Day 21 - Genesis 21

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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V.19-21 Abraham could not wait for God to give him and Sarah a son, so he had married Sarah’s Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. Now this son could not share with Isaac all the privileges of being the heir of Abraham. Sarah acts unkindly and drives away the servant Hagar and her boy Ishmael. God was allowing this (v. 12), because He had a lesson to teach us. Before we try to learn what all this story means, it is wonderful to see that God took care of the woman and her son (verses 15-21). God is merciful. Now the meaning of the story (Read Gal. 4:22-3122For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (Galatians 4:22‑31)). The question is “is the believer under law?” The child of the bondwoman (Hagar) is a picture of the people who are under the law. The Galatians 4:2424Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. (Galatians 4:24) has the word “allegory,” this means a story, a parable, a type. That which actually happened, and then what it is a picture of. So Hagar and Ishmael are a picture of the law. Sarah and Isaac are a picture of grace (or promise). We believers are not saved by keeping the law, but by grace (Eph. 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8); Gal. 5:44Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:4); Rom. 5:1414Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Romans 5:14)).
V.22-34 Abimelech, a Gentile, sees that God is with Abraham, and looks up to him and wants to make an agreement with him. He looks to Abraham for protection. You may find this part hard to understand. It is a look into the future a picture of the millennium (Rev. 22:22In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2), last part).