Genesis 21 "Issac" The lone heir

"And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken For sarah conceived and bare Abraham a son in his old age at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him Issac." Genesis 21:1-3

The chapter outline:
*Issac is born v3
*He is circumcised v4
*Sarah's joy v6
*Hagar and Ishmael are cast forth v9
*Hagar in distress v15
*The angel comforteth her v17
*Abimelech's covenant with Abraham at Beersheba v22

The events of this chapter have a long reaching effect on the neighborhood. As promised, Issac is born and becomes the sole heir of Abraham and the instrument for fulfillment of the promise of many nations. Issac grows up very fast in this chapter and is weaned. At the feast to celebrate his maturing Sarah sees Ishmael making fun of Issac and goes to Abraham to have them cast out. We must remember it was Sarah who set up the whole thing with Hagar and Abraham in the first place but now she has a son of her own and may be a little too jealous to share the family with Hagar and her son. It is nevertheless God's plan that Issac be the heir and so God tells Abraham to go ahead and do what Sarah says. It is an example of God fixing what we mess up. We will find God taking care of Hagar and Ishmael in the desert in verse 17 and on. As we discussed earlier Ishmael goes on to become an archer and the father of a great people who roam the deserts.

A covenant is made between Abraham and Abimelech in the last part of the chapter. There had been some disputes over wells which were undoubtedly the most important property where they lived. After all, neither the people nor the flocks could survive without water.

Abraham planted a grove at Beersheba and "called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God". v33 Notice the name of God 'the everlasting God' which refers to the eternal duration of God.

Proverbs 27:2 "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips."