GENESIS 21- 24
ISAAC’S BIRTH and SARAH’S DEATH
Key
Passage: Genesis 21:1 – 22:19
|
CHAPTER 21
|
CHAPTER 22
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CHAPTER
23
|
CHAPTER 24
|
|
Isaac’s
Birth
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Isaac’s
Birthright
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Sarah’s
Death
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Isaac’s
Bride
|
|
Abraham’s
faith
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Vindicated
|
Abraham’s
|
Faith
Verified
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OVERVIEW The climax of more than 20
faith-stretching years for Abraham and Sarah comes in the birth of Isaac, their
miracle son and heir. But soon Abraham’s faith is tested again as God calls
upon him to sacrifice that treasured son upon an altar. Abraham obeys, showing
that the experiences of the past two decades have not been in vain. For his
faithfulness to the point of death, God rewards Abraham with further assurances
of blessing. In the closing years of Abraham’s life, a time saddened by Sarah’s
death, there remains one important detail: finding a suitable bride for Isaac.
Only in obedience can we discover the great joy of the will of God.
OUR DAILY WALK Have you ever wished
you had a timer that would tell you exactly when God was going to fulfill His
promises in your life? A way to tell with assurance when your prayer would be
answered for a helpmate, the salvation of a loved one, the end of an extended
illness? Abraham must have wished for such a timer on many occasions as he
waited year after year for the son God had promised to give him. But in the
birth of Isaac, God demonstrated that, though His promises may not come speedily,
they will come certainly. “At the very time God had promised him” (21:2), He
fulfilled His long-standing covenant.
It's
easy to impose our own preconceived timetable upon God’s promises…and difficult
to deal with the frustration and anxiety that result when God doesn’t answer “on
time” according to our expectations. Perhaps we could instead: Memorize Genesis
21:1-2. And let the words remind us throughout the day the timing of the
Creator of time is always perfect.
INSIGHT The Issue Was Obedience
God’s
command to Abraham to offer Isaac did not mean God was condoning human
sacrifice (a common pagan practice in Abraham’s day). Rather, God was testing
Abraham’s faith in His covenant promises. Check Hebrew 11:17-19 and James
2:21-23 for added insight into this event.
Playwright
Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible
Stories Theatre of
Fine
& Performing Arts
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