Genesis 17:18-21
God came to Abram again when he was 99 years old, and instituted the practice of circumcision for the first time. And He changed Abram's name to Abraham, and Sarai's name to Sarah. And told him that Sarah will bear him a son!
Abraham laughed at the idea that he and barren Sarah would have a child!
(18) Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before You!"
It was laughable that this ancient couple would finally have a child, so Abraham asked if God would consider the son he already had.
(19) But God said, "No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
God said, "No!" He would not make His covenant with the son of a slave woman. He would miraculously bring a legitimate son into the family, and bless Him.
(20) "As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
God knew that Abraham loved his son Ishmael, so He was willing to bless him, too, because Abraham asked.
Abraham didn't realize how much trouble and war would result centuries later between these two peoples.
(21) "But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year."
But God was choosing the second son to establish His agreement with, to have the Messiah be born through his bloodline, not the son of the slave. And to give his descendants the land of Canaan to possess.
So Abraham was circumcised at 99 years old, and Ishmael was already thirteen years old (vs. 24-26).
God had both of these boys in His grand Plan. They are also an allegory for us today, so many centuries later. Paul writes to the Galatians that:
Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. For it is written,
"Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear;Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;For more numerous are the children of the desolateThan of the one who has a husband."
And you, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise (Galatians 4: 22-28).
When Abraham went in to Hagar, she conceived naturally, because that is what happens. But when Sarah had Isaac, it was totally supernatural, because Sarah was barren, and even had passed the time of childbearing. So God waited to make it clear that it was His doing that she could bear Isaac to Abraham. It was obvious that it was a miracle, and his name Isaac means, "He Laughs!" as many people were laughing at his birth, it was so unusual and comical. These parents should have been great-grandparents at their age, and were just having their first child!
O my Father, Your grand Plan of the Ages includes every person who ever lived. Each one of us is one tiny thread in Your grand Tapestry of Time. And some of our stories are important for the rest of us to understand.
My Father, thank You for calling me to faith, and drawing me to the birth into Your family. I know my spiritual birth was just as miraculous as Isaac's birth was; every time You save another, wash them in Jesus' blood and send Your Holy Spirit to live in their spirit, being "born" spiritually, it's another supernatural miracle!
O Father, You are a promise-keeping God! When You make a covenant with a nation, You are always faithful to keep Your end of the deal, whether or not the human person lives up to his responsibility. So when it's really important for us, You take all the responsibility.
Father, send out Your children to reach every person who is searching for You. Show us how to share with every living being how much You have already loved us, and have done everything we need. Draw all of Your children into Your family, and fill Your great house with all of Your uncountable progeny.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is our Lord God Almighty, our Redeemer and Messiah, sovereign King of the World and all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!
