Bible Study Online Article
More Bible Study Online - Related Page Links
Located at the Bottom of Page
PAGE 18
The Birth of Isaac
The Promised Seed is Finally Born
Sarah had indeed become pregnant and she gave birth to a boy, in which Abraham had obeyed God and named him Isaac.
(Bible Study Online Article Covers : Genesis 21:1-7)
Short Recap?
In the previous article, we learned that Abraham had moved from the region of Mamre immediately after he discovered that the Lord had destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Initially, Abraham planned to settle within the desert region of the Negev.
But something had happened along the way while Abraham was headed to the desert region. We would find that Abraham had ended up dwelling in another place for a while before he'd reached the Negev. And the place where Abraham and his family ended up settling was a Philistine town and district known as Gerar.
At this point, Abraham would encounter the king reigning over Gerar, known as Abimelech. It is also at this time that we learn that Abraham was still being deceitful regarding his true relationship with his wife, Sarah.
For we find that just as he did when he first entered Egypt, Abraham is still saying that Sarah is his sister rather than his wife.
However, it is also known that because of this lie, Sarah ends up being taken by Abimelech. However, God would eventually step in, and by doing so, forces Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham:
"But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, 'You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.'" -- Genesis 20:3
Bible Study Online
Prophecy Recap
Nonetheless, we've now reached the point from within our journey where we now find ourselves approximately one year from the time that God delivered the "promise seed message" to Abraham and Sarah: "Then the Lord said: 'I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.'" -- (Genesis 18:10)
Know that the Lord was gracious towards Sarah, for He finally did what He had promised her some time ago? We now find that after Sarah received this message from the Lord, she would indeed eventually become pregnant, and then she would finally give birth to a child that she could now call her own. Know that Sarah would end up calling this child Isaac, for this was the name that the Lord had instructed Abraham to give him:
"Then God said, 'Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.'" -- (Genesis 17:19)
Bible Study Online
They Both Doubted
Now, understand that the name Isaac means "laughter," and make no mistake, the name seems very appropriate for the newborn, for we find that when God first told Abraham about Isaac, Abraham himself laughed and had some doubts as well about what God had just told him.
Now, I find it strange and interesting that pastors and Bible teachers don't talk about how Abraham laughed and doubted God's Word like they do when it comes to Sarah:
"Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, 'Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?'" And Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!" -- (Genesis 17: 17-18)
Now remember, when Sarah had heard the news a short while later, this is when she also laughed to herself, for she had also doubted God's Word: "So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, 'After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure.'" -- (Genesis 18:12)
Bible Study Online
Now To Be Fair
Now, I'm going to cut those who insist on ignoring Abraham's doubt some slack, and being that, if I were to guess the reason why they point out Sarah's doubt over Abraham's? It deals with the fact that Sarah had tried to hide her doubt, and God had called her out on it. But when it came to Abraham, know that when he had laughed, he did not try to hide his doubt, and he was very upfront with God about it.
But as for me, I can't say that I blame Abraham and Sarah for their skepticism; I mean, after all, just like Abraham and Sarah had stated before: "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?"
Bible Study Online
What Would You Have Done?
Now, if I were in Abraham's position, I would have asked God the same thing, and I'm not ashamed to confess that. And you know what? We ought to be proud that we have the opportunity and privileges that no other creature has from within God's glorious creation. It's an honor to develop a personal relationship with God, where we can boldly and respectfully call Him out on the things He has promised us.
But honestly, if we were to learn how to trust God completely, I would need to call Him out less boldly and respectfully when it comes to the promises the Lord made concerning us in the first place. I also want you to know that this is one of the many reasons why I admire the relationship that Abraham had with God, for he wasn't afraid to talk and have a little debate with the Almighty One. And you know what? God loved him for it.
Bible Study Online
Laughter of Doubt - Becomes - Laughter of Joy
However that may have been, we now move forward. And it's at this time that we find Sarah, you know, the one who had once laughed because she doubted God? And it's at this moment from within our journey that we now find her, laughing for different reasons. For she now knows that, finally, God has smiled on her. And because of this newfound favor and happiness, joy has finally filled Sarah's heart. And because of this, Sarah would announce as she held her newborn son Isaac:
"God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age." -- Genesis 21:6,7
In the next Bible Study Online Article:
Now that the Sacred has revealed that the Lord had finally blessed Sarah with a child that she can call her own. We'll begin to move forward from within our journey. And it would be at this time that the Sacred Record would reveal to us that Abraham's family drama would once again begin to intensify.
May God blessings be upon you, and thank you for your support
Related - Bible Study Online Articles - Links
Start Reading a Different Bible Study Online Series:
The Sons of God - The Daughters of Men
**YOUR CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES - WOULD BE HERE**
Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty
Continue Reading - Current Series:
16) Abimelech Angry with Abraham
17) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE->
18) Hagar & Ishmael
Added to Page 19) Hagar the Mother of a Great Nation
20) Abraham & The Well of Oath
21) Abraham & The Great Sacrifice
25) Rebekah gets Permission to Leave
28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael
Leaving Bible Study Online Article Page - Entering - Christian Resources Today - Home Page
