Genesis 21:1-7 (2)

(The richness of Arthur W. Pink is evident in the following thoughts.  This outline comes from his Gleanings in Genesis.)

Abraham is our example of faith.  Hagar and Sarah are an allegory teaching us about law and grace (Gal. 4:21-31).  But Isaac is a type of Christ.  This means that as we look at Isaac’s life we anticipate finding much that directly ties to our Lord Jesus Christ.  This is evident in Isaac’s birth, his being sacrificed by his father, and his marriage.  How do we see Christ in the birth of Isaac?

·       Both were promised seed (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14).  Each was necessary to the fulfillment of the promise in Gen. 3:15.

·       A lengthy interval occurred between the first promise and the birth.  In Isaac’s case it was at least 25 years (Abraham was 75 in Gen. 12:4 and 100 when Isaac was born).  The first promise of Christ was in Gen. 3:15.  There were many other promises that revealed more and more details of His birth, but it was at least 4000 years from the first promise to the fulfillment.

·       Each mother wondered how it would be possible (Luke 1:34,37).  We know of Sarah’s laughter (18:12).  Mary also asked how she, a virgin, would be able to give birth (Luke 1:34).  But she was a woman of faith, saying “amen” to the angel’s word that nothing was impossible for God (Luke 1:37-38).

·       The name of each was specified before they were born, Isaac in Gen. 17:19 and Jesus in Matt. 1:21-25.

·       The births were at the appointed time.  Isaac was born at the set time when God visited Sarah (Gen. 21:2).  So Christ was born in the fullness of time (Gal. 4:4).

·       Each birth required a miracle, one in a 90-year-old woman bearing a child; the other in a woman who had never known a man bearing the Child, the Son of God.

·       Each was their father’s delight.  Certainly Abraham rejoiced in the birth of “he laughs” (Isaac, Gen. 21:3,8).  And the Father spoke of His pleasure in His Son at His baptism (Matt. 3:17) and at the transfiguration (Matt. 17:5).

Glory and honor belong to our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the True Son anticipated by the promised son of Abraham.