Genesis 21:1-81And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. 4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. 6And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. 7And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age. 8And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. (Genesis 21:1‑8)
“And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bore 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... Isaac.” 10:1-3.
Here was a grand moment in Abraham’s life! When God first visited him in the land of Ur the definite promise had been given: “I will make of thee a great nation.” As has so often been noticed, Abraham was to have many trials of faith before he could visibly see the first important step of this promise—the birth of a son by Sarah. Although his pathway was not perfect and at times broken by self-will, yet his course in general was marked by faith, worship of God, and confidence that the promises given him would come to pass. One year followed another in this walk of faith and finally, at the age of 100, his son Isaac was born.
The name Isaac means “laughter.” “And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” verse 6. We think with pleasure how this elderly couple laughed together in the joy of the birth of this baby boy. As they looked upon him Abraham’s heart must have gone up in thanksgiving as he saw in the infant all the hope of God’s earthly promises of generations to follow until a great nation would come forth.
Quite likely, as he saw the fulfillment of God’s promise, he also looked back with many regrets on the times when he had doubted. He could now see that Isaac was the result of God’s work alone. Perhaps he and Sarah spoke of these things together for she commented: “Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have... borne him a son in his old age?” verse 7. God blessed the little child and as the days went, by it grew in strength. Abraham, not forgetful of God’s instructions, circumcised him on the eighth day, Soon too came the day of weaning: “And Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.” What a happy scene it was as this couple enjoyed the reward of their faith.
There is an instructive picture for the newly converted soul in these early days of Isaac’s life. His birth speaks of the new birth of the believer, “a new creature in Christ”; his circumcision tells of separation from the world and the evidence of putting the old nature to death that should be the desire of every Christian; and his weaning expresses the spiritual growth that should mark the child of God. The one who has just found a new life through faith in Christ will enjoy the sincere milk of the Word that he might grow thereby. (1 Peter 2:22As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1 Peter 2:2)). Then, as progress is made in the new walk—and if the affections abide on his Lord and Saviour—he soon will desire a weaning to “strong meat,” that is, the deeper truths of God’s Word that through the Holy Spirit are revealed to His own who will search them out.
The great feast reminds us that in God’s Word there is boundless food for the Christian’s enjoyment and it is a happy thing to be occupied in meditating therein.
ML 10/24/1965