Genesis 21:1-21

I.                The Promise Delivered (Genesis 21:1-8)

a.      Genesis 21:1 – And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

1.      LORD – יהוה Yĕhovah

2.      visited - פקד paqad, to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for

b.      Genesis 21:2 – For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

1.      Confirmation that Isaac was in fact Abraham’s son (rather than conceived by the Holy Spirit as Christ)

2.      Confirmation that it was the Lord that caused this as it happened at the appointed time

3.      Set time – Exact time

4.      Ishmael 14 years old when Isaac born

5.      God - אלהים 'elohiym

c.      Genesis 21:3 – And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

1.      Isaac – יצחק Yitschaq, "he laughs"

2.      Three times for emphasis:

a.      His son

b.      Born unto him

c.      Sarah bare him

d.      Genesis 21:4 – And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

1.      Eight – It is 7 plus 1. Hence it is the number specially associated with Resurrection and Regeneration, and the beginning of a new era or order. ~E.W. Bullinger, Numbers in Scripture

2.      As opposed to Ishmael at 13 years: Thirteen - every occurrence of the number thirteen, and likewise of every multiple of it, stamps that with which it stands in connection with rebellion, apostasy, defection, corruption, disintegration, revolution, or some kindred idea.  ~E.W. Bullinger, Numbers in Scripture

e.      Genesis 21:5 – And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

1.      25 years since the promise was given

a.      75 years old when he departed Haran (Genesis 12:4)

2.      Ishmael was 14 when Isaac was born

3.      392 years A.F. (After Flood)

§        Shem is 490/600

§        Arphaxad is 390/438

§        Salah is 355/433

§        Eber is 325/464

§        Peleg dead for 52 years

§        Reu dead for 22 years

§        Serug 229/230

§        Nahor dead for 51 years

§        Terah is 170/205

f.       Genesis 21:6 – And Sarah said, “God hath made me to laugh, [so that] all that hear will laugh with me.”

1.      Compare to Mary’s words in Luke:

a.      Luke 1:46-47 – And Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”

b.      Just as Sarah laughs with contagious joy, so too does Mary rejoice in her God and Savior.

g.      Genesis 21:7 – And she said, “Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born [him] a son in his old age.”

1.      If Sarah was giving suck at ninety years old the Lord would have had to restore her body to that of a younger woman in order to nurse the child.

a.      Provides more insight as to why Abimelech was stricken with her beauty at 90 years old

2.      Luke 1:54-55 – He hath holpen His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; As He spake to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.”

a.      Holpen – ἀντιλαμβάνω antilambanō,  laid hold of for help, or taken by the hand

h.      Genesis 21:8 – And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the [same] day that Isaac was weaned.

1.      “And the child grew” - גדל gadal , to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things

a.      Exodus 2:10 - And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. (Moses)

b.      Judges 13:24 - And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. (Samson)

c.      I Samuel 2:26 - And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men. (Samuel)

d.      Luke 2:40 - And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. (Jesus)

2.      Abraham is throwing a party when Isaac is weaned, why? Many things in the Old Testement are connected to the new covenant:

a.      Hebrews 5:13-14 - For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

b.      Just as Abraham celebrated the fact his son was moving from milk to meat, God is eager for us to spiritually come of age so that we can digest the meat of His Word.  

                                                                                                                i.     Doing so is reason to celebrate           

II.             Expulsion of Ishmael (Genesis 21:9-21)

a.      Genesis 21:9 – And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

1.      Mocking - צחק tsachaq, to laugh, mock, make sport, toy with, make a toy of

a.      Very similar to Isaac’s name

b.      Probably more than just laughing at

b.      Genesis 21:10 – Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, [even] with Isaac.

1.      Was Sarah overreacting? Or did Ishmael do something a little more serious than make fun of Isaac?

2.      Jasher 21:13-15 – And when Isaac was five years old he was sitting with Ishmael at the door of the tent.  And Ishmael came to Isaac and seated opposite to him, and he took the bow and drew it and put the arrow in it, and intended to slay Isaac.  And Sarah saw the act which Ishmael desired to do to her son Isaac, and it grieved her exceedingly on account of her son, and she sent for Abraham, and said to him, Cast out this bondwoman and her son, for her son shall not be heir with my son, for thus did he seek to do unto him this day.

a.      According to Jasher, Ishmael would have been 19 years old

3.      Galatians 4:22-31 - For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.   For it is written, Rejoice, [thou] barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now.  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

a.      Paul was writing to the Galatians, a majority of which were Gentile, therefore we see no difference between among the races, the only difference is those who accept Christ and those who do not.

b.      Discussed in Chapter 16

c.      Genesis 21:11– And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

1.      Abraham loved Ishmael

d.      Genesis 21:12 – And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

1.      Seed –  זרע zera`, this is a collective noun meaning that the context indicates if it is to be used in the plural or the singular sense.  Since Isaac is singular here we know that zer’a is meant to me used in the singular context.  Paul makes it clear in Galatians 3:16 that this is meant to be read as singular.  See also Romans 9:7-8 and Hebrews 11:18.  Genesis 17:9 is therefore plural for the context would indicate such, meaning Galatians was not pointing to Genesis 17:9 but rather it was pointing to this verse.

a.      Galatians 3:16 – Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.  He saith not, “And to seeds,” as of many; but as of one, “And to thy Seed,” Which is Christ.

b.      Romans 9:7-8 – Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

                                                                                                                i.     Here Paul is referencing the verse in which seed is used in the singular form, but uses it with regard to “children of the promise” which is plural. 

                                                                                                               ii.     Counted for the seed, as if the children referenced here are singular and represent a singular seed. 

                                                                                                              iii.     We know that Christ Himself was the object in which “thy seed” of Genesis 21:12 pointed

                                                                                                             iv.     How can the children of the promise also be this seed?

                                                                                                               v.     The children of the promise are the body of Christ…

§        Romans 12:5 - So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

§        I Corinthians 12:27 - Now ye are the body of Christ…

§        Ephesians 3:6 - That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

2.      “Thy Seed” is a direct reference to the birth of the Christ, being singular form

e.      Genesis 21:13 – And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he [is] thy seed.

1.      More evidence that verse 12 is referencing Christ because here we see that God is giving deference to Ishmael because he is thy (Abraham’s) seed.

2.      Ishmael cannot be of Isaac, yet Ishmael will be a nation.  One of the many nations that Abraham is the patriarch.  Abraham meaning father of many nations, all of those nations did not come through Isaac, but Christ did.

f.       Genesis 21:14 – And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave [it] unto Hagar, putting [it] on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

1.      Something seems out of line here as Abraham being a very wealthy man only gives Hagar and Ishmael a portion of bread and water

2.      Abraham gave his nephew Lot his choice of the land, but for his son nothing but bread and water.

3.      Is there more to the bread and water than meets the eye? Continue…

g.      Genesis 21:15 – And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

1.      John 4:13-14 - Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

2.      Two things Christ is referred to is the bread of life (John 6:35) and living water (John 7:38), just so happens these are the two items that Hagar and Ishmael are given before they leave. 

h.      Genesis 21:16 – And she went, and sat her down over against [him] a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against [him], and lift up her voice, and wept.

1.      Once again Hagar cries out in despair

i.       Genesis 21:17 – And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he [is].

j.       Genesis 21:18 – Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

k.      Genesis 21:19 – And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

1.      God opened her eyes – indicates that the well was there all along she was just not able to “see” it.

2.      Was this a supernatural well that was not visible without having one’s “eyes opened” by God?

l.       Genesis 21:20 – And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

1.      First reference was a bowshot in verse 16, here we see he became an archer

2.      Who else was a hunter? Nimrod and Isaac’s son Esau.  Is there any symbolism equating a bow with rebellion or weapons and rebellion?

m.    Genesis 21:21 – And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

1.      Paran - פארן Pa'ran, "place of caverns"

2.      Wilderness – מדבר midbar, uninhabited land, large tracts of wilderness.

a.      Genesis 16:12 - And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

Genesis 20

I.                Abraham’s Journey to Gerar (Genesis 20:1-18)

A.    Genesis 20:1 - And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

1.     Thence? – The last location of Abraham was “where he stood before the Lord”

a.      Why did he leave? Could he have thought that Lot and his family were destroyed with Sodom

b.      Was he departing because he was angry at the Lord?

c.      “probably to seek for better pasture” Keil & Delitzsch, commentary on the Old Testament. 

2.     Kadesh – קדש Qadesh, "holy"

3.     Shur - שור Shuwr, "wall"

a.      Where the angel of the Lord visited Hagar

4.     Gerar - גרר Gĕrar, "a lodging place" This is in the  land of the Philistines

B.     Genesis 20:2 – And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She [is] my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

1.     Once again Abraham resorts to deceptive tactics as a result of his fear

a.      Could his fear have originated with the possibility that He was not communing with God as a result of His judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah?

b.      Was Abraham in God’s Will by journeying to the south? Did he feel that he was out of God’s Will due to some ill feelings toward God?

c.      Abraham returns to his fearful flesh

2.     Abimelech - אבימלך 'Abiymelek, "Melek is father" or "my father is king", a title much like Pharoah, Caesar, etc.

3.     Why would an old man fear that his old wife would be coveted by a king?

a.      Sarah is near 90 years old yet Abimelech thought enough of her to take her as his wife, this tells us that either:

·        Abimelech had strange taste in women, or

·        Sarah looked much younger than her age

o       Possibly God renewed Sarah’s youth in preparation for her conception in order to carry Isaac and nurse him after birth

C.    Genesis 20:3 – But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou [art but] a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she [is] a man's wife.

1.     God reveals His Will in dreams throughout scripture (20 separate instances) some of the more prominent include:

a.      Jacob dreams of a ladder to heaven - Gen. 28:12

b.      Jacob dreams of separating cattle - Gen. 31:10

c.      Joseph dreams of sheaves and stars - Gen. 37:5

d.      The baker and butler Gen. - 40:5

e.      Pharoah dreams of cows and stalks - Gen. 41

f.       Solomon’s request for wisdom - I Kings 3:5-9

g.      Nebudchadnezzar - Daniel 2:3

h.      Daniel’s dream of end times – Dan. 7:1

i.       Joseph is told to remain with Mary – Matt. 1:20

j.       Wise men warned of God not to return to Jerusalem – Mat. 2:12

k.      Pilates wife before Jesus’ crucifixion – Mat. 27:19

l.       Last days prophecy – Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17

2.     That would be fairly convincing

a.      How many of us have dreams that we just blow off?

b.      Do all dreams have meaning?

·        Probably, but interpretation is not simple

·        There is far more to our subconscious than we know

·        We can see from scripture that this is a frequent method of communication from God.  Are all dreams from God? Probably not.

·        How are our minds affected by subliminal messages?

D.    Genesis 20:4 – But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

1.     Abimelech expected that God would destroy the entire nation

2.     Or sees himself as so important that the nation would not be able to survive without him

3.     We can see later in the chapter that the Lord actually prevented women from becoming pregnant until Sarah was returned to Abraham.

E.     Genesis 20:5 – Said he not unto me, She [is] my sister? and she, even she herself said, He [is] my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

1.     Sure he is innocent of knowing that Sarah was Abraham’s wife, but it appears that he is a tyrant

2.     We often act as though we are innocent, but we are all guilty of something

F.     Genesis 20:6 – And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

1.     God withheld him from sinning…

a.      God will sometimes withhold us from sinning when we do so out of ignorance

·        God has a reason for everything He does, why would God prevent Abimelech from sinning here and allow countless other sins similar to this to occur?

·        God was preserving his chosen bloodline

b.      Would have corrupted God’s promise in that he promised that this time Sarah would conceive and give birth to Isaac.

·        Satan is very aware of God’s promises and tries his best to undermine them

2.     Sinning against me

a.      God would have considered a union between Abimelech and Sarah as a sin against him, why?

·        There has yet to be any law given to man

·        Is it only a sin against God because it is Sarah or is that irrelevant?  Seems is would be more of a sin against Abraham

·        What law would Abimelech have been held to? Appears there is support for Natural Law here.

G.    Genesis 20:7 – Now therefore restore the man [his] wife; for he [is] a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore [her] not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that [are] thine.

1.     Abraham called a prophet for the first time

2.     Prophet – נביא nabiy', masculine noun,  spokesman, speaker, prophet

3.     Prayer associated with prophecy and delivering from God’s judgment, calling upon His mercy. 

4.     Abraham acted as an intercessor, God instructed Abimelech that he would hear prayers from Abraham suggesting that he would not hear prayers from Abimelech.

5.     Christ is our intercessor allowing us the ability to make our requests known, we no longer need an earthly intercessor:

a.      Philippians 4:6 -  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

H.    Genesis 20:8 – Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

1.     Only the men were afraid? Why not the women?  Did Abimelech only have male servents for it said that he called “all his servents”?

a.      Verse 14 confirms that he did have female servants

2.     men - אנוש 'enowsh, masculine noun, man, mortal man, person, mankind

a.      Seems to be a noun that can be used to represent a mixed group of men and women

b.      Seems that all of the servants were afraid, both men and women.

I.      Genesis 20:9 – Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

1.     Abimelech is upset that he was deceived, Abraham would probably have been in danger of losing his life if not for the fact that Abimelech knew that he was a prophet of God.

2.     We see that Abraham, a man of great faith, even he had shortcomings and found it difficult to be honest with confronted with the possibility of losing his life.

J.      Genesis 20:10 – And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

1.     Why did you do this to me?

K.    Genesis 20:11 – And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God [is] not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.

1.     Abimelech asked what Abraham saw, Abraham replied with what he thought.

a.      What would Abraham have seen to lead him to this conclusion?

b.      Were Abraham’s actions justified?

2.     The enemy can place fearful thoughts in your mind

a.      Abimelech knows if what Abraham is saying is true or not

b.      Would expect some truth to this since Abraham was called a prophet

c.      Abimelech would have been convicted in his heart

L.     Genesis 20:12 – And yet indeed [she is] my sister; she [is] the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

1.     Abraham confirms that Sarah is his half-sister

2.     Daughter of Terah Abraham’s father

3.     The book of Jasher says that Sarah was Haran’s daughter, Abraham’s brother who died before Abraham’s calling.

M.   Genesis 20:13 – And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This [is] thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He [is] my brother.

1.     When he left Ur of the Chaldeans

N.    Genesis 20:14 – And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave [them] unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

1.     Strange that he lavishes these gifts upon a man who deceived him, was this out of fear?

2.     We see here that Abimelech did in fact have female servants

O.    Genesis 20:15 – And Abimelech said, Behold, my land [is] before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.

P.     Genesis 20:16 – And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand [pieces] of silver: behold, he [is] to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that [are] with thee, and with all [other]: thus she was reproved.

1.     Abimelech refers to Abraham as Sarah’s brother instead of her husband

2.     brother – אח 'ach, brother,

a.      brother of same parents

b.      half-brother (same father)

c.      relative, kinship, same tribe

d.      each to the other (reciprocal relationship)

e.      (fig.) of resemblance

3.     “he is to thee a covering…” a concealment, an article of clothing used for covering

a.      I Corinthians 11:5 – But every woman that prayeth or prophecieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven”

b.      I Corinthians 11:10 – For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

Q.    Genesis 20:17 – So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare [children].

R.    Genesis 20:18 - For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

1.     Must have been there for a while for this to have been noticeable

2.     The parallels of Sarah on a micro level foreshadowing the children of Israel on a macro level are very clear:

a.      When Sarah was first taken to wife of Pharoah she clearly represented Israel going into captivity to Egypt and with a mighty hand she was set free

b.      Here we have a similar foreshadowing in that in the coming years the Philistines will be a formidable opponent as God called up a deliverer in Moses against the Egyptians He called a deliverer Samson against the Philistines after they were in bondage to the Philistines 40 years.