ishmael and Isaac is the difference
between common grace and saving grace. Many people know much of the
grace of God in ‘the common things of life’(Church Hymnary, 457). There
are so many blessings for them to count. Still they fail to appreciate
God’s greatest gift - His Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Thank God for
this and that and... Jesus!
Genesis 21:22-22:14
Here,
we see Abraham in his relationship with the world (22-34) and his
relationship with the Lord (1-14). Abraham deals honestly and wisely
with the pagan king, Abimelech, who acknowledges Abraham's closeness to
God - ‘God is with you in all that you do’(22). We are to be honest and
wise in our relationship with the world (Romans 12:17; Colossians 4:5;
Ephesians 5:15; 1 Peter 2:12). Our relationship with the world is to be
grounded in our relationship with God. In the testing of Abraham, we
catch a glimpse of ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world’(John 1:29). Christ is the Lamb whom God will provide (8). In
verse 14, we read, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided’. On
Calvary’s hill, Christ died to bring us to God, so that we might learn
to live for Him in this world (1 Peter 3:18; 2:24).
Genesis 22:15-23:20
After
the renewal of God’s promise (15-18), Abraham went to Beersheba (19).
He returned to the place where he had ‘called...on the Name of the Lord,
the Everlasting God’(21:33). This is a good ‘place’ to be, the ‘place’
of calling on the Name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. As we read of
the death and burial of Sarah, we must remember this: the Lord is the
Everlasting God. The death of Sarah took place in God's time. Her death
signified that her work had been done. She had mothered the child of
promise. Beyond the death of Sarah, there was the continuing purpose of
God. The cave at Machpelah (23:19-20) became the burial place for Sarah,
Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Leah. We see the continuity of
history, and we thank God for His continuing faithfulness down through
the generations.
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