Genesis Continues:   Genesis 21   Abraham is now 100 and Sarah is now 90 years of age.  Isaac is born to them, at their extreme old-age, long after Abraham is impotent and Sarah has gone through the change of life.  God always keeps his promises and does what He says He will do.  Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”   Isaac, not Ishmael, is the child of the promise.    Around three years have passed.  It is time for Isaac to be weaned.  This is a time for celebration and feasting.  But there is a dispute between Abraham’s two wives.  Abraham was distressed and took the matter before God who told Abraham to listen to Sarah.  And that He would make a great nation out of Ishmael because Ishmael is Abraham’s offspring.    Hagar and Ishmael leave and are dying of thirst in the desert.  The Angel of the Lord appeared before Hagar and provided water.  The Genesis record tells how God was with Ishmael as he grew into manhood.  Hagar found a wife for Ishmael out of Egypt.  We will hear more about Ishmael in Chapter 25.       Commentary Quote:   “Few under the Old Testament were brought into the world with such expectations as Isaac.  He was in this a type of Christ, that Seed which the holy God so long promised, and holy men so long expected.  He was born according to the promise, at the set time of which God had spoken.  God’s promised mercies will certainly come at the time which He sets, and that is the best time.”  Matthew Henry, p. 36       Genesis 22 As a father myself, this is a difficult chapter. The long-promised and long-awaited son Isaac had finally come. But God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a sin offering. Abraham is told to take Isaac to the region of Moriah , a three day journey, and there sacrifice him. Isaac noticed there was no lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham told his son not to worry, that God will provide a lamb. Abraham was, we must remember, a prophet (refer to Chapter 20) before God. He was able to proceed with this task because he could foresee Isaac would be saved.  So be went forward in faith.  And a lamb was provided and Isaac was spared. This was a test, a severe test and trial. The Angel of God held Abraham’s hand and Isaac was spared. And suddenly, there was a ram caught in the bushes by his horns. God then renews his covenant with Abraham and Abraham’s ‘Seed.’ The word ‘Seed” is singular, not plural, and represents Christ who is to come. But God does not spare his Son, his only Son, but allows him to be sacrificed as a sin offering. “By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” Hebrews 11:17-18 (NSRV) “And in your Seed (Christ) shall all the nations of the Earth be blessed and (by Him) bless themselves, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.” Genesis 22;18 Amp Genesis 23 Sarah died at age 127 in Hebron in Canaan. (link to Hebron at (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebron). Abraham bought a burial site for her at the cost of 400 shekels of silver. The description of where this field and cave is located is included in the book of Genesis. Much later,  David  becomes King at Hebron. Genesis 24 here! Just for Kids! Devotionals