Part 9 Book of Genesis

 

 

God’s promise to Sarah fulfilled, Abraham and Abimelech make a pact

21.1-8 God fulfills His promise to Sarah and she has a son whom she names Isaac which means “Laughter.” They circumcise Isaac on the eighth day. Abraham is 100 years old. The child is weaned and a great feast is held.

21.9-13
Sarah sees Ishmael the son of Hagar playing and tells Abraham to“cast out that slave woman and her son,” because she is concerned about Isaac’s inheritance. Abraham is distressed, but God tells him to do as Sarah has asked, because it is in Isaac “Thy seed shall be called.” God assures Abraham that Ishmael will become a great nation because he also is Abraham’s seed.

“In Isaac shall they seed be called.” We see throughout history this root word Isaac upon the lost tribes of Israel.

12.14-21
The next morning Abraham took some bread and skin of water, and gave them to Hagar, sending her and the boy away. She wandered about the wilderness and when the water was gone she left Ishmael under a bush to die, and she sat down and began to cry. An angel of the Lord calls to her and asks why she is crying. The angel tells her not to fear--Ishmael is going to become a great nation. God opens her eyes and she sees a well of water and refills the skin. They drink and continue on. They dwell in the wilderness and Ishmael becomes a bowman in the region of Paran. His mother gets him an Egyptian wife.

They most likely stayed in the area of the well and Ishmael who was about 16 by now became a hunter with a bow. Ishmael was 13 when Isaac was born (17.25) and it says Isaac was weaned (21.8). This weaning is a three year period which would make Ishmael 16 years old.

12.22-24
Abimelech sees that God is with Abraham in everything he does and asks Abraham to swear that he will not harm him or his family since he has always treated Abraham fairly. Abraham swears it.

12.25-34
Abraham reproaches Abimelech for his servants stealing a well Abraham had dug. Abimelech denies any knowledge of this event. Abraham gives Abimelech sheep and oxen and the two of them “cut covenant.” Abraham sets aside seven ewes and tells Abimelech this is payment and proof that Abraham dug the well. Abimelech agrees. They part ways and Abraham dwells in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

Abraham acquires land rights and Abimelech is seen as an important figure who recognizes Abraham’s special status with God.

Abraham’s last and greatest test

22.1-5
Now God is going to put Abraham to the test. God tells him to take his favored and loved son Isaac to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering. The next day Abraham saddles his ass and took two servants and Isaac on this journey. He takes along the wood he will need for the burnt offering and on the third day he sees the appointed place. Abraham tells his servants to wait for him and Isaac, they will return after worshipping the Lord.

In Judaism this story is known as the “Akedah” or “binding.” It is the tenth and climatic test of Abraham, the first Jew. In the Hebrew text there is much tension here. Abraham’s response, “Here I am” indicates readiness and alertness to instructions.

In this section we see Abraham immediately obeying without argument. Abraham travels and on the third day arrives. I believe Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead. Arriving on the third day is a shadow of Jesus rising from the dead on the third day. Abraham has learned to obey--he is focused and believes God will keep His promise of his seed being “called through Isaac.” Mount Moriah is the current location of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

22.6-8 Abraham and Isaac walk together, with Isaac carrying the wood, and Isaac asks his father, “where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham tells him, “God will provide the lamb.”

Here we see Isaac carrying the wood on which he is to be burned. This is a shadow of Jesus carrying his own wooden cross.

22.9-14
They arrive at the place and Abraham builds and altar, lays out the wood, binds Isaac ,and lays him on the wood. As he raises his knife to kill Isaac the angel of the Lord calls out from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” is Abraham’s reply. The angel tells him not to harm the boy, God sees that he has not withheld his only beloved son from Him. Abraham sees a ram caught in the thicket and takes it and offers it as the sacrifice in place of Isaac. Abraham names the place, “On the mount of the Lord there is vision.”

Abraham’s obedience is rewarded. He does not have to sacrifice his only son. This is a shadow of God sending Jesus to atone for our sins.

22.15-19
The angel calls out to Abraham again and says, By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

The Lord swears by Himself! There is no one greater to swear by. God’s promises to Abraham and his descendants is repeated. They shall possess the gates of their enemies.

22.20-24 The lineage of Abraham’s brother Nahor is mentioned with Rebekah, Isaac’s future wife mentioned.

Next: Part 10