_mlel_ speak, an ancient and therefore solemn undertakings. Youll recall that he had been deceptive, pawning off Sarah as his sister. - Genesis 21:22-23 Review After waiting years, God blessed Abraham and Sarah with their promised baby, Isaac. Only before concluding the agreement there was a matter of a more personal character that required settlement. But what Im saying is that sinlessness isnt the requirement to bear witness for Christ. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you., Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimeleks servants had seized. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time. Each time, the young man, who was retarded and knew only this one verse, responded simply by quoting John 3:16. It hadnt worked the two times they tried it. law of Hebrew narrative, probably not Now the LORD visited Sarah as he had said (Genesis 21:1), THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 20 AND 21. Abimelech claimed no prior knowledge of the matter, and the covenant the two men ratified stipulated that the well belonged to Abraham (21:30). undertakings. So he changed his plans and flew home to L.A. Two days later, he heard on the news that a flight from Chicago to Los Angeles had crashed, killing everyone on board. I like that, "as He had said, and as He had spoken." I've got that underlined that just sort of hit me. A few years ago Abraham told this same Abimelek that Sarah was his sister. ISHMAEL AND ISAAC Genesis 21:1-34 ; Genesis 22:1-24 Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. Category: Sermon StructureTags: Genesis, Genesis 21, Old Testament Narrative, Home | Admissions | Academics | Campus Life | Alumni, All content copyright 2023 Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary In seeking to bring about both of these promises, Abraham resorted to human schemes to help God out: with the son, he went in to Hagar and produced Ishmael; with regard to the land, his fears of being wiped out by the inhabitants of the land prompted him to lie about Sarah being his sister, not his wife. Whenever he looks at the slip of paper that contains her prayer, he is amazed, for it reads, Please, dear Lord, give us this day our daily bread. (Our Daily Bread.). Abraham, the one who took his army of 318 men and rescued Lot from the armies of four kings, Abraham goes after the servants of Abimelek and takes them out, right? (See previous post about Abraham and Abimelek). 23. 27:7). As David wrote, all our days were written in Gods book before we even were born (Ps. And you know what else? when Abimelech, struck with God's providential regard to him, wa 5. In the Grant Study, 268 Harvard graduates (including John F. Kennedy by the way. The angel relieves and comforts her. Seemingly betraying a secret suspicion of the prince's veracity, the act aimed at preventing any recurrence of the grievance, and in this light it appears to have been regarded by Abimelech. Abimelek avoids contention within his ranks. Its about your relationship with the person of God and your relationships with other people. Genesis 20:2 Genesis 26:26 God. "The great well has an internal diameter at the mouth of twelve feet six inches, or a circumference of nearly forty feet. 5. 2. (Haydock)_ And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to So why, after he already gave Abimelek flocks of sheep and cattle, did Abraham give him seven lambs as a witness that Abraham dug the well? 21:23 Abimelech proposes a treaty not to deal falsely. This is the term used in Ex. trial and utter ruin of the creature, with the revelation of divine CONCLUSION: Behind every promise of God is the purpose a Genesis 21:3. V2 So Sarah became *pregnant. Abraham uses the occasion to complain to Abimelech about a well which his men have taken from Abrahams servants. L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 26:1-35. . THAT ABIMELECH, AND PHICHOL, THE CHIEF CAPTAIN OF HIS HOST, SPAKE And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief 2. Verses 1-34. could sing with Mary, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spi God is with thee in all that thou doest 4 He is circumcised. shava) in this pericope (23, 24, 31, 31). It shows how God faithfully provided all that Abraham needed apart from Abrahams schemes. So what does Abraham do? CONTENTS: Birth of Isaac. _The birth of Isaac. How Jesus loved his betrayer Judas, even to the very end. Do we badmouth the boss or other workers behind their backs? had promised to her. transactions recorded in the preceding chapter, or to the time of Phichol.] All these things are true and wonderful. (1) God fulfills His promise to Abraham and Sarah. Wheres the balance between taking measures for our own safety versus trusting God to protect us? In this section Abraham kept up public worship, in which his neighbours might join. And it came to pass at that time,possibly in immediate sequence to the incident of the preceding chapter, but, "according to the common law of Hebrew narrative, probably not long after the birth of Isaac." Abraham didnt fight with Abimeleks servants. Genesis 21:22-34 What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves? As already Mature, Aner, and Eshcol had formed a league with the patriarch (vide Genesis 14:13). The files holding the data are as thick as unabridged dictionaries. The new name of God bore witness to Gods unchanging faithfulness and to the fact that Abrahams faith was not in Abimelech nor in the treaty between them, but in the eternal God who was his dwelling place. all that thou _AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME, THAT ABIMELECH AND PHICHOL THE Throughout Abrahams story run two great promises which God made to Abraham: a son, through whom Abraham would become a great nation, and through whose descendants all the nations would be blessed; and, the land of Canaan, where his descendants would live. As a prince, Abimelech was afraid of Abraham's growing power; as a good man, he insures the safety of himself and his dominions not by resorting to war, but by forming an amicable treaty with his neighbornor with my son, nor with my son's son: (LXX. reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH MAKE A COVENANT AT BEERSHEBA. That was an extraordinary way that God provided for His children. captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in Now the LORD visited Sarah as he had said ( Genesis 21:1 ), I like this. xx. IN ALL THAT THOU DOEST:_ Sometimes we may wonder, How does God fit in with the ordinary?. _AT THAT TIME_] This may either refer to the transactions recorded in the preceding chapter, or to the time of Ishmael's marriage, but most probably to the former. The LXX. When we lived in California and would take our young children to the beach, there wasnt a second while they were playing in the waves that they were not under our watchful gaze. 22 And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do. 6. _GOD IS WITH - The Birth of Isaac all that thou doest: 7. Name signifies mouth of all, _i.e.,_ I Wish Someone Had Told Me This When I Was Young, Genesis 21:1-21 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:6 KJV), You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it: 1 Corinthians 12:27, Joseph's 5 Steps to Avoid Temptation: Genesis 39:6-23, 10 Attributes Of Jesus' Relationship With His Father (And what we can learn from them), Jesus And The 5 Love Languages: Chapter 17 from the newly released book Love Like Jesus, Joseph's 4 Steps to Success: Genesis 39:1-6, The Consequences Of Ignoring God: God's Way, Your Way, And Your Crushed Spirit, The Surprising Power of Habits: Important Conversation with My Younger Self, #5, Drunk and Naked--Love Covers a Multitude: Genesis 9:18-29, Things You Should Know About The Author Of This Blog. I like that, "as He had said, and as He had spoken." Do others see the hand of God on your life? It is good to remember God's mercies, of which national and civil quietude is one of the greatest, and it is becoming to erect memorials of both privileges and obligations. mll "speak," an ancient and therefore solemn and poetical word. Do we work hard or slack off? THE PROMISE FULFILLED IN ISAAC It seems to me that the answer is, It shows the faithfulness of God in the ordinary. Sometimes when you read the Bible, you get the feeling that God majors in the spectacular. Abraham's acquiescence in the king's proposal was no doubt dictated by a peaceable disposition, a sense of equity, a spirit of contentment, and an unwavering confidence in God. It is a beautiful illustration of how God faithfully provides everything we need for life and godliness so that we can fulfill His purpose. After this had gone on for several times, the businessman suddenly was struck with the simple truth of that verse. Abimelech and Abraham, or ancient covenanters. And they didnt have backhoes or drilling rigs in those days. The birth of Isaac. 14. But Abraham still struggled with this fear long after he had been living in the land. How can we turn everyday situations into opportunities for telling others about Christ? As the psalmist proclaims, Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His loving kindness, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine (Ps. (1) that as the land of the Philistines had no fixed boundary toward the desert, Beersheba may at this time have been claimed for the kingdom of Gerar (Keil); or. 21:22 Abimelech recognized the blessing of the Lord on Abraham. This may grow out of the previous encounter when God spoke to Abimelech, called Abraham a prophet, and answered Abrahams prayer (for the infertility of the women in his house). _chemet_ bottle, akin to _chamah_, Genesis 20:2 Genesis 26:26 God. God burned the words into his heart and gave him the faith to believe. 1886. A covenant between the patriarch and the Philistine king. Which things are an allegory.- Galatians 4:22. We dont always think about it, but if the world knows that were Christians, they watch us to see if were different than everyone else. Love Like Jesusexamines a variety of stories, examples, and research, including: With genuine unfiltered honesty,Love Like Jesus, shows you how to live a life according to Gods definition of success: A life of loving God well, and loving the people around you well too. The name, Beersheba seems to play on them both. The mistaken charge. Now the grace of God bears its most important fruit in the history of No more can be expected from an honest man than that he be ready to do right, as soon as he knows he has done wrong. None ever waited in vain. had promised to her. It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have been kind to us. In like manner Phichol, mouth of all, seems to have been the official designation of the prime minister, and commander-in-chief. 1. 21:25-26 Interrupting the covenant-making ceremony, Abraham airs a grievance that he has with Abimelech related to Abimelechs servants taking possession of a well that Abraham previously dug. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. In Chapter s 20, 21 we have the question of the heir and of the path Most days, he got up, made sure his animals were being cared for, dealt with problems like sick or straying animals, servants who had squabbles, and finding enough water and food for his flocks and family. Specific examples of how Jesus communicated Gods love to others. This is one of the attributes of God to His people. By the way the new cops boss, the Police Chief, called him into his office the next day for what the new cop thought was going to be an atta-boy. _God is with thee in all tha 1 Isaac is borne.