THE DOCTRINES OF GENESIS
GENESIS FOR THE JEWS
(Vol. II)
CHAPTER 21
Verse 1. And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said,and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. God told Abraham that Sarah would bear a son (Gen. 17:16-17, 18:10), and she did, despite their skepticism (Gen. 17:17, 18:12).
When God says he will do something, he will always do it unless He changes his mind. Do not be deceived. God DOES change his mind about His expressed intentions on occasions (I Chr. 21:15, Amos 7:5-6, Jonah 3:10). However, once it is WRITTEN DOWN, once it is IN THE BOOK, it is sealed and cannot be changed.
God promised Sarah a son, so Sarah's next move should have been to buy a crib.
Verse 2. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a sonin his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. God had last spoken to Abraham about a year earlier (Gen. 17:21).
Verse 3. And Abraham calledthe name of his son thatwas born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. Isaac means "laughter." But the name means happy, joyful laughter (verse 6), not skeptical laughter like the first time Sarah laughed (Gen. 18:12).
Sarah must have been the proudest woman in the East. Here she was ninety years old, fighting the shame of having a husband who never had shown her much regard or respect, having a handmaid who treated her with contempt and disrespect, now with a son of her own. And he was to be the son of promise. No more putting up with Hagar's haughtiness. No more having her husband deny that she was his wife first and half-sister second. What a day it must have been for old Sarah.
Verse 4. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac beingeight days old, as God had commanded him. (See comments on verses nine through fourteen of chapter seventeen.)
Verse 5. And Abraham was an hundred years old, whenhis son Isaac was born unto him. Abraham was undoubtedly proud too. Abraham followed the pattern set by his forefathers, being of an age divisible by five when his son was born (see comments on chapter five in Volume I of, The Doctrines of Genesis).
Verse 6. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh,so that all that hear will laugh with me. Usually when someone knows anything about Isaac, he also knows about his miraculous birth, thereby thinking of Sarah.
Verse 7. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham,that Sarah should have given children suck? for I haveborn him a son in his old age. Abraham and Sarah are only the first of several couples who bore a child in their old age. Isaac was only the first of many sons born to women who were barren. All of the women involved are in some way typical of the nation Israel.
Each and every birth was miraculous.
Isaac born to Sarah in her old age typifies the Lord Jesus Christ, the son of promise, born to Israel after many, many years.
The wife of Manoah was barren (Jud. 13:2) for years before their son Samson, a Nazarite (Jud. 13:5), a judge (Jud.15:28), and the strongest man who ever lived, was born. Samson was a type of Jesus.
Samuel, a prophet (I Sam.3:20, II Chr. 35:18, Acts 13:20) like the Lord Jesus Christ (John 4:43-44, 7:40), was born to Hannah after she had endured years of praying for a child (I Sam. 1:2, 20).
John the Baptist, a Nazarite who typified the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb.2:17), was born to Elizabeth (who was barren, Luke 1:7) and Zacharias, a PRIEST (Luke 3:2).
In a like manner as Sarah, Hannah, Manoah's wife, and Elizabeth, the nation Israel was old, very old before God's Son was born (Luke 2).
Verse 8. And the child grew, and was weaned: andAbraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac wasweaned. The fact that Abraham made a feast, points to the fact that it was an important and significant day for the family.
There is no definite way to determine how old Isaac was when he was weaned. He might have been one, two, or even three. That would have made Ishmael thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen years old (Gen. 17:25).
Nothing is said about where Abraham was living when Isaac was born. He might have still been in Gerar, but more than likely had journeyed eastward.
Verse 9. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian,which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Ishmael was mocking or teasing Isaac and Sarah saw it.
Very seldom does such a situation that prevailed in Abraham's household produce peace and harmony. It was never intended for families to consist of more than a man and his wife and their children. Any deviation from that precept always brings grief.
Only God can repair a broken egg, only God can mend fractured homes. Every human is as fragile as an egg. Some people just have slightly thicker shells than others. If it were not for the protective hand of God mankind would totally destroy itself in less than a decade (Matt. 24:22).
Verse 10. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast outthis bondwoman and her son:.. The last time Sarah wanted to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael, Abraham put the responsibility of casting them out on Sarah (Gen. 16:6). On that occasion, God told Hagar to go back and submit herself to her mistress (Gen. 16:9). This time, Sarah appealed to Abraham. "The last time when I made her leave, she came back. This time, I don't want her to come back. Now you get rid of her, this house isn't big enough for the both of us." If things go on any further, that boy Ishmael willthink he's got some inheritance' coming."
...for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir withmy son, even with Isaac. "Iput up with Hagar's scorn, but I'll not put up with her son mocking my son. Get rid of both of them. He has no right to any inheritance. He's the son of a bondwoman. I'll not have my son sharing his inheritance with the son of a bondwoman."
Verse 11. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham'ssight because of his son. Abraham loved Ishmael. That was only natural. Ishmael was his first child, his own flesh and blood.
In this, Ishmael's relationship to Abraham was similar to SATAN'S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD.
It is so very significant that although Isaac was Abraham's son, the Bible presents ISAAC AS ABRAHAM'S ONLY SON (Gen. 22:2). At the time God called Isaac Abraham's ONLY son, Ishmael was still alive. What did God mean by that?
Satan is God's son (Job 1:6, 2:1), but was never born. He was a CREATEDSON (Ez. 28:13). Like Ishmael, he could not be God's HEIR. Therefore, ANOTHER Son of God, a "second" Son was BORN OFGOD. As Isaac was Abraham's only son (Gen. 22:2), Jesus is God's only begotten Son (John 3:16). As Isaac the "second" son of Abraham became heir to all Abraham's possessions (Gen. 25:5), so will Jesus, God's "second" Son be the heir of all things (Heb. 1:1-2).
Verse 12. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not begrievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because ofthy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearkenunto her voice;.. The trouble began when Abraham listened to Sarah the first time (Gen. 16:2). Adam's problems began when he listened to the voice of his wife (Gen. 3:17). Now God told Abraham to listen to Sarah.
This makes it obvious that sometimes women are right and sometimes they are wrong. But it seems that they are wrong more often than they are right.
However, God agreed with Sarah's solution. When it comes down to who the son of promise will be, the son who will inherit all things, there can be no compromise or sharing. Separation is demanded.
...for inIsaac shall thy seed be called. In his letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul used Ishmael as a type of the LAW. There were some Jewish Christians in the area that wanted to bring certain demands of the law into the present age of grace, circumcision for one. Paul admonished them and explained that LAW AND GRACE WOULD NOT MIX. He said that Ishmael's being cast out was a type of how the law was to be cast out: the law was connected to BONDAGE (Gal. 5: 1). He also explained that Isaac was a type of grace, or promise (Gal.4:28). Therefore it can be understood that Ishmael was a type of the LAW which was based on WORKS while Isaac was a type of GRACE which is based on FAITH (Gal. 3:2).
In other words, Ishmael was to Isaac what law is to grace.
THEY CANNOT BE MIXED.
CAST OUT THE LAW.
This truth was also typified by Esau and Jacob. As surely as they were reconciled after Jacob's long absence, so will law and grace be reconciled in righteousness when Jesus rules on earth.
Verse 13. And also of the son of the bondwoman will Imake a nation, because he is thy seed. God wanted Abraham to know that casting out Hagar and Ishmael would not be their end. Simply because Ishmael was not the son of promise did not mean that God had no blessing for him.
God had told Abraham that he would be the father of nations, plural (Gen. 17:4). The promise was that Abraham's seed would be as the dust of the earth (Gen. 13:16), as the stars in heaven (Gen. 15:5), and as the sand of the sea (Gen. 22:17). As to the fulfillment of THAT aspect of the promise, Ishmael was the beginning of God's promise to make Abraham's seed as the DUST of the earth. Isaac was the beginning of the fulfillment of the aspect of the promise that Abraham's seed would be as the STARS of heaven, and the sons Keturah bore to Abraham were the beginning of the fulfillment of the aspect of the promise that Abraham's seed would be as the SAND of the sea.
At the same time, the three kinds of seed Abraham would bear (dust, stars, and sand) TYPIFY three DIFFERENT companies of people. Abraham's seed that were counted as DUST are the GENTILES (or nations, Isa. 40:15). Those who are typified by the STARS are CHRISTIANS (I Cor.15:41), and those counted as SAND are the children of Israel (II Sam. 17:11, I Kings 4:20, Isa. 10:22, Hos. 1:10, Rom.9:27, Rev. 13:1).
Verse 14. And Abraham rose up early in the morning... Little by little, Abraham was learning to do what God told him. He did not hesitate nor argue, but early the very next day, he made preparation to send Hagar and Ishmael away.
...and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave itunto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder… One wonders why he did not burden Ishmael with the bottle of water. There is nothing to indicate that he was frail or weak. Perhaps Abraham's giving the water to Hagar's care placed on her the responsibility of their welfare.
...and the child,.. This makes it sound like Ishmael might have been given his own bottle of water, but that is not likely since the previous statement said "abottle."
...and sent her away: and she departed... The way this is worded, "her" and "she" instead of "them" and "they," it clearly placed Hagar in charge. It was her obligation to look after the welfare of Ishmael.
...and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. There can be little doubt that Hagar's intention was to go back to Egypt. But she got lost. There were no maps or signposts pointing the way. One, hill looked like another. She was not familiar with the area. Her mind was quite likely cluttered with thoughts of what might have been. She was burdened with fear and rejection. It is little wonder that she found herself wandering.
Verse 15. And the water was spent in the bottle, andshe cast the child under one of the shrubs. There was no more water. She did not know where they were or which direction to go. They were very thirsty, and Hagar was on the verge of giving up. She found a small shade and told Ishmael to stay out of the sun as much as possible.
Verse 16. And she went, and sat her down over againsthim a good way off, as it were a bowshot:.. Hagar got far enough away so as not to hear his cries or see him die.
...for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. A bowshot was about two hundred yards, close enough to see him if he wandered away, but too far away to know when he died. Hagar must surely have been sorely grieved. She had given up. As far as she was concerned, there was nothing else she could do.
And she sat over against him... The term "over against" indicates a relatively short distance, yet not touching (Josh.5:13, 8:33, I Sam. 15:5, etc.).
...and lift up her voice, and wept. As far as Hagar was concerned, it was the end of the line. Perhaps she was thinking of the time when she had heard the voice of God telling her that he would multiply her seed exceedingly (Gen. 16:10). "Where are you now Lord, when I need you more than ever before? Is this all that my life and the life of my son will amount to? We're about to die. Ishmael is so thirsty and I can't bear to watch him suffer. You said he would dwell in the presence of all his brethren, and he never had but one and he's a long way away. What good are all your promises if we're going to die?"
Verse 17. And God heard the voice of the lad;.. Hagar cried, the Lord heard the lad, so the Lord spoke to Hagar. The natural man cannot understand the ways of God. It is a mystery to this writer why Ishmael seemed to be so helpless. After all, he was over thirteen years old.
The promises God made to Hagar concerned Ishmael. Why did God choose to speak to Hagar and not to him?
God honored Abraham's way of placing the burden of Ishmael's survival on Hagar. Either that, or Abraham knew the ways of God and acted accordingly when he sent the two away. But another truth is revealed in this episode.
...and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven,.. God did not come into the presence of Hagar, but spoke to her from heaven.
...and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? "What AILS me? Are you kidding? We're about to DIE. Do YOU know what it's like to watch your son when he's almost dead of thirst (John 19:28)? Do you know what it's like to be forsaken by your own friends and by your own flesh and blood (Mark 14:50, Matt. 27:46)? And you ask what ails me?"
...fear not;.. What unspeakable comfort to hear the voice of Deity, the voice of Almighty God say, "fear not." What sweeping relief must have flooded Hagar's soul. Everything was all right now. All the doubts and fears were swept away. All the burdens were suddenly but gently removed. God was there.
...for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. The implication is that Ishmael was doing more than crying for water. He was praying. He was calling on the name of the Lord (Gen. 4:26, Rom.10:13).
This is no doubt why the angel of the Lord said "God hath heard the voice of the lad" rather than, "God has heard YOUR crying." Hagar had not been praying, but crying, probably out of self-pity.
Verse 18. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand;.. This certainly does not mean that the Lord wanted Hagar to set her son in the palm of her hand and balance him there. The term simply meant to take him into her care and comfort him.
...for I will make him a great nation. "Lord, I was scared. I thought you had forgotten us. I'm sorry. I forgot. Things looked pretty bad there for a while. Forgive me Lord for doubting. I know you told me a long time ago, even before he was born, that he was to be named Ishmael. I guess I thought you had forgotten. I'm sorry for my doubts."
Perhaps these thoughts came to Hagar's mind as blessed relief flooded her soul.
Verse 19. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a wellof water;.. The well was there all the time. It did not suddenly materialize. Hagar's was a spiritual blindness, not too much unlike that of Elisha's servant who could not see the chariots of God until Elisha prayed (II Kings 6:13-17). However, those were SPIRITUAL chariots; not of this earth. The spring of water that Hagar could not see while being able to see other earthly things was physical.
There are two kinds of blindness.
One is physical, the inability to see physical things. The other is spiritual, like Elisha's servant who could not see PHYSICAL chariots in the spiritual realm. That is similar to the inability to see SPIRITUAL truths in the PHYSICAL BIBLE. This is the inability to understand scriptural truths, the ability to read the Bible but totally miss the message, the physical ability to hear the word of God, but not understand what it means and comprehend its spiritual aspects.