But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned. But God said to AbrahamThis phrase indicates divine communication, emphasizing God's direct involvement in the lives of the patriarchs. It reflects the personal relationship between God and Abraham, a recurring theme in Genesis. God's guidance is crucial in the unfolding of His covenant promises. Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant
God addresses Abraham's emotional turmoil regarding Ishmael and Hagar. This reflects the cultural and familial complexities of the time, where concubinage was practiced. God's reassurance highlights His sovereignty and care for all involved, even those outside the primary covenant line. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you
This instruction underscores the importance of Sarah's role in the fulfillment of God's promises. It also reflects the biblical theme of God working through human agency, even when it involves difficult decisions. Sarah's insistence aligns with God's covenantal plan, showing divine orchestration. for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned
This phrase is central to the Abrahamic covenant, emphasizing Isaac as the child of promise. It connects to earlier promises in Genesis 17:19 and foreshadows the lineage leading to Jesus Christ, as seen in the genealogies of Matthew 1 and Luke 3. Isaac's role prefigures Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to bless all nations through Abraham's seed. Persons / Places / Events 1. AbrahamThe patriarch of the Israelites, chosen by God to be the father of many nations. In this passage, he is faced with a difficult decision regarding his sons, Isaac and Ishmael. 2. SarahAbraham's wife, who bore Isaac in her old age. She insists that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away, which leads to God's reassurance to Abraham. 3. IsaacThe promised son of Abraham and Sarah, through whom God's covenant will be fulfilled. His birth is a pivotal event in the account of God's promise. 4. IshmaelAbraham's first son, born to Hagar, Sarah's maidservant. His future is also secured by God's promise, though he is not the child of the covenant. 5. GodThe central figure who guides and reassures Abraham, affirming His covenant promise through Isaac. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in His PromisesGod's assurance to Abraham highlights His sovereign plan and the fulfillment of His promises through Isaac. Believers can trust in God's faithfulness to His word. Listening to Godly CounselAbraham is instructed to heed Sarah's advice, showing the importance of discerning and following godly counsel in our lives. The Role of Faith in God's PlanAbraham's faith is tested as he must trust God's plan for both Isaac and Ishmael. This teaches us to have faith in God's overarching plan, even when it involves difficult decisions. Distinction Between Flesh and PromiseThe distinction between Isaac and Ishmael serves as a reminder of the difference between human efforts and divine promise. Believers are called to live by faith in God's promises rather than relying solely on human efforts. Bible Study Questions 1. How does God's reassurance to Abraham in Genesis 21:12 reflect His faithfulness to His promises? 2. In what ways can we discern and follow godly counsel in our own lives, as Abraham did with Sarah's advice? 3. How does the distinction between Isaac and Ishmael illustrate the difference between living by faith and relying on human efforts? 4. What can we learn from Abraham's response to God's instruction about handling difficult family situations? 5. How do the New Testament references to this account (Romans 9 and Galatians 4) deepen our understanding of God's covenant and promise? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 17:19-21This passage reiterates God's promise to establish His covenant with Isaac, while also promising to bless Ishmael. Romans 9:7-8Paul references this event to illustrate the concept of God's sovereign choice and the distinction between children of the flesh and children of the promise. Galatians 4:22-31Paul uses the account of Sarah and Hagar allegorically to contrast the old covenant of the law with the new covenant of grace. People Abimelech, Abraham, Hagar, Isaac, Phichol, SarahPlaces Beersheba, Egypt, Gerar, ParanTopics Bondwoman, Bond-woman, Boy, Descendants, Displeased, Distressed, Ear, Grief, Grievous, Hagar, Handmaid, Hearken, Isaac, Lad, Listen, Maid, Maidservant, Named, Offspring, Reckoned, Sarah, Says, Seed, Sight, Slave, Tells, Voice, Whatever, Wrong, YouthDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 21:12 1348 covenant, with Abraham
2540 Christ, genealogy Genesis 21:8-12 5672 concubines Genesis 21:8-13 5657 birthright
5686 fathers, examples Genesis 21:8-14 5076 Abraham, life of Genesis 21:9-14 5077 Abraham, character Genesis 21:11-12 5745 women Library Compassion for Souls
Behold the compassion of a mother for her child expiring with thirst, and remember that such a compassion ought all Christians to feel towards souls that are perishing for lack of Christ, perishing eternally, perishing without hope of salvation. If the mother lifted up her voice arid wept, so also should we; and if the contemplation of her dying, child was all too painful for her, so may the contemplation of the wrath to come, which is to pass upon every soul that dies impenitent, become too painful …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871Therefore, if we Compare the Things Themselves, we May no Way Doubt that The...
28. Therefore, if we compare the things themselves, we may no way doubt that the chastity of continence is better than marriage chastity, whilst yet both are good: but when we compare the persons, he is better, who hath a greater good than another. Further, he who hath a greater of the same kind, hath also that which is less; but he, who only hath what is less, assuredly hath not that which is greater. For in sixty, thirty also are contained, not sixty also in thirty. But not to work from out that …
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage The Gospel Feast
"When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?"--John vi. 5. After these words the Evangelist adds, "And this He said to prove him, for He Himself knew what He would do." Thus, you see, our Lord had secret meanings when He spoke, and did not bring forth openly all His divine sense at once. He knew what He was about to do from the first, but He wished to lead forward His disciples, and to arrest and …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII Of Bearing the Cross --One Branch of Self-Denial.
The four divisions of this chapter are,--I. The nature of the cross, its necessity and dignity, sec. 1, 2. II. The manifold advantages of the cross described, sec. 3-6. III. The form of the cross the most excellent of all, and yet it by no means removes all sense of pain, sec. 7, 8. IV. A description of warfare under the cross, and of true patience, (not that of philosophers,) after the example of Christ, sec. 9-11. 1. THE pious mind must ascend still higher, namely, whither Christ calls his disciples …
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life But if Moreover any not Having Charity, which Pertaineth to the Unity of Spirit...
23. But if moreover any not having charity, which pertaineth to the unity of spirit and the bond of peace whereby the Catholic Church is gathered and knit together, being involved in any schism, doth, that he may not deny Christ, suffer tribulations, straits, hunger, nakedness, persecution, perils, prisons, bonds, torments, swords, or flames, or wild beasts, or the very cross, through fear of hell and everlasting fire; in nowise is all this to be blamed, nay rather this also is a patience meet to …
St. Augustine—On Patience The Annunciation of Jesus the Messiah, and the Birth of his Forerunner.
FROM the Temple to Nazareth! It seems indeed most fitting that the Evangelic story should have taken its beginning within the Sanctuary, and at the time of sacrifice. Despite its outward veneration for them, the Temple, its services, and specially its sacrifices, were, by an inward logical necessity, fast becoming a superfluity for Rabbinism. But the new development, passing over the intruded elements, which were, after all, of rationalistic origin, connected its beginning directly with the Old Testament …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
Syria: the part played by it in the ancient world--Babylon and the first Chaldaean empire--The dominion of the Hyksos: Ahmosis. Some countries seem destined from their origin to become the battle-fields of the contending nations which environ them. Into such regions, and to their cost, neighbouring peoples come from century to century to settle their quarrels and bring to an issue the questions of supremacy which disturb their little corner of the world. The nations around are eager for the possession …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4 The Holiness of God
The next attribute is God's holiness. Exod 15:51. Glorious in holiness.' Holiness is the most sparkling jewel of his crown; it is the name by which God is known. Psa 111:1. Holy and reverend is his name.' He is the holy One.' Job 6:60. Seraphims cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.' Isa 6:6. His power makes him mighty, his holiness makes him glorious. God's holiness consists in his perfect love of righteousness, and abhorrence of evil. Of purer eyes than …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 21:12 NIVGenesis 21:12 NLTGenesis 21:12 ESVGenesis 21:12 NASBGenesis 21:12 KJV
Genesis 21:12 Commentaries
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