Genesis 21:1-8. Manifestation of Seed.
1-3. Isaac's birth and naming.
4,5. Circumcision.
6,7. Cause of Isaac's naming.
8. Weaning.
1897 B.C.
Genesis 21:1 And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken.
(This was a divine intervention, which far exceeds a healing. It was a divine intervention in Sarah and Abraham's lives, where Sarah, who had been barren all her child bearing life, was allowed by God to conceive and have a child at the age of one hundred years.)
2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God (Elohim) had spoken to him.
(Note the change of title here, till v.32, because it is Creator and creature. In v.33, Yehovah, where it is in covenant relation. In Mary's song both titles united-Luke 1:46,47. There was a set year, a set time and a set place for this to occur, for the times are set by God, and He has control over all matters concerning His divine plan. This birth of Isaac was as much appointed by God as the birth of Jesus, which came about through the seed [generations] of Isaac.)
3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac (= let him laugh, a trait of the Saxons = Isaac's sons.)
4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
(8 = resurrection, and regeneration; a new beginning or commencement. Eight is the new first; of the day of the week, of the tones and octaves in music, shades of the rainbow, and in the Gem atria [Greek] "Jesus makes the numbers "888". Isaac then, represented the new beginning of the promises that God gave to Abraham and Sarah.
It is Isaac's offspring that will become the nation of Israel, through his son Jacob. Both the "House of Judah" [the Jews], and the "House of Israel" [the Christian nations] would come from this child Isaac.
Compare Ishmael, 13th year, 13 = rebellion in biblical numerics.)
1896 B.C.
5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
6 And Sarah said, "God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me."
(Sarah had prayed to God for a child from her youth, and her marriage to Abraham, and now she had her child, the answer to her prayers, and her son was the foremost desires of her heart. Is it any wonder that she was so overjoyed at the birth of Isaac?)
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."
(A proof that "God", the Creator, had renewed her youth, showing why Abimelech could have taken her [20:2]. Sarah's Magnificat may be compared with Mary's. The scenes of both near to each other. Mary's words [Luke 1:54,55] connect her "mercy" with that shown to "Abraham and his seed".)
8 And the child grew (cp. Luke 2:40), and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
21:9-21. Separation of Ishmael.
9,10. Hagar and Ishmael, in house.
11. Abraham's suffering.
12,13. God's intervention.
14. Hagar and Ishmael. Wilderness of Beer-sheba.
15. Hagar and Ishmael, out of house.
16. Hagar's suffering.
17-19. God's intervention.
20,21. Hagar and Ishmael. Wilderness of Paran
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
(Ishmael was thirteen years older then Isaac, and Ishmael would be eighteen years of age here. Sarah saw the treatment that Ishmael was giving to Isaac, the promised son, and became upset over the laughing.) 1891 B.C.
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."
(See the Divine Interpretation-Gal. 3:6-29; 4:22-31; 5:1-12.)
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
(Abraham loved his first born.)
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."
(Here Heb. zer'a = seed, is in the sing. sense, because of the word "Isaac", and because of the sing. verb "it shall be called". Zer'a is a collective noun, like Eng. "sheep", but the context must determine whether it is sing. or pl. It is to this verse Gal. 3:16 refers; not 12:7, where it is indefinite; or 17:7 where the verb and pronoun show it is plural. See Gal. 3:16; and cp. Rom. 9:7. Heb. 11:18. "Your seed" is therefore "Christ". The difference of the 30 years comes in here: 430 years to Exodus 12:40 from Gen.12:4, when Abraham was 75: thence to Isaac's birth: and now, 5 to his recognition as the seed = 30 years.)
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
(This is the start of the Arabian nations, the offspring of Ishmael.)
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water,
(cp. man's provision, a bottle, with God's a well v.19.)
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 (= well of the oath).
(Abraham was a very rich man, in the terms of wealth of that time; and after the love that he had for his son, and the loyalty of the bondservant, it is hard to understand how it can be of God to send her away with just a bottle of water, and a loaf of bread. However God is giving instructions, and He is in control. Hagar and her son will live full lives, and be blessed by God. Abraham knew God was in control, and had faith that He would take care of the woman and her child. Abraham knew God was in control. And God will provide today, just as He did to Abraham, and Hagar.)
15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: 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.
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.
(God heard the crying of Ishmael, the loved son of Abraham, and God spoke out to Hagar. God does work in His own ways)
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation."
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.
(This well was there all the time. God opened Hagar's mind and eyes to see the way out of her hopeless case.)
20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
(Though Abraham sent the boy and his mother on their way, God was with them. God made that promise to Hagar, and God always keeps His promises. When God is with you, He will take care of you. Ishmael became a hunter [archer], and thus, he could take care of himself.)
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran (= place of caverns): and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
21:22-34. Sojourn in Gerar.
22-24. Sojourning. Commencement.
25,26. The well taken.
27. Covenant.
28-31. The well dug.
32,33. Covenant.
34. Sojourning. Continued.
22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol (= strong) the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, "God is with thee in all that thou doest:
(Abimelech knew that if God was protecting Abraham, and Abraham had God ear, then he wanted to be close friends with Abraham. When you have a personal experience with the Living God, you can't help knowing the power and comfort that God can give.)
23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned."
(Abimelech was a just man, and tried to do what was right. He was willing to live peacefully and show kindness with others, and thus sought the same kindness from others.)
24 And Abraham said, "I will swear."
25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
(cp. 26:19. Ex. 10-18. Judg. 5:11. This explains Ex. 17:8 "Then came Amalek", because of vv.1-7. As time passed, following the agreement, the shepherds of each household get into a squabble over water rights to a well of Abraham's, and things get heated up.)
26 And Abimelech said, "I wot not who hath done this thing; neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day."
27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
(Not one party as in 15:10-18. cp. Gal.8:20. The covenant cut, because of the dividing of the sacrifice. cp. 15:10. Jer. 34:18-20. English = concluded or solemnized.
Remember back in verse twenty, when the two had met again after many years, It was Abimelech that covered over Abraham's embarrassment, for giving his wife Sarai to Abimelech, and saying she was his sister. It was Abimelech that gave riches to Abraham, and said, let's put this embarrassment behind us. Now it is Abraham that is doing likewise, and covering over Abimelech's fault. Abimelech hasn't done any wrong, but it was his people. Peace is restored.
It doesn't hurt a Christian to be generous, however, on certain matters a true Christian should stand his ground; especially when it comes to moral and spiritual issues. Christ did not teach that we should allow people to run all over us. Respect comes from knowing right from wrong; what is of God, and what is of Satan; and taking a position for what is right. It is called being honest.)
28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, "What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?"
30 And he (Abraham) said, "For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well."
(Does this remind you of the 7,000 elect that will witness for Christ before Satan [Antichrist] in the end times?)
31 Wherefore he called that place Beersheba (= well of the oath); because there they sware both of them.
(It was here that the oath between the two was made, and 1900 years later, it would be at this well that Jesus drew the water for the woman, and called her attention to the fact that she had been married to five men, and forgave the woman of her sins [John 4:6-30].
Jesus offered the woman water from the living fountain, that if she partake of it, she shall never thirst. She knew of the prophecies of the coming Messiah, and when she saw Jesus and heard Him, she wanted to taste of the living water that only Jesus Christ could offer.)
32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines (= immigrants).
33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
(This is the Divine definition of the Lord, Heb 'olan = duration, secret and hidden from man. Cp. Ps. 90:2.
This grove of trees will provide the wood for the altar of sacrifice that Abraham would use to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to God, as God required. Here again is Abraham's recognition and faith in the Almighty God, and everlasting Father.)
34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.
(There is no need for trouble among neighbors, if neighbors are just honest with one another. If a problem exists, or the well doesn't produce enough water, then dig another. When problems arise, we are to be able to give enough to the point of living peaceably with our neighbors. By swearing by the oath of seven, or coming to a mutual agreement when things arise, there is no need for violence or hatred.)