God Blesses Abraham (Genesis 21:1-34)
God Blesses Abraham
Genesis 21:1-34
June 1, 2014
Well you know that we are studying through the book of Genesis.
It is “The Gospel According to Moses”
And currently we are studying the life of Abraham.
Moses has been very unique to express various realities that he wanted the children of Israel to know, revealing those truths through specific people.
• In Adam we saw the Tragic Reality of Sin
• In Noah we saw the Terrible Reality of Judgment
• In Abraham we see the Terrific Reality of Salvation
We love the study of Abraham’s life because
Moses uses him to reveal to us the facts about God’s salvation.
Abraham was first and foremost a man of grace.
God selected him, God called him, God saved him, God has been preserving him.
Abraham became a man of faith (that to a gift from God)
“Abraham believed in the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness”
And since that moment of Abraham’s salvation we have continually seen
The extreme benefit that is found in being a child of God.
To put it mildly, Abraham is a blessed man.
For a pagan, barren, worldly man,
To have received so much from the hand of the living God,
There is really no better way to say it.
ABRAHAM IS BLESSED.
And if you have failed to recognize that so far in Abraham’s life
There is no possible way to miss it while studying the chapter today.
Let’s work our way through this chapter
And then we’ll talk a little about the obvious blessing on Abraham
And on all those who are called children of God.
Four areas where we see Abraham’s blessing
#1 PROMISE FULFILLED
Genesis 21:1-7
These 7 vs. contain one of the most remarkable occurrences in Scripture,
Especially when you stop and realize what has just happened.
First notice the SPECIFIC FULFILLMENT
(1-2) “Then the LORD took note of Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him.”
Did you catch those statement?
• “took note of Sarah AS HE HAD SAID”
• “did for Sarah AS HE HAD PROMISED”
• “at the appointed time OF WHICH GOD HAD SPOKEN”
Nothing here was accident
Nothing here was random
God did exactly what He said He would do
Exactly when He said He would do it.
• God said Sarah would have a son and she did.
• God said it would be at this time next year and it was.
• God promised kings would come from her and they will.
This was a specific fulfillment of all that He said.
And I absolutely love this.
We have actually begun to live in a bit of a mystical age and society,
Where people are continually putting all sorts of words in God’s mouth.
And then after the fact they sort of go back
And try to make sense of it and search for a confirmation of things.
But the truly fulfilled promises of God are never so vague that you have to find a way to make it look like He did what He said.
When God makes specific promises, God brings specific fulfillment.
That is precisely what God did for Abraham.
We see also A SACRED FULFILLMENT
(3-4) “Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.”
Obviously the name “Isaac” was given
Because God had told Abraham to name him Isaac.
But beyond that “Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.”
Abraham entered Isaac into the covenant.
Abraham surrendered Isaac to the Lord.
We talked about the purpose of circumcision back in chapter 17
When God commanded it of Abraham.
Because sin is inherited from our father Adam,
Circumcision was a picture of one seeking to stop the spread of sin.
It was a removal of the flesh, symbolizing a break from the sin epidemic.
And it was also sign of Abraham’s covenant with God.
God commanded that every male 8 days old be circumcised,
And if they refused they were to be cut off from God’s people.
Well Abraham obviously wanted Isaac to be part of God’s people.
So Abraham here devoted Isaac to the Lord.
There was a specific fulfillment and there was a sacred fulfillment.
It was also A STAGGERING FULFILLMENT
(5-7) “Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
I’m again thankful for these verses, just to help make sure that
We don’t lose sight of precisely what has occurred here.
This is 100% miraculous!
Even Sarah knows it.
“Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?”
And don’t you love this about God.
When He moves and works it is often times in ways
That you never even thought possible.
Of all the ways that Abraham and Sarah or anyone else involved
May have ever thought that God might bless them –
HAVING SARAH GET PREGNANT WAS NEVER CONSIDERED!
It reminds of what Paul said:
Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,”
We often times sit around and try to figure out
What God might do and how He might work,
And yet He purposely works in ways that literally blow our mind.
And He does it just because He can and so that He alone gets the glory.
And now Sarah “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.”
You may remember that when God told Sarah previously
She laughed in doubt as though God were playing a cruel joke on her.
Now she laughs in delight and knows that others will do the same.
Incidentally Isaac actually means “laughter”
God has blown their minds.
And friends I think we can all agree, this is a good day!
God had taken this old, barren, pagan couple
And give them a land and give them a child.
And the thing that makes it even more amazing is that the only reason we can find that God did it is simply because He wanted to.
It is all grace.
God made a promise He did not have to make.
God fulfilled a promise no one else could ever fulfill.
AND THE RECIPIENT IS BLESSED
Certainly Moses is reminding the children of Israel
Of the great blessing of having God on your side.
“If God be for us…”
Promise Fulfilled
#2 THREAT REMOVED
Genesis 21:8-13
Another aspect we have routinely seen in the blessing that God had for Abraham was that God was always willing to protect that blessing.
• God wouldn’t let Pharaoh mess up Abraham’s blessing
• God wouldn’t let Abimelech mess up Abraham’s blessing
• God wouldn’t let Lot mess up Abraham’s blessing
• God wouldn’t let Hagar mess up Abraham’s blessing
And here we find that God won’t let Ishmael mess it up either.
God knew the specific plan He had for Abraham.
God knew how He had chosen to bless him,
And He would not let Abraham have anything less.
BUT HERE WE FIND A THREAT.
God wanted it all to go to Isaac and through Isaac.
But there is a problem.
Abraham has another son, an older son, a first born son.
That son is Ishmael, and we already know that Abraham loved him.
Genesis 17:18-19 “And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.”
Ishmael was Abraham’s son and he loved him.
It was one thing to send Hagar away while pregnant, but at this point Ishmael is somewhere in the neighborhood of 17 years old at this point.
And just like Abraham had previously done with Lot,
No doubt Abraham had big plans for Ishmael.
But the reality is that Ishmael was a threat
To God’s plan of blessing for Abraham.
(And isn’t it just like us to willingly accept less than what God has in store for us?”)
1 Corinthians 2:9 “but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
Again we realize that God has bigger plans for Abraham
Then he even has for himself.
Ishmael is a threat to that plan – and the story here makes it obvious.
(8-9) “The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.”
So Isaac was “weaned” probably around 3 years old.
And Ishmael (around 17) was “mocking”
Interesting play on words here:
Isaac in the Hebrew is “YITS-KAWK” (He laughs)
“mocking” in the Hebrew is “TSA-KHAK”
No doubt Ishmael is laughing at the one who is named laughter.
(Just like kids today make fun of a kids name)
I’m sure Ishmael was a little jealous and so he is mocking Isaac.
And that didn’t go over to well with Isaac’s momma
(10) “Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.”
Now I know when we read that, the assumption is
That this is just an over-protective momma
Who doesn’t like to see her son getting the raw end of the deal.
Now, I’m not going to assume Sarah isn’t emotional.
But it is far more than that.
The New Testament reveals that Sarah
Also understood this from a spiritual reality.
Galatians 4:29-30 “But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? “CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.”
Paul actually unlocked this story a little more for us.
Isaac was born according to the promise, according to the Spirit.
He is a picture of God at work, a picture of salvation.
Ishmael was born according to the flesh
He is a picture of man’s religion, a picture of legalism.
And Paul was very direct that those who are of the flesh
Have no inheritance with those who are of the Spirit.
Even in the church today, there are those who are truly saved, transformed by the Spirit of God,
And then there are those who are merely religious,
Seeking to earn favor through religious works.
Paul was clear that only the former have an inheritance from God.
And to illustrate that point, Paul referred to this story.
Ishmael was indeed Abraham’s son through the flesh,
But those in the flesh are not heirs with those who are of the Spirit.
Paul made that clear in the 8th chapter of Romans.
Romans 8:5-8 “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
You cannot become an heir of God’s promises or blessing through works of the flesh, it is only achieved through the work of the Spirit.
Isaac was the promise and the inheritance was his and his alone.
Ishmael was a threat to that promise.
And Sarah wanted the threat removed.
(11-13) “The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. “And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.”
God confirmed what Sarah desired.
The threat had to be removed.
And one hand it was difficult…
(Being pruned always is)
But what God was doing He did out of love for Abraham
And in order to protect Abraham’s inheritance.
God made a promise to Abraham,
And He wouldn’t even let Abraham mess it up.
Promise Fulfilled, Threat Removed
#3 COMPASSION CONFIRMED
Genesis 21:14-21
Now this story feels a bit out of place,
And indeed we won’t spend much time on it.
I suppose there are various points we could make
About how God did the same thing for Hagar here
That he done for her previously when she fled from Sarah.
How God reminded her that He hears
And then pointed out a well of water for her to drink.
We could talk about God’s working in the life of Hagar a little.
But the point of the story (and Moses’ point in including it)
Is merely to show that what God did for Ishmael
He did as an act of compassion toward Abraham.
God had told Abraham in verse 13, “And of the son of the maid I will make a great nation also, because he is your descendant.”
God knew that this was hard on Abraham to send Ishmael away
And so God made a compassionate promise to him.
Don’t worry Abraham, I will take care of him.
I won’t do it for his sake, or for Hagar’s sake, but I’ll do it for your sake.
And these verses here indicate how God did just that.
God provided for them in the desert, and God allowed him to live, marry, and eventually become a nation.
The only reason this happened is because God blessed Abraham.
Ishmael was blessed simply because of Abraham’s presence in his life.
In other words, the blessing on Abraham was so great
That it spilled over on those close to him.
Incidentally you’ve seen this type of reality before.
You may remember it from when we studied the Kings a few years ago.
Several times we would see God bless a King or leave him on the throne
And do so for only one reason:
1 Kings 15:1-5 “Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah. He reigned three years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. He walked in all the sins of his father which he had committed before him; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, like the heart of his father David. But for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to raise up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem; because David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.”
The only reason Abijam was allowed to endure
Was because of the blessing on David.
Or how about Laban being blessed because of Jacob?
Or how about Egypt blessed because of Joseph?
It was part of that original promise of blessing to Abraham.
Genesis 12:2-3 “And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
That is also true of Ishmael.
God was compassionate on him simply because
God had chosen to bless Abraham.
Abraham is clearly blessed
Promise Fulfilled, Threat Removed, Compassion Confirmed
#4 REST ACHIEVED
Genesis 21:22-34
Again we have a seemingly bizarre story that doesn’t seem to fit the context of what is going on.
But there are some telling facts in this story
That further support that God had indeed blessed Abraham.
Look at this story for a second.
It starts with the greeting between Abraham and Abimelech
(22) “Now it came about at that time that Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do;”
I think we all remember where Abimelech learned that.
When he had taken Sarah, God was going to kill him for it.
And Abimelech learned not to mess with Abraham
Because God is on Abraham’s side.
Well now God has prompted Abimelech
To come and make sure that all is well between he and Abraham.
(23) “now therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my offspring or with my posterity, but according to the kindness that I have shown to you, you shall show to me and to the land in which you have sojourned.”
That alone is a bizarre thing.
Does it seem strange to you that a king of a nation would search out a stranger sojourning there and make sure that there can be peace between them?
But this king did because he understood that Abraham is blessed
And I had better make peace with him for God is on his side.
It sort of parallels the story of Balaam and how Balak continually wanted him to curse the children of Israel but God wouldn’t let him.
Numbers 22:12 “God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
That is what is happening here.
Abimelech has learned that Abraham is blessed
And he wants to make sure they can dwell in peace.
(23-24) “now therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my offspring or with my posterity, but according to the kindness that I have shown to you, you shall show to me and to the land in which you have sojourned.” Abraham said, “I swear it.”
Abimelech knows that he doesn’t want to be on the wrong side of Abraham and so he seeks a covenant with Abraham.
Here is the one complaint Abraham has.
(25-30) “But Abraham complained to Abimelech because of the well of water which the servants of Abimelech had seized. And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor did I hear of it until today.” Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs mean, which you have set by themselves?” He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a witness to me, that I dug this well.”
Here we have a well that Abraham had dug
That Abimelech’s servants had seized.
Notice Abimelech’s answer: “You did not tell me, nor did I hear of it until today.”
You know for a king Abimelech sure isn’t very observant.
(That was the same excuse he gave for taking Sarah – he pleads ignorance)
So Abraham sets a covenant and then set aside 7 ewe lambs and says, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a witness to me, that I dug this well.”
In other words, “I’ve told you and these lambs will serve as a witness that I told you.”
So peace has been made
Then the rest we alluded to:
(31-34) “Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath. So they made a covenant at Beersheba; and Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, arose and returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines for many days.”
Here we just observe a few small things.
• Namely that “Abraham planted a tamarisk tree”
• And he “sojourned in the land of the Philistines for many days.”
You don’t plant a tree unless you are planning on hanging around.
For the first time sense coming to this new land,
Abraham is putting down a few roots.
Now Abraham is finally resting in the land.
He has his son, and he is resting on his land.
• God did what He said
• God protected what He did
• And now God is simply letting Abraham enjoy it
We have a word for this: BLESSED
It’s just good what God has done for Abraham.
And with that can I remind you of the joys of salvation?
• That God calls us when we don’t deserve it.
• God saves us when we can’t obtain it on our own.
• God protects us from various threats, whether that be of our own ignorance,
the attacks of the enemy, or even things we didn’t realize were a threat.
• And then God graciously lets us enjoy our salvation.
Can I remind you that the Christian life is meant to be enjoyed?
As a child of God you are also blessed.
Galatians 3:9 “So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.”
It is true that in order to come to Christ we deny self, we repent of sin,
We leave the world behind, and following Christ could cost us.
But don’t assume that when you sign up to follow Christ
That you are leaving the good life to live the barren life.
NO
Was Abraham barren before or after God called him?
(before)
Life for Abraham got good
After the Lord chose him for His own possession.
You must understand it is God’s children who are blessed,
Not the children of the world.
Psalms 1:1-3 “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.”
Psalms 40:4 “How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.”
Psalms 84:12 “O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!”
Psalms 112:1-3 “Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, And his righteousness endures forever.”
Psalms 146:3-7 “Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts perish. How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea and all that is in them; Who keeps faith forever; Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free.”
Jeremiah 17:5-8 “Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD. “For he will be like a bush in the desert And will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.”
The life of blessing is only found in the life with God.
So many people in this world see it all backward.
Sadly many times even believers see it all backward.
Satan has so situated this world with his advertisements and enticements
That it tends to look like the good life is found in the world,
And the boring life is found in God.
If you really want to have fun then go live it up,
But there is no fun to be had among God’s people.
But that is a lie from the enemy.
See, the world never shows you the consequences.
• They don’t show you what occurs after the beer party.
• They don’t show you the fall out after you take the girl home from the bar.
• They don’t show you the other side of pornography.
• They don’t show you the down side to gambling.
THERE IS NO BLESSING THERE.
It is pain, and hardship, and suffering, and remorse, and regret.
If you want the blessing, there is only one place to find it.
And that is from the God who gives life.
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
And specifically that blessing comes from those
Who trust Him and obey His word.
God has said it Himself:
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
You must understand there is only one who offers the blessing
Who can actually deliver on it.
False prophets offer it but can’t deliver:
2 Peter 2:17-19 “These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.”
They offer what they do not have and cannot supply.
They are liars.
But if you have learned anything
From what God did in Abraham’s life
Then you know that He blessed Abraham.
And that blessing is for you who will trust Him as well.
Friends, know that our God is good and our God is faithful
And if God is for you who can be against you.
• So trust Him.
• Do as He says.
• When He prunes in your life, don’t resist Him.
• Follow His lead.
He can and He will bless – Abraham is proof of that.
