Genesis Chapter 21

It had been a long time since Abraham was given a promise of a son, some 25 years had passed. That was a long time to wait and keep believing that God would fulfill His promise. The beautiful promise of God was an unconditional promise. This meant the promise was not dependent on Abraham. It would be fulfilled no matter what because that is what God said He would do. The joy that would have filled the lives of both Abraham and Sarah would have been so great when their son Isaach was finally born. A baby born to a couple in their older years, past the child-baring time.

Let's Reflect

1. Sarah had been barren all her life not able to conceive and have a child. Verse 1 tells us that the LORD did just as He promised, and she conceived. They named their son Isaac. Just as God had instructed, what did Abraham do to his tiny newborn son when he was just eight days old?

2. Sarah still had a streak of jealousy in her directed toward the Egyptian Hagar and her son that was born to her and Abraham. What did Sarah want to happen?

3. Abraham knew that God had also promised to bless his son Ishmael, so the request of Sarah’s seemed wrong. I think God knew that there would be continual strife between these women, and He would bless this son of Abraham regardless. Abraham entreated God about the situation and God told him to send the slave woman and her son away. What did Hagar think was going to happen to them after their water had run out while wandering in the wilderness?

4. Hagar prayed to God for help. How did God answer her prayer?

5. Abraham had become a very wealthy man; God had blessed him greatly and it was evident to all. What did Abimelech do because he saw the way God had blessed Abraham?

6. A problem rose up in that desert like climate. Some of Abimelech’s men had confiscated a well that was dug by Abraham’s people. Abimelech was not aware of the situation until Abraham told him about it. The two trying to live peacefully spoke about the situation and sought a resolution and made an oath not to go to war over the situation. What did Abraham give to Abimelech to be a reminder of the agreement they made to live peacefully with each other?

7. What did Abraham call the place where the well was?

8. Abraham recognized the hand of God working in His life, protecting him, blessing him. What was Abraham’s response to the goodness of God?