"The Burning Bush"
“God Keeps His Promises” Genesis 21:1-8 Sermon Date: May 7th, 2017 Reflections on Sunday’s Sermon
Prayer As you begin your study this week, spend a few minutes praising God for being the God who fulfills all of His promises. Thank Him for making and keeping so many meaningful promises to you as one of His people. As you pray, consider the following words of this prayer taken from At the Thone of Grace: A Book of Prayers by John MacArthur and make them your own before the Lord. “Our Father, we thank You that You are a covenant-keeping God… Your Word and Your covenants are always true and trustworthy, for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable… Thank You for the grace of salvation to both Jew and Gentile. How grateful we are from the depths of our being to You, Lord Jesus, for bearing our sin in Your own body on the cross. Your self-sacrifice is the guarantee of our redemption, the reason for our hope, the ground of our assurance, and the song of our faith... Teach us, Lord, to walk obediently by faith. Empower us through Your Spirit to live in Your strength. May we gladly bear the yoke that is easy and the burden that is light. And may we wear that yoke faithfully until we see You face-to-face. In the meantime, enable us to be truly useful in the advancement of Your kingdom. What a privilege this is for us – that You overcome our fallenness, wretchedness, sinfulness, weakness, and ignorance to transform us into instruments of Your grace in this world! Be honored, Lord, as we offer You our worship in reflecting on Your faithfulness to Your people. We pray for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in His mighty name. Amen.” 1
Scripture Genesis 21:1-8 – (English Standard Version) 1
The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age 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, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “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? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” 8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
Handling the Word 1. The events that take place in our passage this week serve as the culmination of 25 years of Abraham and Sarah living with the hope that God would fulfill His promise to make them into a great nation through their own offspring. How would you describe what Abraham and Sarah’s lives have been like during those 25 years of waiting (at least the portion of their lives we have recorded in Genesis 12-20)?
2. Since the events in our text are part of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham, take a minute to review the passages below that lay out the covenant promises. Summarize what is said in each and make note of specific things that are fulfilled in the happenings of 21:1-7. Genesis 12:1-3 – Genesis 13:14-16 – Genesis 15:1-6 – Genesis 17:1-21 – Genesis 18:9-14 –
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Understanding and Applying 1. To open up our passage this week, we are told in verse 1 that God “visited” Sarah. The word “visited” in Hebrew refers to a direct intervention by God in someone’s life or situation. In this case, God, in His sovereignty, intervened in the lives of Abraham and Sarah in order to bring about His good plan and purposes. Why is it a great comfort to know that God “visits” and sovereignly acts in people’s lives? Do you find it encouraging that God is always intervening in our lives for the purpose of bringing about His plan in both the present and the future? Why or why not?
2. Further on in verses 1 and 2, we are reminded that the events surrounding the birth of Isaac transpired just as the Lord “had promised” (v. 2). The reality that the Lord kept His promise to Abraham and Sarah is clearly a point of emphasis in these verses. Why is it important that we be reminded of the fact that God kept His promise to Abraham and Sarah? What does it teach us about God and the reliability of His Word? What difference do these truths make as you walk with the Lord in faith?
3. Another thing worth noting about the birth of Isaac is that God not only did what He had promised He would do, but He also did it “at the time of which God had spoken” (v. 2). God had promised that Abraham and Sarah would have their baby within a year’s time (17:21, 18:10-14), and that is exactly what happened. God always fulfills His promises at the time He has appointed to do so, and that timing is always perfect. How can we be certain that God’s timing is always perfect even when it doesn’t appear to be so from a human perspective? Why is it difficult, at times, to trust the Lord to operate in His perfect timing in your life?
4. When you think about what God did in Sarah’s situation, not only is it amazing that she became pregnant (due to age and barrenness), but also that God strengthened her to go through the pregnancy and delivery process at age 90. As James Montgomery Boice wrote, “If God gives you a task, he will give you the strength and time you need to do it.” What are some of the tasks God has called us to as His people that He also strengthens us for (Isaiah 41:10, Ephesians 3:16-19, 6:10-13, Philippians 4:13)? Have you experienced God strengthening you for a task He called you to? If so, describe the situation.
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5. In verses 3-7, we are told of both Abraham and Sarah’s response to God’s miraculous provision of a son. Abraham’s response was to “do as God had commanded him” by obediently naming the child Isaac and circumcising him when he was eight days old (verses 3-5). Sarah’s response was to utter words of praise and rejoicing (verses 6-7). Why are both responses appropriate in light of what God had done in their lives? Why are obedience and rejoicing always appropriate responses to God’s work in the lives of His people?
6. Part of Sarah’s response to God’s miraculous provision of a child from her womb was to ask the rhetorical question, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?” (v. 7). In other words, no one could have imagined that this would have been possible for Abraham and Sarah at their age and with Sarah’s barrenness. It was absolutely astonishing to her and to everyone else who knew the situation. Unfortunately, because we have been expecting the birth of Isaac for nearly 9 chapters in the book of Genesis and because the miracles of God are common throughout Scripture, it may be easy for us to overlook just how miraculous the birth of Isaac really was. How do we avoid overlooking and becoming numb to the truly miraculous things God has done (as recorded in Scripture) and continues to do in the lives of His people still today?
7. Sarah, who had once laughed in disbelief and doubt (18:12) now laughed in joyous response to what the Lord had done (21:6). God was gracious, even in Sarah’s disbelief, to uphold His promise and, therefore, to turn her doubting into joyous belief. As He dealt graciously with Sarah in her disbelief, so too, does he deal with all of His people when they struggle with doubt (Jude 22). How have you seen God’s grace and patience with you in your moments of disbelief and doubt? Why is reminding ourselves of what God has done, especially through the person and work of Jesus Christ, such an important means that God uses to turn our doubts and struggles into joy and praise?
8. What similarities are there between the circumstances surrounding the birth of Isaac and those surrounding the birth of Jesus? How does this story foreshadow, or point us forward to, the birth of Jesus Christ?
9. What is an important truth that stood out to you in Genesis 21:1-8 that you will commit to thinking and praying about this week? What in your life needs to be prayed for, confessed, or altered as a result of what you have learned?
“The reader ought to be struck by the sovereignty and providence of God in the matter at hand.” John Currid 4
Prayer As you begin your study this week, spend a few minutes praising God for being the God who fulfills all of His promises. Thank Him for making and keeping so many meaningful promises to you as one of His people. As you pray, consider the following words of this prayer taken from At the Thone of Grace: A Book of Prayers by John MacArthur and make them your own before the Lord. “Our Father, we thank You that You are a covenant-keeping God… Your Word and Your covenants are always true and trustworthy, for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable… Thank You for the grace of salvation to both Jew and Gentile. How grateful we are from the depths of our being to You, Lord Jesus, for bearing our sin in Your own body on the cross. Your self-sacrifice is the guarantee of our redemption, the reason for our hope, the ground of our assurance, and the song of our faith... Teach us, Lord, to walk obediently by faith. Empower us through Your Spirit to live in Your strength. May we gladly bear the yoke that is easy and the burden that is light. And may we wear that yoke faithfully until we see You face-to-face. In the meantime, enable us to be truly useful in the advancement of Your kingdom. What a privilege this is for us – that You overcome our fallenness, wretchedness, sinfulness, weakness, and ignorance to transform us into instruments of Your grace in this world! Be honored, Lord, as we offer You our worship in reflecting on Your faithfulness to Your people. We pray for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in His mighty name. Amen.” 1
Scripture Genesis 21:1-8 – (English Standard Version) 1
The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age 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, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “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? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” 8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
Handling the Word 1. The events that take place in our passage this week serve as the culmination of 25 years of Abraham and Sarah living with the hope that God would fulfill His promise to make them into a great nation through their own offspring. How would you describe what Abraham and Sarah’s lives have been like during those 25 years of waiting (at least the portion of their lives we have recorded in Genesis 12-20)?
2. Since the events in our text are part of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham, take a minute to review the passages below that lay out the covenant promises. Summarize what is said in each and make note of specific things that are fulfilled in the happenings of 21:1-7. Genesis 12:1-3 – Genesis 13:14-16 – Genesis 15:1-6 – Genesis 17:1-21 – Genesis 18:9-14 –
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Understanding and Applying 1. To open up our passage this week, we are told in verse 1 that God “visited” Sarah. The word “visited” in Hebrew refers to a direct intervention by God in someone’s life or situation. In this case, God, in His sovereignty, intervened in the lives of Abraham and Sarah in order to bring about His good plan and purposes. Why is it a great comfort to know that God “visits” and sovereignly acts in people’s lives? Do you find it encouraging that God is always intervening in our lives for the purpose of bringing about His plan in both the present and the future? Why or why not?
2. Further on in verses 1 and 2, we are reminded that the events surrounding the birth of Isaac transpired just as the Lord “had promised” (v. 2). The reality that the Lord kept His promise to Abraham and Sarah is clearly a point of emphasis in these verses. Why is it important that we be reminded of the fact that God kept His promise to Abraham and Sarah? What does it teach us about God and the reliability of His Word? What difference do these truths make as you walk with the Lord in faith?
3. Another thing worth noting about the birth of Isaac is that God not only did what He had promised He would do, but He also did it “at the time of which God had spoken” (v. 2). God had promised that Abraham and Sarah would have their baby within a year’s time (17:21, 18:10-14), and that is exactly what happened. God always fulfills His promises at the time He has appointed to do so, and that timing is always perfect. How can we be certain that God’s timing is always perfect even when it doesn’t appear to be so from a human perspective? Why is it difficult, at times, to trust the Lord to operate in His perfect timing in your life?
4. When you think about what God did in Sarah’s situation, not only is it amazing that she became pregnant (due to age and barrenness), but also that God strengthened her to go through the pregnancy and delivery process at age 90. As James Montgomery Boice wrote, “If God gives you a task, he will give you the strength and time you need to do it.” What are some of the tasks God has called us to as His people that He also strengthens us for (Isaiah 41:10, Ephesians 3:16-19, 6:10-13, Philippians 4:13)? Have you experienced God strengthening you for a task He called you to? If so, describe the situation.
3
5. In verses 3-7, we are told of both Abraham and Sarah’s response to God’s miraculous provision of a son. Abraham’s response was to “do as God had commanded him” by obediently naming the child Isaac and circumcising him when he was eight days old (verses 3-5). Sarah’s response was to utter words of praise and rejoicing (verses 6-7). Why are both responses appropriate in light of what God had done in their lives? Why are obedience and rejoicing always appropriate responses to God’s work in the lives of His people?
6. Part of Sarah’s response to God’s miraculous provision of a child from her womb was to ask the rhetorical question, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?” (v. 7). In other words, no one could have imagined that this would have been possible for Abraham and Sarah at their age and with Sarah’s barrenness. It was absolutely astonishing to her and to everyone else who knew the situation. Unfortunately, because we have been expecting the birth of Isaac for nearly 9 chapters in the book of Genesis and because the miracles of God are common throughout Scripture, it may be easy for us to overlook just how miraculous the birth of Isaac really was. How do we avoid overlooking and becoming numb to the truly miraculous things God has done (as recorded in Scripture) and continues to do in the lives of His people still today?
7. Sarah, who had once laughed in disbelief and doubt (18:12) now laughed in joyous response to what the Lord had done (21:6). God was gracious, even in Sarah’s disbelief, to uphold His promise and, therefore, to turn her doubting into joyous belief. As He dealt graciously with Sarah in her disbelief, so too, does he deal with all of His people when they struggle with doubt (Jude 22). How have you seen God’s grace and patience with you in your moments of disbelief and doubt? Why is reminding ourselves of what God has done, especially through the person and work of Jesus Christ, such an important means that God uses to turn our doubts and struggles into joy and praise?
8. What similarities are there between the circumstances surrounding the birth of Isaac and those surrounding the birth of Jesus? How does this story foreshadow, or point us forward to, the birth of Jesus Christ?
9. What is an important truth that stood out to you in Genesis 21:1-8 that you will commit to thinking and praying about this week? What in your life needs to be prayed for, confessed, or altered as a result of what you have learned?
“The reader ought to be struck by the sovereignty and providence of God in the matter at hand.” John Currid 4
