Sarah conceived — Sarah by faith, received strength to conceive, Hebrews 11:11. God therefore, by promise, gave that strength. Abraham was old, and Sarah old, and both as good as dead, and then the word of God took place.... [ Continue Reading ]
He circumcised his son — The covenant being established with him, the seal of the covenant was administered to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Sarah said, God has made me to laugh — He hath given me both cause to rejoice, and a heart to rejoice. And it adds to the comfort of any mercy to have our friends rejoice with us in it, See Luke 1:58. They that hear will laugh with me — Others will rejoice in this instance of God's power and goo... [ Continue Reading ]
Sarah saw the son of the Egyptian mocking — Mocking Isaac no doubt, for it is sad, with reference to this, Galatians 4:29, that he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him that was born after the spirit. Ishmael is here called the son of the Egyptian, because (as some think) the four hundred ye... [ Continue Reading ]
Cast out the bond — woman — This was a type of the rejection of the unbelieving Jews, who, though they were the seed of Abraham, yet, because they submitted not to the gospel — covenant, were unchurched and disfranchised. And that, which above any thing provoked God to cast them off, was, their mock... [ Continue Reading ]
The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight — it grieved him that Ishmael had given such provocation. And still more that Sarah insisted upon such a punishment.... [ Continue Reading ]
The casting out of Ishmael was not his ruin. He shall be a nation because he is thy seed — We are not sure that it was his eternal ruin. It is presumption to say, that all these who are left out of the external dispensation of God's covenant are excluded from all his mercies. Those may be saved who... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abraham rose up early in the morning — We may suppose immediately after he had in the night — visions received orders to do this.... [ Continue Reading ]
God heard the voice of the lad — We read not of a word be said; but his sighs and groans, cried loud in the ears of the God of mercy. An angel was sent to comfort Hagar, who assures her, God has heard the voice of the lad where he is — Though he be in the wilderness; for wherever we are, there is a... [ Continue Reading ]
Beer — sheba — That is, the well of the oath, in remembrance of the covenant that they sware to, that they might be ever mindful of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abraham planted a grove — For a shade to his tent, or perhaps an orchard of fruit trees; and there, though we cannot say he settled, for God would have him while he lived to be a stranger and a pilgrim, yet he sojourned many days. And called there on the name of the Lord — Probably in the grove... [ Continue Reading ]