The Story Through the Bible Gen 20

Again?

Chapter 20 is one that sounds familiar. Our story with Abram started with his calling and moving down through promised land to end up in Egypt where he told his sister / wife to only mention being his sister. Like that story the same thing happens and the ruler in this case Abimelech takes Sarah this word, unlike the Egypt story is a bit more forceful. It‘s like a capture so many think this was like a king asserting his right to any woman he wanted. The obvious dude question is, what on earth did Sarah look like that at age 90 a king who can take anyone he wants would reach out to take her. It seems very odd. However like before God intervenes. This time through a dream and it scares Abimelech who also protests his innocence in two ways. He didn’t know she was married and he did not yet touch her, or approach/get close to her. Abimelech wasn’t happy he ended up in this spot and asks Abraham how he could do this to him. Abraham explains his fear of death over the desire of someone to take his wife. Abimelech gives gifts to Abraham as a sign of Sarah’s innocence and Abraham prays and blesses him. Here we have a possible hint of why Sarah was taken, besides being the most irresistible 90 year old. After the prayer Abimelech was healed - from what? and his wife and all their female slaves because pregnancy was no longer possible. There is implication impotence is afflicting Abimelech and infertility the women. The two way curse to ensure no one gets pregnant is undone. That moves us to the birth of Isaac and the treaty with Abimelech.

Genesis 21:1–2 ESV

The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.

So, from Chapter 18 until now is only a year. It seems odd that Abimelech would already know they are infertile in that time. It would also be obvious at some point that Sarah is pregnant so it would have to be before any of that where our story takes place in chapter 20. It’s just my guess, but I’m thinking something had been going on longer than the arrival of Abraham and Sarah in the area. It might have been Abimelech’s thought that he could maybe have an heir if it was someone totally new. Again just speculation on my part for how this makes sense. In any case they’re healed and Sarah conceives and has a Son of Abraham a year later, just when the Lord said she would. The boy is properly circumcised on the eighth day. Interesting fact do you know when a newborn has the highest natural spike of Vitamin K? the 8th day… It’s very helpful it’s one of the shots they give newborns now to help activate all the proteins that kick in the body’s blood clotting mechanisms.

The son is named Isaac which we talked about before means laughter.

Genesis 21:6 ESV

And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.”

Eventually Isaac is old enough to be weened which would typically be 2-3 years old. Abraham throws a party for this milestone… I don’t know if that’s typical, we didn’t have any parties for that at my house… Not that I know of anyway, I guess I should ask Jaime.. My guess is she was very glad to not deal with that anymore. In any case something goes wrong at this party… The other son - and notice he is never once named - he’s “laughing” That sounds innocent but we should not ascribe pettiness to Sarah. There is some sort of malice going on here. Sarah immediately wants them cast out.

Genesis 21:9–14 ESV

But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Again it sounds like we’re repeating this story doesn’t it? We’re in a thematic moment of redemption where the first attempt is by our will, the second is by God’s.

Paul uses this story later to make a similar point. - It’s also a theme the NT uses several times if you want extra credit see if this applies to Stephen’s speech in Acts 7 and guess what his point was that got interrupted by his stoning.

Galatians 4:21–5:1 ESV

Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Paul takes the story we’re looking at and makes an allegory to drive home his point. Don’t be stuck in a mindset of flesh that desires to attain an inheritance by your own efforts. It is doomed to failure you must be adopted as a son to be an heir.

Back to Abraham, this is still his son and he cares for him so this event is a little upsetting but the Lord comforts him with the knowledge that this other son will become a nation. Abraham sends them off the next morning with some bread and water. The water runs out eventually of course and not wanting to watch the slow death of her child Hagar leaves him under a bush. In children’s church version I imagined a small child but remember this is like a 13-14 year old boy. Old enough to be considered an adult culturally.

Genesis 21:15–21 ESV

When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Now… just from what you might know about biblical stories does this remind you of any tales we’ve had or will have soon?

A boy destined for death sent out of the camp of Abraham - but Abraham knows the promise of God and the boy isn’t going to die - Then by a bush God saves this boy - Is that Isaac or Ishmael?