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Genesis Chapter
Twenty-One
I.
Content of the Chapter
Abraham begot Isaac
A. Sarah begot Isaac for Abraham (v.1-7);
B. Hagar and Ishmael were cast out (v.8-16);
C. God kept Ishmael (v.17-21);
D. Abraham made a covenant with Abimelech (v.22-34);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
Gen. 21:1 And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken.”
YLT:
“And
Jehovah hath looked after Sarah as He hath said, and Jehovah doth to Sarah as
He hath spoken;”
Spiritual Meaning:
“Isaac” typifies the one who is born through
the promise, namely, the one born according to the Spirit (Gal. 4:23, 29).
Isaac relates to the spiritual life of believers. This verse indicates us that
our spiritual life is promised according to the will of God, and He begot us by
His living and abiding word (James 1:18; 1Pet. 1:23).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The word of God never fails (Jos. 21:45) and is
settled in the heavens (Ps. 119:89). Things will be exactly as we have been
told by God (Acts. 27:25).
2)
That we are favored is due to the attendance of God, not our words or works.
Gen. 21:2 “For Sarah conceived and
bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to
him.”
YLT:
“and
Sarah conceiveth, and beareth a son to Abraham, to his old age, at the
appointed time that God hath spoken of with him;”
Literal
Meaning: “Abraham
a son in his old age”, it is against
hope (Rom. 4:18-19).
“Sarah
conceived”, it shows that it is God’s work.
Spiritual
Meaning: this verse tells us
the elements of spiritual life:
1. “In
his old age”, the life is not
born of blood, nor of flesh’s will, nor of man’s will, but of God (John 1:13).
2. “Sarah conceived”, Sarah represents the promise of grace,
which shows that we obtain the new life by God’s grace (Eph. 2:8).
3. “At
the set time of which God had spoken to him”, it is not of man’s labor, but of the appointed
will of God (Eph. 1:9-10).
4. “Bore
Abraham a son”, Abraham represents faith, so the new
life is also obtained by our faith (Rom. 4:16).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The grace of God is truly sufficient to us, for
his strength is perfected in weakness (2Cor. 12:9).
2) God
works according to His time. When the time comes, things will be done. If we
have known this principle, we will not be anxious.
3)
Whoever is unable to wait for God can only beget Ishmael instead of Isaac,
which is of no spiritual value before God at all.
4) God
will not show His wonderful works in us until our natural life is utterly dealt
with and the fleshly strength is totally exhausted.
5) The
real valuable spiritual service does not depend on how much we have done for
God, but how much we have been done by Him.
Gen. 21:3 “And Abraham called the
name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac.”
YLT:
“and
Abraham calleth the name of his son who is born to him, whom Sarah hath born to
him -- Isaac;”
Meaning
of Words: “Isaac”: laugh, he who laughs;
Literal
Meaning: “Isaac”, this name
was given from God (Gen. 17:19). The birth of Isaac was supposed to be
impossible. However, it became true here so that those who experienced it
firsthand could not help “laughing”.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though believers may face some troubles, they
are filled with joy in spirit (
2)
When we are faced with troubles, we may not feel joyful, but sorrowful and even
tearful. However, we will have a joyful end finally (Heb. 12:11; Ps. 126:5-6).
3)
Human works make us bitter in the end, but the divine work makes us joyful.
Gen. 21:4 “Then Abraham circumcised
his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.”
YLT:
“and
Abraham circumciseth Isaac his son, a son of eight days, as God hath commanded
him.”
Literal
Meaning: it is appointed by
God that every man child of
Spiritual
Meaning: “Isaac” also
typifies the Lord Jesus Christ, who was circumcised on the eighth day after His
birth (Luke 2:21).
“Eight days old”, since the Lord Jesus was risen on the
first day of the seven days (Matt. 28:1), so the eighth day symbolizes the
risen life.
“Circumcision” symbolizes that believers put their flesh to death and
live by the Lord’s risen life.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Believers can deal with and put off the body of
the flesh only when we are in the risen life (Col. 2:11-12).
2) If
we have been raised with the Christ, we have to put to death the members on the
earth (
Gen. 21:5 “Now Abraham was one
hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.”
YLT:
“And
Abraham a son of a hundred years in Isaac his son being born to him,”
Spiritual
Meaning: it shows that the
extremity of the human life (Rom. 4:19) is the opportunity of the spiritual
life.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The true vessel of God is the one “who is one
hundred years old” ---- he thinks he can do nothing.
2) It
is not that God does not use us, but that we have not attained to the step of
being used by God.
Gen. 21:6 “And Sarah said, “God has
made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.”
YLT:
“and
Sarah saith, `God hath made laughter for me; every one who is hearing laugheth
for me.'”
Literal
Meaning: “laugh”, it is not
“secret laugh” any more (Gen. 18:12), but joyful laugh.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The birth of Christ brought good tidings of
great joy to all the people (Luke 2:10). Whoever has heard Him will
rejoice.
2)
Human beings are subject to changing moods. Only the divine joy is true joy.
3)
Rejoice with those that rejoice, weep with those that weep (
Gen. 21:7 “She also said,
“Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have
borne him a son in his old age.”
YLT:
“She
saith also, `Who hath said to Abraham, Sarah hath suckled sons, that I have
born a son for his old age?'”
Spiritual
Meaning: this verse shows
that the spiritual life of believers is not of themselves (“in his old age”),
but of the grace of God (“Sarah”) and is grown by the grace of God (“Sarah
would nurse children”).
Enlightenment
in the Word: let us desire
earnestly the pure milk of the word as newborn babes, that by it our new life
will grow up (1Pet. 2:2).
Gen. 21:8 “So the child grew and was
weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.”
YLT:
“And
the lad groweth, and is weaned, and Abraham maketh a great banquet in the day
of Isaac's being weaned;”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If a believer can always only need of milk
instead of solid food (be unable to be weaned), it shows that he is still a
baby (1Cor. 3:1-2; Heb. 5:13-14).
2) If
we always stay on the stage of drinking milk, we are unable to understand the
word of God sufficiently and have little knowledge of the will of God. It is
easiest to be deceived by heresies during this period.
3) When believers are mature enough to
digest and absorb “the word of righteousness”, the whole Bible will open to us
and each chapter and each verse will become “a full feast” for us to partake
of.
Gen. 21:9 “And Sarah saw the son of
Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing.”
YLT:
“and
Sarah seeth the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she hath borne to Abraham,
mocking,”
Literal
Meaning: “the
son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham”, it was Ishmael, who was at least fifteen
years old (see Gen. 17:25).
“Scoffing”: scorning;
Spiritual
Meaning: Ishmael scoffed
Isaac, which meant “he that was born according to flesh persecuted him
according to Spirit” (Gal. 4:29).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Natural man does not receive the things of the
Spirit of God, for they are folly to him (1Cor. 2:14). Therefore, it is no
wonder that he may scoff us.
2)
Strife between the lusts of the flesh and the Spirit often happens in each
believer (Gal. 5:17).
3)
When we believers are just born again, we may feel little trouble of the flesh.
However, when we are weaned, we begin to be bothered by the difficulties of the
flesh. .
Gen. 21:10 “Therefore she said to
Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman
shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.”
YLT:
“and
she saith to Abraham, `Cast out this handmaid and her son; for the son of this
handmaid hath no possession with my son -- with Isaac.'”
Literal
Meaning: “cast out”, it is
disqualifying the right of inheritance of Ishmael.
Spiritual
Meaning: “this bondwoman”,
she represents the covenant of law (Gal. 4:24).
“Her
son”, he typifies the one begotten according to the flesh (Gal. 4:23).
Since
we believers are begotten according to the Spirit, we have to deal with the
works done by the flesh to keep the rules of the law (“Cast out”), for we are
enabled to inherit the heavenly inheritance by faith only.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Ishmael was not cast out when he just was born,
but when Isaac was weaned. Believers whose spiritual life is not strong are
unable to deal with the works of the flesh.
2)
When we are grown up in spirit, we have “cast” all the flesh, natural
constitutions and old man out. Otherwise, they will hinder us from enjoying
Christ.
3) All things outside of Christ, no matter good or
evil, should be “cast out”.
4) Only those who are on the principle of faith are
real children of Abraham (Gal. 3:7).
Gen. 21:11 “And the matter was very
displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son.”
YLT:
“And
the thing is very wrong in the eyes of Abraham, for his son's sake;”
Meaning
of Words: “displeasing”: annoyed, unsatisfied;
Spiritual
Meaning: Abraham was grieved
at Ishmael. Though he cherished his own works according to his natural mind, he
had to give up the fruit of his own effort, which made him feel awkward.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The fruit we bore in the past in our failure
makes us always troubled.
2) Let
us pray to the Lord to keep us so that we shall not harm ourselves and others.
Gen. 21:12 “But God said to Abraham,
“Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of
your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in
Isaac your seed shall be called.”
YLT:
“and
God saith unto Abraham, `Let it not be wrong in thine eyes because of the
youth, and because of thy handmaid: all that Sarah saith unto thee -- hearken
to her voice, for in Isaac is a seed called to thee.”
Spiritual
Meaning: “whatever Sarah has said to
you” represents the
teaching of grace.
“In Isaac your
seed” represents that of
the Spirit.
Enlightenment
in the Word: believers shall
obey the teachings of grace and keep the principle of grace rather than be
bothered by natural feelings or concepts in conversations
Gen. 21:13 “Yet I will also make a
nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.”
YLT:
“As
to the son of the handmaid also, for a nation I set him, because he thy seed.'”
Spiritual
Meaning: though believers
have been born again and have got the spiritual life, the flesh in us does not
disappear but remains in us.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The law of sin in the flesh of believers is a
strong power (“a nation”).
2)
Believers shall keep the mind of the Spirit instead of the flesh if they want
to overcome the law of sin (
Gen. 21:14 “So Abraham rose early in
the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her
shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she
departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.”
YLT:
“And
Abraham riseth early in the morning, and taketh bread, and a bottle of water,
and giveth unto Hagar (placing on her shoulder), also the lad, and sendeth her
out; and she goeth on, and goeth astray in the wilderness of Beer-Sheba;”
Literal
Meaning: “rose
early in the morning”, it shows his
immediate obedience to the word of God.
“The
boy”: a young child;
Spiritual
Meaning: “wilderness”
typifies the soul of man. The soul of man walks by law and will be “wandered”
and lose his way. Man can merely obtain “a skin of water” by law, but such
water satisfies man’s thirst for a while (John 4:13).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Once we believers have had the word of God, we
have to obey immediately.
2)
Human help is as limited as “bread and a skin of water”.
3) The
world is like a wilderness. We do not know how to walk through it without the
guidance of God.
4)
Believers have to know that we are not going to be made perfect in flesh since
we have begun in Spirit (Gal. 3:3). And let us not be entangled again with the
yoke of bondage (Gal. 5:1).
Gen. 21:15 “And the water in the skin
was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs.”
YLT:
“and
the water is consumed from the bottle, and she placeth the lad under one of the
shrubs.”
Spiritual
Meaning: “shrub”: it was
sprung out of the earth and was used to cover for a while, so it typifies “the
worldly way” that cannot thoroughly resolve the problems of our life.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Provisions from the spiritual man will be “used
up” one day, no matter how good they are. Therefore, we have to learn to obtain
supply from God directly.
2) Let
us have rest in the shadow of the Lord when we are in distress.
Gen. 21:16 “Then she went and sat down
across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to
herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him,
and lifted her voice and wept.”
YLT:
“And
she goeth and sitteth by herself over-against, afar off, about a bow-shot, for
she said, `Let me not look on the death of the lad;' and she sitteth
over-against, and lifteth up her voice, and weepeth.”
Literal
Meaning: “at
a distance of about a bowshot”, when the Lord prayed in the
“Lifted her voice and wept”, this was
the most earnest cry and prayer.
Spiritual
Meaning: since it was weak
though the flesh, the law could do nothing (
Gen. 21:17 “And God heard the voice of
the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her,
“What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where
he is.”
YLT:
“And
God heareth the voice of the youth; and the messenger of God calleth unto Hagar
from the heavens, and saith to her, `What to thee, Hagar? fear not; for God
hath hearkened unto the voice of the youth where he ;”
Literal
Meaning: “God heard”, it is a
usage of pun upon the word “Ishmael” (which means “God hears”).
“Lad”,
the same word with “boy”, both of them refer to young boy;
“Fear
not”, it means that God will look upon them.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Only when we are really conscious of the
infirmity of our flesh and no longer struggle and commit us to God, will God
hear our prayer and guide us.
2)
That God asked Abraham to cast Ishmael out did not mean God would not look upon
him, for God still heart him. Let believers care for the souls “that have not
been saved by grace”, and not be arrogant or despise unbelievers of the world.
Gen. 21:18 “Arise, lift up the lad and
hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”
YLT:
“rise, lift up the youth, and lay hold on him with thy hand, for for a great
nation I set him.'”
Enlightenment
in the Word: the word of God is
the source of our strength. Once we have obtained the word of God, we are able
to “arise” and run the way before us.
Gen. 21:19 “Then God opened her eyes,
and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave
the lad a drink.”
YLT:
“And
God openeth her eyes, and she seeth a well of water, and she goeth and filleth
the bottle water, and causeth the youth to drink;”
Spiritual
Meaning: “a well of water”,
well typifies the reliance and center of our life. What is worthy of our notice
is that the two wells in this chapter are both in “
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The world is blinded by the devil, so they are
unable to see the light of the gospel of Christ (2Cor. 4:4). Therefore, the
most important thing in the preaching of the gospel is prayer to the Lord to
open their inner eyes.
2)
Christ is the spring of the living water. He who knows Him will receive the
provision of living water.
Gen. 21:20 “So God was with the lad;
and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.”
YLT: “and
God is with the youth, and he groweth, and dwelleth in the wilderness, and is
an archer;”
Spiritual
Meaning: this verse typifies
those who are on the principle of the law wander in the soul (“wilderness”) and
do not know how to live in the Spirit at all. The end of walking in the law is
killing (“archer”), which proves that “the letter kills and the Spirit
quickens” (2Cor. 3:6).
Gen. 21:21 “He dwelt in the Wilderness
of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the
YLT:
“and
he dwelleth in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother taketh for him a wife
from the
Literal
Meaning: “the
Wilderness of Paran”:
the northern part of the
Spiritual
Meaning: he who is on the
principle of the law will be finally united with the world (took a wife from
the
Gen. 21:22 “And it came to pass at
that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to
Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do.”
YLT: “And
it cometh to pass at that time that Abimelech speaketh -- Phichol also, head of
his host -- unto Abraham, saying, `God with thee in all that thou art doing;”
Spiritual
Meaning: “Abimelech
and Phichol, the commander of his army” typify the sheep among the nations that do good
to the people of God (Matt. 25:31-40). They have seen “the preservation of God”
on Abraham, which symbolizes that if believers walk in Spirit, men of the world
will see the gracious works of God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) What believers are supposed to desire is to live
Christ (Phil. 1:20).
2)
When God is manifested in the flesh, He will be preached among the nations and
be believed on in world (1Tim. 3:16).
Gen. 21:23 “”Now therefore, swear to me
by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my
posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will
do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.
YLT:
“and
now, swear to me by God here: thou dost not lie to me, or to my continuator, or
to my successor; according to the kindness which I have done with thee thou
dost with me, and with the land in which thou hast sojourned.'”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Live in peace that the God of peace will be with
us (2Cor. 13:11).
2)
Since we are sojourners on the earth, if it is possible, as much as depends on
you, live peaceably with all men (
Gen. 21:24 “And Abraham said, “I will
swear.””
YLT:
“And
Abraham saith, `I -- I do swear.'”
Gen. 21:25 “Then Abraham rebuked
Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized.”
YLT: “And
Abraham reasoned with Abimelech concerning the matter of a well of water which
Abimelech's servants have taken violently away,”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be
gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in
opposition (2Tim. 2:24-25).
2) If
someone sins against us, let us reprove him in proper occasion and time (Matt.
18:15).
Gen. 21:26 “And Abimelech said, “I do
not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it
until today.””
YLT:
“and
Abimelech saith, `I have not known who hath done this thing, and even thou
didst not declare to me, and I also, I have not heard save to-day.'”
Enlightenment
in the Word: no
blame attaches to the unconscious doer of wrong. However, if we are conscious
of it, we have to correct ourselves. Since we have heard him and are taught in
him, as truth is in Jesus Christ, we shall put off the old man and put on the
new man (Eph. 4:20-22).
Gen. 21:27 “So Abraham took sheep and
oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant.”
YLT: “And
Abraham taketh sheep and oxen, and giveth to Abimelech, and they make, both of
them, a covenant;”
Gen. 21:28 “And Abraham set seven ewe
lambs of the flock by themselves.”
YLT:
“and
Abraham setteth seven Lambs of the flock by themselves.”
Gen. 21:29 “Then Abimelech asked
Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs
which you have set by themselves?””
YLT: “And
Abimelech saith unto Abraham, `What they -- these seven lambs which thou hast
set by themselves?'”
Gen. 21:30 “And he said, “You will
take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness
that I have dug this well.””
YLT: “And
he saith, `For -- the seven lambs thou dost accept from my hand, so that it
becometh a witness for me that I have digged this well;'”
Spiritual
Meaning: “well” typifies the
reliance and center of our life. Abraham gave the “seven ewe lambs” to
Abimelech to be his witness, which indicated that he who lived in the world by
faith perfectly (“seven”) relied upon the redemption of Christ (John 1:29;
6:57).
Enlightenment in the Word: since we have obtained the salvation of
Christ, let us walk worthily of the gospel of Christ (Phil. 1:27) so that the
world will see through us that in Him we live and move and exist (Acts 17:28).
Gen. 21:31 “Therefore he called that
place
YLT:
“therefore hath he called that place `Beer-Sheba,' for there have both of them
sworn.”
Gen. 21:32 “Thus they made a covenant
at
YLT:
“And
they make a covenant in Beer-Sheba, and Abimelech riseth -- Phichol also, head
of his host -- and they turn back unto the land of the Philistines;”
Literal
Meaning: to people of the
ancient times, an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife (Heb.
6:16).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) In order to deal with the troubles between God
and men, God confirms His promise by an oath (Heb. 6:17) and sets the Lord
Jesus as a surety of a better covenant (Heb. 7:20-22).
2) Man
will be reconciled with God and have peace with one another by faith in the
Lord Jesus only (Eph. 2:12-18).
Gen. 21:33 “Then Abraham
planted a tamarisk tree in
YLT:
“and
planteth a tamarask in Beer-Sheba, and preacheth there in the name of Jehovah,
God age-during;”
Spiritual
Meaning: “a
tamarisk tree”, such kind of tree
is of an exuberance of foliage with the abundant supply of water, which
symbolizes that the conversation of believers is the revelation of the inner
rich life.
“There called on
the name of the Lord,
the Everlasting God”, calling on the
name of the LORD means relying upon God; “The Everlasting God” especially
refers to the abundant life. Therefore, here it symbolizes that we believers
trust in the God of rich life.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Let us approach the source of life and
appropriate more and more living water of life (Ps. 36:8-9) so that the riches
of God will be manifested in our life.
2) The
Lord is rich to the one who calls on Him (
Gen. 21:34 “And Abraham stayed in the
land of the Philistines many days.”
YLT:
“and
Abraham sojourneth in the land of the Philistines many days.”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Believers are sojourners on the earth (Heb.
11:13), so let us pass the time of our sojourning in fear (1Pet. 1:17).
2)
Since the world is not our home, let us not set our mind on things on the
earth, but on things above (Col. 3:1-2).
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Know the Spiritual Life
A. Which is of the word of God (v.1);
B. Which is by grace ---- “Sarah”; and through faith ---- “Abraham” (v.2);
C. Which is not of the flesh ---- “in his old
age” (v.2);
D. Which is according to the appointed will of
God ---- “at the set time of which God had spoken to him” (v.2);
E. Which enables man to have full joy ---- “Isaac” (v.3);
F. Which enables man to deal with the flesh
---- “circumcised” (v.4);
G. Which enables man to grow up by the divine
grace ---- “Sarah would nurse children” (v.7);
H. Which enables man to enjoy the riches of the
house of God ---- “made a great feast” (v.8);
Believers Shall Never Rely upon the Flesh
A. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit
(v.9);
B. The flesh should be dealt with ---- “cast
out” (v.10-12);
C. He who lives by the flesh will lose his way
(v.14);
D. The flesh cannot satisfy man’s thirst
(v.15-16);
E. The flesh may blind man’s eyes of heart
(v.19);
F. The flesh makes man dead ---- “archer”
(v.20);
G. The flesh makes man unite with the world
---- took a wife from the
The Spiritual Life Believers Are Supposed to
Have
A. Be blessed by God (v.22);
B. Have peace with all (v.23-24);
C. In humility correct those who are in
opposition (v.25);
D. Walk worthily of the gospel of Christ
(v.28-30);
E. The inner rich life is manifested in daily
life ---- “a tamarisk tree”
(v.33);
F. Rely on the Everlasting God completely ----
“call on God” (v.33);
G. Lead the days in the world with a
“sojourning” attitude (v.34);
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou