Gen 21:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | The son of the promise, the heir, is born “at the appointed time” ( ). God has the right time for everything ( ). Isaac is a picture of the Lord Jesus, as Abraham is of God the Father. The birth of Isaac is a picture of the introduction of the Firstborn, the Lord Jesus, by God into the world ( ). God has “put all things in subjection under his feet” ( ), He is the true Heir. An application for our personal lives is that the Lord Jesus can only be “born” in our lives, which means become visible, when the Philistine influences we saw in the previous chapter have been removed. Abraham calls his son “Isaac”, as God has said to him ( ). “Isaac” means “laughter” (cf. ). Isaac brings joy to Abraham’s family. Thus the Lord Jesus will always give us His joy when He is central to our lives. By circumcising his son, Abraham places him under the covenant God has made with him and his physical descendants ( ). For us Christians, circumcision is a picture of what happened to Christ on the cross ( ). Our life as a Christian is only valuable to God if we live from the meaning of the cross. There is the old man crucified with Christ ( ). This allows us to keep ourselves dead for sin and alive for God in Christ Jesus ( ). Sarah recognizes the good hand of God over her life. He has made her son’s name, laughter, a reality for her. She also speaks of her joy being shared by all who will hear of it (cf. ). Others will rejoice in this example of God’s power and goodness and will be encouraged to trust in Him ( ). At the same time, she expressed her surprise that God was so good for her. Who has ever been able to think that this would happen? This wonder about granted grace must also characterize our lives. Why were we chosen by Him to be His children and to rejoice in the Son of His love? It can only be attributed to God’s infinite love.

‏ Genesis 21:1-2

Isaac Is Born

The son of the promise, the heir, is born “at the appointed time” (Gen 21:2). God has the right time for everything (Ecc 3:1). Isaac is a picture of the Lord Jesus, as Abraham is of God the Father. The birth of Isaac is a picture of the introduction of the Firstborn, the Lord Jesus, by God into the world (Heb 1:6). God has “put all things in subjection under his feet” (Heb 2:8), He is the true Heir.

An application for our personal lives is that the Lord Jesus can only be “born” in our lives, which means become visible, when the Philistine influences we saw in the previous chapter have been removed.

Abraham calls his son “Isaac”, as God has said to him (Gen 17:19). “Isaac” means “laughter” (cf. Psa 126:2). Isaac brings joy to Abraham’s family. Thus the Lord Jesus will always give us His joy when He is central to our lives.

By circumcising his son, Abraham places him under the covenant God has made with him and his physical descendants (Gen 17:1-14). For us Christians, circumcision is a picture of what happened to Christ on the cross (Col 2:11). Our life as a Christian is only valuable to God if we live from the meaning of the cross. There is the old man crucified with Christ (Rom 6:6). This allows us to keep ourselves dead for sin and alive for God in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:11).

Sarah recognizes the good hand of God over her life. He has made her son’s name, laughter, a reality for her. She also speaks of her joy being shared by all who will hear of it (cf. Lk 1:58). Others will rejoice in this example of God’s power and goodness and will be encouraged to trust in Him (Psa 119:74).

At the same time, she expressed her surprise that God was so good for her. Who has ever been able to think that this would happen? This wonder about granted grace must also characterize our lives. Why were we chosen by Him to be His children and to rejoice in the Son of His love? It can only be attributed to God’s infinite love.