# 10 2023 Dev. Gen.21:6. God’s Promise Fulfilled! Read all of chapter twenty one, first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this is also part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from The NIV.
Gen.21:6 “Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’”
Gen.21 The name Isaac means laughter, Sarah laughed when God promised them a son, God answered her; “is there anything too hard for the Lord.” This event also fulfills God’s blessing in marriage, “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” Our God is a God of abundance. But this chapter also includes a sad event, that was brought on by a failing faith. We understand it, Abraham and Sarah knew that she was past the age of childbearing, humanly speaking and it was, at that time, an acceptable and legal way to attain an heir. Even so, God had promised Abraham offspring from the beginning of His call to Abraham.
Vs.1-5 God was gracious to Sarah, at ninety years old she had a child and nursed her child. God fulfilled His promise and Abraham as well, he circumcised the child on the eighth day, as God had commanded.
Vs.6-7 Sarah rejoices, as any woman would, in those days bareness was considered a curse. A child born is always a blessing.
Vs.8-10 Abraham gave a feast for Isaac when weaned, but Sarah perceived, real or imagined, Ishmael mocking the event. She demanded that Abraham send Hagar and Ismael away.
Vs.11-13 Abraham is distressed by this development, and it takes an order from God; “listen to whatever Sarah tells you.” Isaac is the chosen one. This method of choosing the younger son and not the first born is practiced throughout the patriarchal period. Take note that the name of Ishmael, meaning God Hears, is not mentioned after Isaac birth, only in the heading added later.
Vs.14-21 It seems that Abraham gave her some food and water and sent her off, Yes, God had promised he would take care of Ishmael and make him a nation as well, but he must have given her some means, gold, or silver to take care of them. Perhaps Moses wanted to put the emphasis on God’s care. God did take care of them, provided a well and also a wife for Ishmael. Abraham’s offspring, Lot’s offspring, Ishmael’s offspring (12 Rulers), Isaac’s offspring (Esau), all became nations that opposed Israel. They oppose Israel to this day. Jacob’s offspring formed the twelve tribes of Israel, and ten of those tribes were lost before the time of Jesus, only Judah and Benjamin survive as tribes.
Vs.22-34 “The treaty at Beersheba”.The name Beersheba means the Place of Seven Wells and the Well of the Oath. Today it is a large city in southern Israel estimated to have a population of About 212,000. Abraham and Abimelek resolve a conflict over the wells that Abraham had dug. They make a treaty. Abimelek understands that God is with Abraham and he desires to keep the peace, in this case peace through strength. After the treaty was made, Abimelek withdrew his forces. “Abraham called upon the name of the the Lord, the eternal God”, a name for God unique in this verse. God, the eternal God, continues to fulfill his promises in our lives as well, thanks be to God.
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Heavenhigh 