October 21 – The Birth of the Promised Son

Come out at New Bethel this Saturday and be Blessed.

Sunday School Lesson

October 21

The Birth of the Promised Son

 

Devotional Reading: Luke 1:26–38

Background Scripture: Genesis 18:9–15; 21:1–7

 

Genesis 18:9–15

9. And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

 

10. And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

 

11. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

 

12. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

 

13. And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

 

14. Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

 

15. Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

 

Genesis 21:1–7

1. And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

 

2. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

 

3. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

 

4. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

 

5. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

 

6. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

 

7. And 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.

 

Key Verse

The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

—Genesis 21:1

 

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

 

1. Explain how the birth of Isaac fits the larger framework of Abraham’s covenant.

 

2. Discuss ways that the manner in which God fulfilled the promise required patience on the part of Abraham and Sarah.

 

3. Identify situations in which their own faith has been challenged by God’s apparent delay in fulfilling His promises.

 

HOW TO SAY IT

Aesop	Ee-sop.
Eliezer	El-ih-ee-zer.
Gomorrah	Guh-more-uh.
Hagar	Hay-gar.
Maasai	Mah-sigh.
Sarai	Seh-rye.
Sodom	Sod-um.
Tanzania	Tan-zuh-nee-uh.

Introduction

1. Slow and Steady

“The Tortoise and the Hare” is a fable attributed to the Greek sage Aesop (believed to have lived about 600 BC). In this tale an arrogant rabbit berates a tortoise for being so slow. Embarrassed, the tortoise finally challenges the hare to a race. The rabbit is so confident that he pauses on the course to allow the slow tortoise to catch up so that he will be forced to see the hare win.

The hare falls asleep, however, and during his nap the plodding tortoise passes him to cross the finish line first. While this story carries much wisdom, its moral is communicated in the still-famous punch line, “Slow and steady wins the race.”

“The Tortoise and the Hare” is still a popular subject of modern children’s books. Perhaps the most significant lesson speaks to the value of patience. Though some tasks take a long time, the solution is to not give up in the face of obstacles, but rather to pace oneself and keep moving forward.

Today’s lesson emphasizes the value of, and the need for, a “slow and steady” approach to faith. Whether we like it or not, God moves on His own timetable toward the fulfillment of His plans. Sometimes the pace seems to be frustratingly slow as we wait for God to act. And very often the finish line seems so far ahead that we can’t even see where we are going. Real faith calls us to keep moving steadily forward in the knowledge that victory will come if we don’t give up.

 

1. Lesson Context

We saw last week God’s promise to make Abram “a great nation” and make his “name great” (Genesis 12:2). Abram was to have many descendants who together would form a formidable and respected people group.

Working against this outcome, however, was the fact that Abram and Sarai had not been able to have children (Genesis 11:30). Abram may have assumed that God would correct this problem sooner rather than later. Support for this supposition may be seen in the fact that God told Abram on more than one occasion that his descendants would possess the land of Canaan, which at that time was occupied by other tribes (Genesis 12:6, 7; 13:14–17; 15:18–21).

Yet despite all these promises, nothing happened. Abram and Sarai prospered financially (Genesis 13:2), and their clan was feared for its military power (Genesis 14), but no son was born. How could God’s plan be fulfilled if His promise remained unfulfilled?

What Do You Think? What are some things we can do to maintain faith when fulfillment of Bible promises seems too distant to happen in our lifetimes?   Digging Deeper Considering the same issue in the lives of Bible characters, which one or two do you most relate to? Why?

Abram raised this point with God explicitly in Genesis 15:1–3. That time when God appeared to him, Abram observed that it would be impossible for God’s plan to work: since Abram had no male heir, at death all his assets would revert to his oldest male servant, Eliezer, who was not related to him by blood (15:2). In response, God reaffirmed the promise (15:4, 5).

Yet more time passed, and no child came. In desperation, elderly Abram and Sarai decided to take matters into their own hands: they produced an heir through a surrogate mother, Hagar (Genesis 16). But then some 13 years later, with Abram nearing the century mark, God again made His intentions clear (Genesis 17). Abram (meaning “exalted father”) would be known as Abraham (“father of many”; 17:4, 5). Abraham and Sarah (renamed from Sarai) would have many descendants, who would indeed conquer and possess the land (17:6–8). Having heard this same story many times before, Abraham could only laugh (17:17).

 

1. Human Impossibility

(Genesis 18:9–15)

Our reading picks up near the beginning of a long episode that culminates in the deliverance of Abraham’s nephew, Lot (Genesis 11:27), from the destruction of the city of Sodom. Abraham is now 99 years old (17:1, 24). He and Sarah still have no children, and God has instructed them to circumcise all the men in their household as a sign of His plan to make a covenant with their heirs (17:9–14, 23–27).

Somewhere along the line, God has decided to destroy the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah, where Lot was then living (Genesis 13:5–13). Before He does this, however, He has a message for Abraham and Sarah. As our passage for today opens, the couple has been told several times over a period of many years that they will become the ancestors of a great and powerful nation. Working against God’s promise is the hard reality of infertility and menopause.

 

1. God Promises (vv. 9, 10)
2. And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

 

The word they refers to the “three men” of Genesis 18:2. Their identity is often proposed to be the Lord and two angels, who disguise themselves in human form. They have stopped by the home of Abraham and Sarah to confirm once again God’s promise regarding a child.

To this point in the story, Abraham has hosted the three men by providing a meal and rest (Genesis 18:1–8). These are standard gestures of hospitality offered to traveling guests. The Lord apparently does not disclose His identity to Abraham until later, so Abraham may not realize at this point that he is talking to the Lord and His angelic messengers. The author of Hebrews seems to allude to this story when he urges, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).

Sarah has assisted in the preparation of the food (Genesis 18:6), but has not shared in the meal. Instead, she has remained in the tent while the men dined outside. In that time, as in some cultures today, it is considered inappropriate for a married woman even to talk with men outside her family, much less dine with them. The mysterious strangers’ inquiry about Sarah is doubtless unsettling, since they should have no way of knowing the name of Abraham’s wife.

 

10a. And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.

 

The plural “they” of the previous verse changes to singular he, which further changes to “the Lord” in Genesis 18:13, below. If Abraham believes it inappropriate for strangers to ask about his wife, he must be shocked by this statement. Abraham is clearly an old man; even if his wife were half his age, she is past the point of childbearing.

If nothing else, the declaration might be taken as a sort of prophetic confirmation of what God has said already on previous occasions. Yet this time there is a key difference: while all of God’s earlier promises about Abraham’s descendants have oriented toward a distant future (Genesis 12:1–3, 7; 13:14–17; 15:1–21; 17:1–21), this one is specific: according to the time of life—that is, about this same time next year—the promised son will come (compare 2 Kings 4:16). The importance of this prediction is acknowledged in Romans 9:9.

 

10b. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

 

We wonder if Sarah is intentionally eavesdropping, or if the message is intentionally spoken loudly enough so that it’s impossible for her not to hear. The text doesn’t say.

 

1. Sarah Doubts (vv. 11–15)
2. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

This verse underscores the human impossibility of what the stranger is saying. It has already been stated numerous times that Sarah is unable to become pregnant (Genesis 11:30; 16:1; 17:17). The physical challenge clearly lies with her, because Abraham was able to father a child with Hagar (16:1–4). Even if Sarah had already borne a dozen children, she is now 90 years old (17:17) and well past menopause.

 

12. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

 

Whether Sarah realizes this is God talking or simply thinks their guest is offering a blessing on Abraham’s household for the hospitality, this verse reveals the state of her own faith. Her earlier scheme to produce an heir through Hagar has already revealed her assumption that God’s promise can only be fulfilled through some natural means (16:1–4).

Compounding the problem, she thinks, is the fact of Abraham’s advanced age. The whole scenario has devolved, for her, into grim humor; all she can do is laugh in God’s face, as Abraham himself had done a few months earlier (Genesis 17:17).

What Do You Think? What are appropriate ways to respond to news that is hard to believe, yet is from a reliable source?   Digging Deeper Categorize responses in the following texts as “appropriate,” “inappropriate but understandable,” or “inexcusably inappropriate”: Judges 6:11–40; Jeremiah 1:4–6; Luke 1:8–18, 26–34.

13. And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

 

The stranger, now revealed to the reader as not being a mere mortal, knows that Sarah has “laughed within herself.” His question implies feeling insulted.

 

14a. Is any thing too hard for the Lord?

 

This rhetorical question states a premise of the Bible in a way that demands faith. The God who created the universe can do anything He wants and has proven so time and again. The question, then, is not whether God does what He says but whether Abraham and Sarah believe that He can and will.

What Do You Think? What spiritual strategies can you adopt to not allow physical limitations to determine what God can and cannot do through you?   Digging Deeper To what extent does (or should) the reality mixture of belief and unbelief in Mark 9:21–24 influence your response?

14b. At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

This restatement of the promise is not worded in such a way as to imply contingency on faith. The unconditional I will return asserts that this will be an occasion when God’s will cannot be negated by lack of faith (contrast Luke 13:34).

 

15. Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

 

Realizing that she has been caught red-handed, perhaps offending their guests and embarrassing her husband, Sarah whips up a quick lie to get off the hook. Her fear may simply reflect the social awkwardness of the situation. But perhaps it is driven by something deeper: this strange man clearly knows something about God and what God has promised them. The men leave (Genesis 18:16) with the prophecy unretracted. Sarah will have a son within about a year, whether she believes it or not.

What Do You Think? What are some proper ways for a Christian to respond when embarrassed by a lack of faith?   Digging Deeper In determining whether lying is ever a proper reaction, consider Genesis 12:10–20; 20:1–12; 31:33–35; Joshua 2:1–6 (compare James 2:25); Matthew 26:69–75; Revelation 21:8.

Sarah’s Laugh

What makes us laugh? The answer seems obvious: when something is funny! But maybe not.

We’ve all heard nervous giggles, and we’ve seen villains in movies laugh at the diabolical plots they’ve conceived. Psychological research shows that no more than 20 percent of our laughs are in response to something that could be considered a joke. Babies, as well as people born deaf and blind, laugh—demonstrating that laughter is not learned behavior. And most of us have experienced fits of uncontrollable laughter, usually in a group setting, to the point of saying (with a bit of exaggeration), “I nearly died laughing!” So the laughter of others can stimulate us to laugh, as can nervousness and fiendish glee, as well as the occasional good joke.

When Sarah heard the mysterious visitor’s prediction that she would bear a son, she laughed, perhaps at the irony of what seemed to be such an impossible suggestion. Of course, she was looking at the idea from a human perspective. Even today, some people find it laughable to think that God performs miracles. But they are not viewing the world through the eyes of faith.

For those willing to set aside human wisdom, the appropriate response when God does the seemingly impossible is … delight.

—C. R. B.

 

1. Divine Reality

(Genesis 21:1–7)

Two interventions by the Lord are recorded between the two primary segments of today’s lesson text. First, He destroys Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1–29). After that, God corrects a situation brought on by Abraham’s lack of faith (Genesis 20).

 

1. Promise Fulfilled (vv. 1–5)

1, 2. And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

 

Sarah becomes pregnant and gives birth at the age of 90 (see Genesis 17:17). This fact answers the rhetorical question of Genesis 18:14a, above. Clearly, nothing is impossible with God! After decades of Abraham and Sarah’s childlessness, God acts miraculously within the exact time frame specified.

 

3. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

 

Both Abraham and Sarah had laughed when promised a child, reflecting their doubt (Genesis 17:17; 18:12). In response to Abraham’s laughter, God directed that the child’s name be Isaac (17:19), which means “he laughs” when translated. Thus the child’s name serves as an enduring reminder of God’s faithfulness in the face of human doubt.

Isaac’s name thus speaks volumes. To his parents, it condemns their “we know better” impatience with God’s timetable. At the same time, the name symbolizes the great joy their son is bringing them. For Isaac himself, it serves as a lifelong reminder of his status as the promised child of the covenant (Genesis 17:19) and of his obligation to remain faithful to the God who has given him life.

 

4. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

 

A year before Isaac’s birth, God had directed Abraham to seal the covenant by circumcising the male members of his household (Genesis 17:9–14). Further, God had commanded that Abraham’s future descendants also should be circumcised. This is a known medical practice in Egypt in Abraham’s time. Abraham may have first become aware of it during his brief sojourn there during a period of famine (12:10–20).

Circumcision in the current context is symbolic of the fact that God has promised to bless Abraham, and through him the world. That is to happen via the production of offspring (Genesis 12:1–3). God’s earlier commands to Adam (1:28) and Noah (9:1) to populate the earth obviously involved natural sexual reproduction; and God’s covenant with Abraham assumes that his descendants will pass along not only Abraham’s bloodline but also his faith.

In this sense, circumcision is to serve as a powerful symbol of the passing of the blessings of the true God from one generation to the next. As Abraham’s descendants are circumcised a week after birth (Genesis 17:12; 21:4), they are literally, physically marked for God’s service while still in the cradle.

Rite of Passage?

Growing up in Minnesota in the 1950s, I couldn’t wait for my fifteenth birthday. That day I would be ready for a rite of passage: getting my driver’s license. Throughout the year before that birthday, my friends and I emotionally wrestled with the perennial rumors that the age of eligibility would be increased to 16 before we reached the magic age. Looking back, I suspect 15 was too early an age at which to entrust someone with such a responsibility.

Every society has rites of passage. For example, Maasai boys in Kenya and Tanzania begin a many-year initiation process with a night spent in the forest. The next day’s ceremony involves singing, dancing, drinking a concoction of various liquids, and eating large quantities of meat.

Then comes circumcision, the symbol of becoming men and warriors. They are not to cry out or even flinch, because this would show they are not brave warriors. The next 10 years are spent at warrior’s camp, learning skills in preparation for the senior-warrior ceremony, which also entitles young men to get married.

God’s intent for circumcision to Abraham was much different. Rather than being a rite of passage into adulthood, it was “a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised” (Romans 4:11). Today, circumcision for religious purposes is irrelevant (Galatians 6:15). What is important is circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:28, 29). But you may be surprised to learn that that is not a new thing for the new covenant era. See Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4.

—C. R. B.

 

5. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

 

This verse is significant to Abraham’s story for two reasons. First, it again stresses the miraculous nature of Isaac’s birth, which occurred far beyond the time when his parents would naturally be able to have children. Second, it stresses the patience that God required of Abraham and Sarah. The two were age 75 and 65, respectively, when they departed Haran for Canaan (see Genesis 12:4; 17:17) with expectation of being made into “a great nation” there (12:2). But the two had to wait another 25 years to see the promise fulfilled. Their story is usually a model of persistent faithfulness; on a few occasions, however, they model the opposite.

 

1. Sarah Praises (vv. 6, 7)
2. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

 

Though Sarah had earlier laughed at God’s promise, to her credit she praises Him when she sees it finally fulfilled. Here again, the word laugh has more than one implication. God’s prediction of the humanly impossible had previously provoked Sarah’s laughter as an expression of doubt. Now she laughs with joy at God’s fulfilling His promise. Sarah clearly intends to share her testimony with others, who will laugh with her as they share her joy and marvel with her at God’s power.

What Do You Think? How should the church as a body respond when God shows His faithfulness?   Digging Deeper In what ways, if at all, should that response differ in the sight of unbelievers and fellow believers? Why?

7. And 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.

 

Sarah now indicates the reason people will laugh in amazement with her. Clearly she had given up, coming to a point where she didn’t believe it possible for God’s promise to be fulfilled. Her words also reflect the social pressure she had been under for decades, living in a world where a woman’s primary responsibility was providing male heirs for her husband. Whereas people had previously whispered about her shame, they can now rejoice with her for God’s provision.

 

Conclusion

1. Remember to Say “Thank You”

People seem to have a natural tendency to take things for granted. “Please” is easy to remember because we use that word to help us get something we want. “Thank you” takes more thought because we already have what we want and are ready to move on. Many believers find the same scenario to be true of their relationship with God. We know how to ask with “please,” but don’t invest much time in saying “thank You.”

Sarah can serve as a good model for doing better on our thank-yous to God. Once her desire for a child was honored, she remembered to give God the credit—a special kind of “thank You.” This told the whole world how grateful she was for what the Lord had done for her.

Genuine faith always expresses itself in gratitude. Does yours?

 

1. Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us realize anew that You expect us to adopt Your timetable, not the other way around. May times of Your silence be times of increasing faith as we await Your perfect timing. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

1. Thought to Remember

“With God all things are possible.”

 

 

 

Kid’s Corner

Fulfilled Promises Bring Laughter

October 21, 2018

Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-7

 

Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-7

(Genesis 18:9) Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.”

Later, the LORD (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, or One or Two of the Three Persons of the Trinity with one or two angels: see Genesis 18:1-10) came to Abraham on their way to investigate Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham prepared a feast for them under a tree while Sarah waited within the tent (probably having helped with the meal preparations). She was listening to the conversation (as the LORD knew) when “They” brought the conversation around to Sarah and her having a child despite her old age. By asking the question of Abraham, the LORD wanted to get Sarah’s special attention.

(Genesis 18:10) He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.

The LORD called Sarah by her new name, the name He had told Abraham to give her (Genesis 17:15). And the LORD also extended their time of waiting for their child. Without giving a specific date or reason (but implying “soon”), God allowed Sarah to hear the promise directly from Him and not just from Abraham. Notice: Sarah was behind the LORD, but He knew of her presence and He would hear her laugh to herself. The Bible does not tell us if the LORD had ever spoken to Sarah before this time, but He may have done so.

(Genesis 18:11) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.

Inspired by God, Moses emphasized in three ways that God’s plans for Abraham and Sarah were humanly impossible. They were “old.” They were “advanced in age.” Moreover, Sarah no longer produced the eggs that would be needed for her to conceive a child, which is “the manner of women.” Moses wanted to emphasize that Sarah knew what God planned was impossible the way she and Abraham were physically because of their old age.

(Genesis 18:12) Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

Sarah’s laugh could not be heard with human ears, for the Bible says she laughed “to herself.” But God could hear her and read her mind. Sarah knew that physically speaking, without God’s intervention, it would be impossible for either Abraham or her to conceive a child. She had already felt the sting of Hagar’s contempt, so she knew the situation was impossible humanly speaking – the Bible repeatedly emphasizes this fact. After suffering Hagar’s scorn, could she now have the pleasure of giving birth to and raising her own child? The child would be conceived naturally, but with God supernaturally making them able to conceive. The conception of Isaac would be similar to the conception of John the Baptist.

(Genesis 18:13) And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’

God did not speak to Sarah directly, but He spoke to Abraham as the head of the family. Perhaps God wanted Abraham to consider how much effort and time he had given to Sarah’s spiritual development and instruction. Had Abraham tried to build up her faith in God whenever she expressed doubts about the delays of God in giving her a child? Remember: Abraham had conceived Ishmael through Hagar because Sarah had a weak faith in God and disbelieved God’s willingness to give them a child. God addressed himself to Abraham in the hearing of Sarah, and God asked the question in a way that would influence Abraham to ponder the reason Sarah not only laughed but said in her mind what she said; for Abraham did not hear what Sarah said to herself (unless of course she spoke out loud, but only to herself).

(Genesis 18:14) “Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

God answered Sarah’s question with respect to what was then physically impossible when God asked a rhetorical question (expecting “No” for an answer). It would be “wonderful” for Sarah and Abraham to have a child in their old age, and God could make that wonderful event happen according to His perfect timing (not their timing).

(Genesis 18:15) Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

Sarah responded as anyone might respond after hearing God speak to Abraham about her laughter and question. Imagine how afraid she would have been if God had addressed her directly instead of talking to Abraham! Knowing her, God was sensitive to her feelings and fears. She was afraid of what God might say or do, so she spoke to Abraham and God and denied what she had said to herself (which may indicate that she had not laughed out loud or verbally). God corrected her without condemning her, for God understood how she felt in the situation and her response had probably been instantaneous and involuntary, perhaps from nervousness (which we can understand).

(Genesis 21:1) Then the LORD took note of Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised.

God consistently keeps His promises and gives believers the opportunity to demonstrate their faith in God as they keep on believing as they wait for God to do what He has promised. God’s perfect track record in promise-keeping is a good reason for all believers to keep believing. “The LORD” is the one who made the impossible happen.

(Genesis 21:2) So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him.

The conception of Isaac was possible because God made physical changes in both Abraham and Sarah. Earlier, Abraham conceived Ishmael, but at the time Isaac was conceived Abraham was too old to have children. God’s actions that changed Abraham were long-lasting, because Abraham later conceived other children through Keturah (after Sarah’s death). God’s change of Sarah did not result in her conceiving additional children.

(Genesis 21:3) Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.

The name “Isaac” means “he laughs” or “laughter.” God commanded Abraham to name his son “laughter,” perhaps because Isaac fit so perfectly the experiences of Abraham and Sarah as they waited on God to keep His promise (see Genesis 17:19). Furthermore, as our heavenly Father, God wants us to find laughter and enjoyment in what He does for us. From Genesis 12-21, the Bible develops the account of God’s promise that Abraham and Sarah would have a son according to God’s way of working and God’s perfect timing (and not according to Sarah’s idea of having Abraham conceive a son through Hagar).

(Genesis 21:4) Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

Abraham circumcised Isaac according to the command of God. Circumcision was the sign of the covenant that God made with Abraham (see Genesis 17:9-14). Earlier, Abraham was circumcised at the age of 99, and also his son Ishmael at the age of 13 (see Genesis 17:23-25). God’s covenant was to be an everlasting covenant with Isaac and his offspring (Genesis 17:19). So, all of Abraham’s descendants were to be circumcised.

(Genesis 21:5) Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Abraham was circumcised at the age of 99 according to the covenant God had made with him (Genesis 17 1-5). Isaac was born about one year later, when Abraham was 100 years old. Abraham had obeyed God in faith when he had himself and his household circumcised, and God fulfilled His part of the covenant when Abraham conceived Isaac and Isaac was born and circumcised at eight days of age. Likewise, Jesus was circumcised at eight days of age (Luke 2:21). Now, the New Testament emphasizes our spiritual circumcision: “In him [Christ] also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:11).

(Genesis 21:6) Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.”

Sarah and Abraham experienced joy that expresses itself in laughter. Laughter is not bad, and laughter can express faith and thanksgiving when a person receives from God what God has promised. Not only would Sarah laugh, she would also experience joy and others would laugh also.

(Genesis 21:7) And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Sarah emphasized the fact that having a son born to them was humanly impossible because of their age. The birth of Isaac gives additional proof that with God all things are possible and wonderful. Nothing is impossible with God, and we can do all things when God works to achieve His purposes through us. Later, the Messiah, the Son of God, would be conceived when the Holy Spirit overshadowed a virgin, Mary, another humanly impossible and wonderful thing for God to do for her and all who would believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

 

 

Fulfilled Promises Bring Laughter

October 21, 2018

Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-7

 

“Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me’” (Genesis 21:6).

 

Laughter can be an important part of our growing faith in God. When Sarah, the wife of Abraham, sat in the door of her tent listening to the LORD talk with her husband, she heard God say that she would have a son. Almost immediately she could not suppress a laugh at God’s words. She laughed as much as to say, “Are You kidding me! ‘I am worn out and my Lord is old’” (Genesis 18:12). When God heard her laugh, the LORD asked Abraham why Sarah laughed; then, Sarah was afraid, and she lied to the LORD and she denied she had laughed. In reply, the LORD gently and kindly told her the truth, saying, “Yes, you did laugh” (Genesis 18:15). Without condemning her, but taking the opportunity to increase her faith, the LORD was gracious to Sarah and did what He had promised despite her initial incredulity. The next time Sarah laughed, she laughed full of faith because she was holding her and Abraham’s newborn son just as the LORD had promised. They named him Isaac, which means “to laugh.” And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter.” The Book of Proverbs says of a virtuous woman: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come” (Proverbs 31:25). The ability to laugh, rejoice, and be happy are gracious gifts that God gives believers through faith and seeing God work through their faith to achieve God’s purposes. Trials and afflictions may come our way, but Jesus has promised all who will believe in Him: “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh” (Luke 6:21).

 

Thinking Further

Fulfilled Promises Bring Laughter

October 21, 2018

Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-7

Name _____________________________

 

1. In what ways did God show His love and concern for Sarah?

 

 

2. What is the difference between laughter that expresses joy and laughter that expresses doubt? What might have been the difference between Abraham’s laughter and Sarah’s laughter?

 

 

3. Read Genesis 18:1-10. In Genesis 18:9, who do you think “They” refers to?

 

 

4. Why do you think the LORD made Abraham and Sarah keep waiting for their child to be conceived by Sarah, after telling Abraham that he would have many descendants through the birth of her son?

 

 

5. What happens to people sometimes when God does not do what they want done when they want it done?

 

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

 

1. In what ways did God show His love and concern for Sarah?

God changed her name, just as He changed Abraham’s name, because He

was their heavenly Father and wanted to bless them both. He wanted her to be happy by giving her a son, even in her old age. He also wanted her to have the joy of knowing that some of her descendants would be great. God did not condemn her or judge her for laughing, because God knew her well.

 

2. What is the difference between laughter that expresses joy and laughter that expresses doubt? What might have been the difference between Abraham’s laughter and Sarah’s laughter? Both types of laughter can be almost spontaneous and involuntary because of the situation. Abraham’s laughter probably expressed joy almost spontaneously, because he had previously talked with God personally before this; he knew God personally, and he knew what God could do and planned to do. Sarah’s laughter may have expressed the inward thought, also spontaneously, “This is impossible, because we are too old.” Her laughter may have expressed doubt to some extent. Her laughter did not express the doubt of the unbeliever. Her doubt did not express the doubt of derision that will ridicule someone because they believe in God or believe the Bible is true.

 

3. Read Genesis 18:1-10. In Genesis 18:9, who do you think “They” refers to? Since “They” asked the one question; since the LORD appeared to Abraham, and since Abraham saw and talked to three men when he talked to the LORD, it may be that “They” refers to the Father, the Son (before He came to earth incarnate in Jesus), and the Holy Spirit (Who is the Comforter). This is my opinion, though some might say One Person of the Trinity appeared with two angels: consider the two who entered Sodom to rescue Lot. We need the entire Bible in order to learn more about God than what the Book of Genesis alone can teach us.

 

4. Why do you think the LORD made Abraham and Sarah keep waiting for their child to be conceived by Sarah, after telling Abraham that he would have many descendants through the birth of her son? God wanted to build up their faith and inspire them to keep believing in and trusting God. God may have wanted to show the world that Abraham was a man of great faith and also teach why the righteous are saved by their faith or how someone is accounted righteous for their faith. God may have also wanted Abraham and Sarah to serve as examples to encourage others who also must wait for God’s perfect timing. To teach that sometimes we too must wait a long time for God to fulfill His promises to us and others.

 

5. What happens to people sometimes when God does not do what they want done when they want it done? They may quit believing in or trusting in God. They may see that what they want is not the best for them, so God does not want to give it to them and harm them or others.

They may see that God never promised to give them what they want, either by telling them personally or by promising what they want in the Bible. They may see that God has a perfect time for everything He does, and that God only gives good gifts. They may be inspired to study the Bible more carefully and thoroughly in case they have misinterpreted the Bible or have been taught incompletely or wrongly.

 

Word Search

Fulfilled Promises Bring Laughter

October 21, 2018

Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-7

Name _______________________________

 

Q A D E S I M O R P G Y S G I

C U D E T N I O P P A O C M B

Y A S L A U G H E D X H Y Z F

H B N U R S E S M C I G N I C

Q I S X N H L T U L E J W R W

H C L T A V N V D O G L V M S

L U J R M H M B Z N I H W A V

G N A C J S E P I E U C I H S

H S M K H A D N D Z O Z A A V

W S L D R P E M P T E C W R U

B O Q I G T R B I L A L I B G

M N N V S Y D V S P X O F A L

U G S I O E N O A D G R E H E

X C L M C P U F A X K D C D S

E J E S U S H D C W R N P V E

 

Wife

Sarah

Listening

Son

Isaac

Childbearing

Laughed

LORD

Abraham

Appointed

Lied

Gracious

Promised

Hundred

Nurse

 

True and False Test

Fulfilled Promises Bring Laughter

October 21, 2018

Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-7

Name ________________________________

 

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

 

1. Sarai was changed to Sarah and Abram to Abraham. True or False

 

2. Sarah listened to the LORD talking to Abraham. True or False

 

3. Sarah was already very old and past the age of childbearing. True or False

 

4. When Sarah heard the LORD talking to Abraham, she laughed so loud she embarrassed Abraham and offended the LORD. True or False

 

5. Nothing is too hard for the LORD. True or False

 

6. The LORD made it possible for Abraham and Sarah to have a child.

True or False

 

7. Sarah had a bad habit of telling lies to the LORD. True or False

 

8. Because the LORD was angry with Sarah, He punished her for about a year. True or False

 

9. At the time the LORD promised, Sarah bore a son to Abraham in his old age. True or False

 

10. When Isaac was eight days old, Abraham baptized him. True or False

 

True and False Test Answers

Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-7

 

1. True
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. True
7. False
8. False
9. True

10.False

 

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us realize anew that You expect us to adopt Your timetable, not the other way around. May times of Your silence be times of increasing faith as we await Your perfect timing. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.