sf959 - A Miraculous Birth (Genesis 21 1-7)
Genesis 21:1-7
Introduction
The birth of Isaac marked a pivotal point in the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose. It assured that God would bring forth a people of His own choosing from Abraham.
Therefore the birth of Isaac was the source of great joy in Abraham and Sarah’s life!
His very name means laughter.
Unlike Sarah’s doubting sinful laughter in chapter 18, this laughter was the product of the joy of the Lord that filled their hearts.
In the birth of Isaac we find several lessons:
Ø Lessons about God
Ø Lessons about Jesus
Ø Lessons about the New Birth
1A. (3) Lessons About God
1B. God is faithful to His promise. (21:1-2; 18:10)
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began
God cannot and will not break His promises.
Your faith in him does not determine His faithfulness to you!
2B. God is all-powerful (21:2, 5, 7)
Humanly speaking it was absolutely impossible for Abraham and Sarah to have a child!
But with God all things are possible.
If God gives you a task, He will both enable and empower you to do it!
Philippians 4:12-13 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
3B. God has a set time for accomplishing His work. (21:1; 17:21; 18:10, 14)
One of the hardest things we face is God’s apparent delays.
Ø We become impatient and try to help God.
Ø Because we do not trust God!
We must trust God and wait upon Him!
2A. (7) Lessons About Jesus
1B. Isaac and Jesus were both the promised seed and son.
Isaac – “As He had spoken” (Genesis 17:16; 18:14; 12:7)
Jesus
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
2B. There was a period of delay between the promises and their fulfillment.
Isaac – between 25 and 30 years
Jesus – hundreds even thousands of years.
3B. There was a measure of doubt in the minds of both mothers.
Sarah (Genesis 18:13) - Mary (Luke 1:34, 37)
4B. The names of both were symbolic and given before either was born.
Isaac – “Laugher” (Genesis 17:19)
Jesus – “Savior”
Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
5B. Both births occurred at God’s appointed time.
Isaac (Genesis 17:21; 18:10, 14; 21:2)
Jesus
Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
6B. Both births were miraculous.
Isaac – the miracle of the restoring of reproductive power to an elderly couple
Jesus – the miracle conception without a human father
7B. Both births brought great joy!
Isaac – Abraham and Sarah rejoiced!
Jesus
Luke 1:46-47 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
Luke 2:10-11 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
3A. Lessons About the New Birth (Rom 4:16-25)
1B. It is a birth wrought in the midst of death
Abraham and Sarah (Rom 4:16-19)
The sinner is spiritually dead.
Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins
“This is the fatal defect in any preaching: sinners will never be brought to see their need of a Savior until they realize their lost condition, and they will never discover their lost condition until they learn they are dead in sin.” (AW Pink)
2B. The power for this birth can only come from God. (Romans 4:21)
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
3B. The glory for this birth belongs to God alone. (Romans 4:20)
Ephesians 1:11-14 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Genesis 21:1-7
1A. Lessons About God
1B. God is faithful to His promise. (21:1-2; 18:10)
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
2B. God is all-powerful (21:2, 5, 7)
Philippians 4:12-13 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
3B. God has a set time for accomplishing His work. (21:1; 17:21; 18:10, 14)
2A. Lessons About Jesus
1B. Isaac and Jesus were both the promised seed and son.
Isaac – (Genesis 17:16; 18:14; 12:7)
Jesus - (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14)
2B. There was a period of delay between the promises and their fulfillment.
3B. There was a measure of doubt in the minds of both mothers.
4B. The names of both were symbolic and given before either was born.
5B. Both births occurred at God’s appointed time.
6B. Both births were miraculous.
7B. Both births brought great joy!
3A. Lesson About the New Birth (Romans 4:16-25)
1B. It is a birth wrought in the midst of death
Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins
2B. The power for this birth can only come from God. (Romans 4:21)
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
3B. The glory for this birth belongs to God alone. (Romans 4:20)
Ephesians 1:11-14 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.