21 The Lord came to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him. 3 Abraham named his son who was born to him — the one Sarah bore to him — Isaac. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.” j 7 She also said, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne a son for him k in his old age.”
HAGAR AND ISHMAEL SENT AWAY 8 The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned. 9 But Sarah saw the son mocking — the one Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham. 10 So she said to Abraham, “Drive out this slave with her son, for the son of this slave will not be a coheir with my son Isaac!” 11 This was very distressing to a Abraham because of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed b about the boy and about your slave. Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her, because your offspring will be traced through Isaac, 13 and I will also make a nation of the slave’s son because he is your offspring.” 14 Early in the morning Abraham got up, took bread and a waterskin, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her and the boy away. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beer-sheba. 15 When the water in the skin was gone, she left the boy under one of the bushes 16 and went and sat at a distance, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I can’t bear to watch the boy die!” While she sat at a distance, she c wept loudly. 17 God heard the boy crying, and the d angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What’s wrong, Hagar? Don’t be afraid, for God has heard the boy crying from the place where he is. 18 Get up, help the boy up, and grasp his hand, for I will make him a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well. So she went and filled the waterskin and gave the boy a drink. 20 God was with the boy, and he grew; he settled in the wilderness and became an archer. 21 He settled in the Wilderness of Paran, and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
ABRAHAM’S COVENANT WITH ABIMELECH 22 At that time Abimelech, accompanied by Phicol the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. 23 Swear to me by God here and now, that you will not break an agreement with me or with my children and descendants. As I have been loyal to you, so you will be loyal to me and to the country where you are a resident alien.” 24 And Abraham said, “I swear it.” 25 But Abraham complained to Abimelech because of the well that Abimelech’s servants had seized. 26 Abimelech replied, “I don’t know who did this thing. You didn’t report anything to me, so I hadn’t heard about it until today.” 27 Abraham took flocks and herds and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. 28 Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “Why have you separated these seven ewe lambs?” 30 He replied, “You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from me so that this act e will serve as my witness that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba f because it was there that the two of them swore an oath. 32 After they had made a covenant at Beer-sheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, left and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham lived as an alien in the land of the Philistines for many days.
📖 Lecture: The Birth of Isaac and the Exile of Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 21)
Good afternoon. Today we're examining Genesis, chapter 21, a pivotal section that fulfills a long-awaited promise while also establishing the lineage that will define the rest of the narrative. This chapter is essentially divided into two major sections: the miraculous birth of Isaac and the painful separation of Hagar and Ishmael from Abraham's household.
I. The Fulfillment of the Promise: The Birth of Isaac (vv. 1–7)
The chapter opens with the declaration of a promise fulfilled:
God Remembers Sarah (v. 1): "The Lord came to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised." This emphasizes that the birth of the son of the covenant was an act of God's faithfulness.
A Son in Old Age (v. 2): Sarah becomes pregnant and bears a son to Abraham "in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him." This timing underscores the miraculous nature of the birth, as both Abraham and Sarah were well past childbearing years. It leaves no doubt that this was a divine act, not a natural one.
The Naming of Isaac (v. 3-4): Abraham names the boy Isaac, meaning "He Laughs." This name is a direct reference to the reaction of both Abraham (Genesis 17:17) and Sarah (Genesis 18:12) when they first heard the promise. It is a constant reminder of God's power over human skepticism. Abraham then adheres to the covenant by circumcising Isaac on the eighth day.
Abraham's Age (v. 5): Abraham was a hundred years old when Isaac was born, highlighting the extraordinary circumstances.
Sarah's Joyful Proclamation (vv. 6-7): Sarah exclaims, "God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me." Her initial laughter of doubt is transformed into a cry of joy. The fulfillment of the promise confirms her worth and God’s commitment.
II. The Conflict and Separation: Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away (vv. 8–21)
Following the celebration of Isaac’s weaning, a conflict arises that forces a harsh choice.
The Offense (vv. 8–9): At Isaac's weaning feast, Sarah sees Ishmael, the son born to Hagar through Abraham's impatience, "mocking" or "playing" (depending on the translation, but clearly a disturbing act to Sarah) with her son.
Sarah's Demand (v. 10): Sarah demands of Abraham, "Drive out this slave with her son, for the son of this slave will not be a coheir with my son Isaac!" This demand is rooted in her desire to protect Isaac's inheritance and covenantal status.
Abraham's Distress and God's Command (vv. 11–13): Abraham is "very distressing" because Ishmael is also his son. However, God intervenes, confirming Sarah’s command: "Do not be distressed... Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her, because your offspring will be traced through Isaac..." Yet, God also makes a separate promise regarding Ishmael: "I will also make a nation of the slave’s son because he is your offspring." The covenantal lineage is secured through Isaac, while the biological lineage is preserved through Ishmael.
Hagar and Ishmael in the Wilderness (vv. 14–16): Abraham sadly sends them away with only bread and a waterskin. When their supplies run out in the Wilderness of Beer-sheba, Hagar sets the boy aside, unable to watch him die.
God’s Intervention (vv. 17–21):
God hears the boy’s cry. This is a crucial detail: God is not just the God of the covenant line (Isaac), but also the God who hears the cries of the suffering (Hagar).
The angel of God calls to Hagar, reiterating the promise: "I will make him a great nation."
God then opens her eyes, and she sees a well. This miraculous provision saves their lives.
Ishmael grows up, settles in the wilderness, becomes an archer, and his mother finds him a wife from Egypt. This marks the end of his story in Abraham’s immediate life and the beginning of the Ishmaelite nation.
III. Abraham's Covenant with Abimelech (vv. 22–34)
The chapter concludes with a diplomatic encounter between Abraham and the Philistine king, Abimelech.
Abimelech's Recognition (v. 22): Abimelech recognizes God's blessing on Abraham: "God is with you in everything you do."
The Oath (vv. 23–24): They swear an oath to maintain a peaceful agreement between their peoples.
The Well Dispute (vv. 25–27): Abraham complains about a well that Abimelech's servants had seized. To settle the matter, they make a covenant, formalized by Abraham giving Abimelech flocks and herds.
The Seven Ewe Lambs (vv. 28–30): To specifically prove and witness that Abraham dug the well, he sets aside seven ewe lambs, which Abimelech accepts as a symbol of this testimony.
The Naming of Beer-sheba (v. 31): The place is named Beer-sheba, which means "Well of the Oath" or "Well of the Seven," to permanently commemorate the sworn agreement made there.
Worship (v. 33): Abraham plants a tamarisk tree and calls on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God (El Olam), reinforcing his commitment to God even in his dealings with non-covenant peoples.
Conclusion
Genesis 21 is a foundational text for understanding the trajectory of the covenant. It confirms the long-awaited birth of Isaac as the promised heir, establishing the line of blessing. Simultaneously, it addresses the painful consequence of human error (Hagar and Ishmael) but demonstrates God’s universal compassion by providing for them as well. Finally, the encounter at Beer-sheba shows Abraham settling his earthly affairs and receiving recognition for God’s blessing, marking a transition toward greater stability in the land.
Are there any questions about the miraculous birth, the meaning of the names, or God's provision for Hagar and Ishmael?
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