GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE
GENESIS
_ALUN OWEN_
CHAPTER 21
ISAAC IS BORN
V1 The *Lord had promised that he would visit Sarah. He did what he
had promised to her. V2 So Sarah became *pregnant. A son was born to
her for Abraham, when Abraham was old. This son was born at the time
that God had promised.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘At the time that God had promised.’ (See Genesis 18:10.)... [ Continue Reading ]
God had chosen the name ‘Isaac’. It means ‘he laughs’. (See
Genesis 17:19.)... [ Continue Reading ]
‘God had *commanded him.’ (See Genesis 17:10-12 and the comment.)... [ Continue Reading ]
God had promised that Sarah would have a son. And Sarah did not
believe what God said. She laughed because she did not believe. (See
Genesis 18:12.) After Isaac’s birth, Sarah laughed again. But then
she laughed because she was very happy.
ABRAHAM SENDS HAGAR AND ISHMAEL AWAY
V8 The baby grew. And... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Ishmael was laughing at Isaac.’ Ishmael knew that he was
Abraham’s oldest son. He thought that he, Ishmael, would have the
right of the oldest son. He thought that he would get Abraham’s
wealth after Abraham’s death. And so, he thought that he was more
important than Isaac. He showed that by his be... [ Continue Reading ]
God had made a promise to Abraham, when his name was still Abram. (See
Genesis 15:4-5.) God promised that Abraham would have a son. By that
son, Abraham would have very many *descendants. And that son would be
Isaac. So God intended that Isaac should have the rights of the oldest
son. Isaac was the... [ Continue Reading ]
Abraham gave to Hagar and Ishmael all that they needed. They could
have gone to another family as servants. But Hagar chose to wander in
the desert. This desert was not yet called Beer-sheba. Abraham and
Abimelech named it at a later time. (See verse 31.)... [ Continue Reading ]
Ishmael was not a young child. He was about 17 years of age. The heat
and the lack of water affected him more than they affected Hagar. So
Hagar led him to a bush and he sat in the shade. But Abraham had
taught Ishmael to know God. And Ishmael could still pray. Hagar cried
loudly because of her trou... [ Continue Reading ]
The number 7 was a sign of an agreement. That was a custom at that
time. Abraham gave 7 sheep and Abimelech received 7 sheep. So they
knew that they had made an agreement.... [ Continue Reading ]
This agreement was very important. Abraham had many sheep and cows and
other animals. The animals needed water. Until this time, Abraham did
not own a well. By this agreement, Abraham owned the well that is
called Beer-sheba.
‘Beer-sheba’ means ‘the well of 7’.... [ Continue Reading ]
Abraham planted the tree to show his thanks to God. God had promised
to give the whole country to Abraham and to his *descendants. (See
Genesis 12:7.) And this well was the beginning of the things that God
had promised.
LORD ~ a lord is a person who has authority. ‘The Lord’ means God.
It is a trans... [ Continue Reading ]