Gênesis 21

Gênesis 21

Utley - From Gen. 17:25, the Arabs developed the practice of circumcising their children at age thirteen, in line with the circumcision of Ishmael. All of the people of the Ancient Near East circumcised their children, but at different ages and for different purposes. Only the Philistines and Hivites were uncircumcised (i.e., Genesis 34). Circumcised (04135)(mul) to cut short, to cut off, to circumcise with most uses in the Torah (Pentateuch) with 17 uses in Genesis but 8 uses are found in Joshua (see below). Its usage is continued in rabbinic and modern Hebrew. However, the verb "to cut off" is not found in other Semitic languages. The only derivative of mul is mûlôt found in Ex. 4:26 "So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood”–because of the circumcision.' The physical act of circumcision was introduced by God as a sign of the Abrahamic covenant (see Ge 17:10ff above) W E Vine - The special act of circumcision was a sign of God's gracious promise. With the promise and covenantal relations, God expected that His people would joyously and willingly live up to His expectations, and thus demonstrate His rule on earth. To describe the "heart" attitude, several writers of Scripture use the verb "to circumcise." The "circumcision" of the flesh is a physical sign of commitment to God. (See also Circumcision of the Heart) Genesis 21:5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Ge 17:1,17 Ro 4:19-20 Genesis 21 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Related Passages: Romans 4:19-20+ Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, ANCIENT ABRAHAM'S NEWBORN SON Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him - In Ge 17:1 he was 99 and in next chapter in Ge 18:10 God said "I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Abraham's age (Ge 17:17) is reiterated to show the grace (unmerited favor) of God and His faithfulness to keep His promise, independent of human strength or effort. Grace still flows down the same way. As James 4:6+ says "He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” You know you’re growing older when … … you know all the answers but nobody asks you the questions. … you sink your teeth into a steak and they stay there. … all the names in your contacts list end in M.D. When you get to chapter 21 after reading about the many adventures of Abraham, you may be surprised to learn that he is already 100 years old. Yet the most important and productive years of his life are still ahead. Before he dies at the age of 175 (Ge 25:7–8), Abraham will father at least eight children, face his severest test on Mount Moriah (Ge 22:2), and arrange for a godly wife for Isaac. Clearly, being a senior citizen didn’t alter Abraham’s zeal for God. Neither should it for you. No matter our age, God still has a plan for our lives. He can still use us for His glory, for His kingdom. Ask Him what you can do for Him today. “Teach us to number our days aright” (Psalm 90:12). If being born did not bring much satisfaction, try being born again. Charles Swindoll - FULFILLMENT OF THE IMPOSSIBLE (Faith for the Journey) Being built by God and made in His own image, man possesses a hunger within his heart to know the vastness and eternity of [His] plan. WALTER KAISER Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.” AT LONG LAST, at the appointed time, Abraham and Sarah received the fulfillment of God’s promise. Ninety-year-old Sarah gave birth to a son and, in obedience to God, named him Isaac, which means “he laughs.” Years earlier, when God had told Abraham that Sarah would give birth to a son, he fell over laughing. When God came again to announce, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” (Genesis 18:10), Sarah, too, laughed in disbelief. She was the age of most great-grandmothers by that time. Neither she nor Abraham could imagine her birthing and nursing her own infant. When God accomplished the impossible through this aging couple, their disbelieving snickering became joyful laughter . . . laughter of pleasure and praise. They now saw greater meaning in the name Isaac. Nothing occurs outside God’s plan, and everything happens exactly at the time He planned it to happen. That’s what theologians mean when they apply the term sovereignty to God. He has a plan, and He has the power and the will to carry it out. Some people don’t like the concept of sovereignty and the existence of a foreordained, divine plan. It makes them feel unimportant, as though they don’t have a say in their own destiny. But God’s foreordained plan does not reduce us to robots who must follow a program. We grow up when we look at God’s plan not as something that diminishes humanity by taking away our free will but as a means by which He will restore true freedom —and carry out His impossible plans. REFLECT What impossible things has God done in your life in the past? What does it mean to you that God is sovereign? I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. Ps 73:28 Genesis 21:6 Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” God: Ge 17:17 Ge 18:12-15 1Sa 1:26-28 2:1-10 Ps 113:9 126:2 Isa 49:15,21 Isa 54:1 Lu 1:46-55 Joh 16:21,22 Ga 4:27,28 Heb 11:11 will laugh: Lu 1:14,58 Ro 12:15 Genesis 21 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Related Passages: Genesis 18:12+ Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” Matthew 1:1-2+ The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. JOYFUL LAUGHTER A time to weep and a time to laugh --Ecclesiastes 3:4 Sarah said, “God has made laughter (tsechoq) for me; everyone who hears will laugh (tsachaq) with me - Literally the Hebrew reads "Laughter God has made for me." This time, Sarah’s laughter was open and sincere, not hidden and skeptical (Ge 18:12+). The name Isaac means “laughter,” and the boy brought much joy to the aged couple. Through Isaac, the Messiah would come and bring joy to the world (see above). Once again we see that God makes “everything beautiful in its time” (Eccl 3:11KJV). Derek Kidner on laughter...laugh and the name Isaac - so the name, potentially a reproach (Ge 18:15), now conveys only joy (Borrow Genesis page 138) Laugh (06711) tsachaq means to laugh, toy with, make sport (Ge 39:14,17). To laugh outright in merriment or scorn, mockery or derision (Ge 21:9). Tsacaq conveys the idea of laughter, whether in joy or incredulity. Laughter is used in a negative sense in Ge 21:9 of Ishmael's attitude toward Isaac Tsachaq - 13x/12v - caressing(1), entertained*(1), jesting(1), laugh(4), laughed(2), make sport(2), mocking(1), play(1). Gen. 17:17; Gen. 18:12; Gen. 18:13; Gen. 18:15; Gen. 19:14; Gen. 21:6; Gen. 21:9; Gen. 26:8; Gen. 39:14; Gen. 39:17; Exod. 32:6; Jdg. 16:25 C H