THE LORD DID WHAT HE HAD PROMISED
Key verse: 1
NIV
The Birth of Isaac
21 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah(A) as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised.(B) 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son(C) to Abraham in his old age,(D) at the very time God had promised him.(E) 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac[a](F) to the son Sarah bore him. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him,(G) as God commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old(H) when his son Isaac was born to him.
6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter,(I) and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” 7 And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”(J)
Footnotes
- Genesis 21:3 Isaac means he laughs.
Cross references
- Genesis 21:1 : 1Sa 2:21
- Genesis 21:1 : S Ge 8:1; S 17:16, 21; 18:14; Gal 4:23; Heb 11:11
- Genesis 21:2 : S Ge 17:19; S 30:6
- Genesis 21:2 : Gal 4:22; Heb 11:11
- Genesis 21:2 : S Ge 18:10
- Genesis 21:3 : S Ge 16:11; S 17:19; Jos 24:3
- Genesis 21:4 : Ge 17:10, 12; Ac 7:8
- Genesis 21:5 : S Ge 12:4; Heb 6:15
- Genesis 21:6 : Ge 17:17; Job 8:21; Ps 126:2; Isa 12:6; 35:2; 44:23; 52:9; 54:1
- Genesis 21:7 : S Ge 17:17
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Birth of Isaac
21 The Lord (A)visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah (B)as he had promised. 2 And Sarah (C)conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age (D)at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, (E)Isaac.[a] 4 And Abraham (F)circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, (G)as God had commanded him. 5 (H)Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, (I)“God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? (J)Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 21:3 Isaac means he laughs
Cross references
- Genesis 21:1 : 1 Sam. 2:21
- Genesis 21:1 : ch. 17:19; 18:10, 14
- Genesis 21:2 : Heb. 11:11; [Gal. 4:22]
- Genesis 21:2 : ch. 17:21
- Genesis 21:3 : ch. 17:19
- Genesis 21:4 : Acts 7:8
- Genesis 21:4 : ch. 17:10, 12
- Genesis 21:5 : ch. 17:1, 17; Rom. 4:19
- Genesis 21:6 : [Isa. 54:1; Gal. 4:27]
- Genesis 21:7 : ch. 18:11, 12
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. At the very time God had promised him (1-2)
God keeps his promises. The words 'as he had said' and 'what he had promised' emphasize God's faithfulness. God is the God of history. His timing is important. He teaches us faith and hope by making us wait on him. He gives his promised blessings at just the right time. God kept his promise to Sarah; her son was born at just the right time. God also waited a long time to send the Messiah. When the time had fully come, he sent his Son (Gal 4:4).
2. God has brought me laughter (3-7)
Abraham named his son 'Isaac.' It was an act of faith and obedience. Isaac means 'he laughs.' Isaac brought joy to Abraham's family. Ishmael had seemed to be the solution to Abraham's 'no son' problem, but he was not God's solution. He had brought tension and compromise to Abraham's home. But Isaac was the child of promise. God's blessings are always better than things we grab for ourselves. We must wait on God.
Prayer: Lord, teach me to believe your promises and wait patiently on your time.
One Word: God's blessings are best
