not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. 17:9-14). _ALUN OWEN_ b. and married, but when Isaac was weaned and Ishmael was expelled: This Bible study on Genesis 21 shows God's promise to Sarah and Abraham fulfilled in the birth of their son Isaac, the son of promise. the long-promised son was born. 3. Asking their forgiveness is often the first step in that process. 1886. A.M. 2118. B.C. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves (designing by another covenant to secure himself against future invasion of Isis rights). This second conflict with Abimelech creates a bracket around the Isaac birth narrative. ; Psalms 34, tit.). He added some more items, but to his consternation, still nothing happened. Thus, Beersheba can mean, well of oath, or well of seven. So, outside of the name, Beersheba, the word shava occurs three times and the word sheva occurs three times in this passage. But He doesnt just provide for our needs so that we can live comfy lives for our own happiness. Hagar and Ishmael sent away. IN ALL THAT THOU DOEST:_ Inductive Bible Study Genesis 21 - Study and Obey The significance of this passage is Abraham finding a place in the land promised to him in safety. Arise We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the Genesis 21 Commentary - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Then Abraham does something unexpected. He complains to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimeleks servants had seized. "This scene occurs at the same time as the events of Scene 6 [ Genesis 21:1-21] but focuses on different characters and tensions. The herdsmen of the king had appropriated Abraham's well. Because Abimelech wanted this covenant to apply, not only to himself, but to his posterity (21:23), it secured this source of water not only for Abraham, but for his descendants. 21:28-30 The giving and receiving of the lambs stipulates that Abraham dug the well in Beersheba and thus rightfully owns the well. Genesis 21:33. Theyre people who live rather ordinary lives, except for one significant fact--their lives count for eternity because they are used by God to help fulfill His purpose. _AT THAT TIME_] This may either refer to the transactions recorded in the preceding chapter, or to the time of Ishmael's marriage, but most probably to the former. As the psalmist proclaims, Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His loving kindness, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine (Ps. Abraham a sojourner in that land, afterwards the troubler of Israel; for his sake as discipline, for their sakes as opportunity. Maybe youre sinking into sudden depression, because youre thinking, Im not perfect! Stay tuned: (2) For the world to see God in our lives we dont have to be perfect. Genesis 21 Genesis 22 Genesis 23 Genesis 24 . Abraham, being now in a good neighbourhood, stayed a great while there. It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have been kind to us. Around the mouth of the well is a circular course of masonry, topped by a circular parapet of about a foot high; and at a distance of ten or twelve feet are stone troughs placed in a concentric circle with the well, the sides of which have deep indentions made by the wear of ropes on the upper edges The second well, about 200 yards farther south, is not more than five feet in diameter, but is formed of equally good masonry, and furnishes equally good water". 15 Hagar in distresse. 14. . neit Now the LORD visited Sarah as he had said (Genesis 21:1), Hes letting Abimeleks servants off the hook! You might be protesting. Genesis 20:2 Genesis 26:26 God. _Isaac;_ that is, laughter or holy joy. Sarah's demand GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. Abimelech and Abraham, or ancient covenanters. I like this. Genesis 21:22-34 In-Context. Love Like Jesusexamines a variety of stories, examples, and research, including: With genuine unfiltered honesty,Love Like Jesus, shows you how to live a life according to Gods definition of success: A life of loving God well, and loving the people around you well too. Arab Ishmael is the father of all our outcasts. Just because youve blown it with someone in the past doesnt mean that you cant be used later to influence that person toward God. THE PROMISE FULFILLED IN ISAAC In the Grant Study, 268 Harvard graduates (including John F. Kennedy by the way. Should be consulted by all who wish to be well-informed on the issues alluded to by Moses. If you know the Savior, as you walk with Him and enjoy His faithful provision, God wants to use the ordinary events in your life to fulfill His purpose of blessing all the nations through the Seed of Abraham, the Lord Jesus Christ. That led to an obsessive seven year deep dive. read more, John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary. AndIf anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. (Matthew 5:39-41). The prince rather complains that Abraham had done him an injustice. ); posteri et stirps (Vulgate); offspring and progeny (Kalisch); kith and kin (Murphy)but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee (vide Genesis 20:15), thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojournedthe land being put for the people (cf. Lesson 44: Faithful God of the Ordinary (Genesis 21:22-34) Neither didst thou toll me, neither yet heard I of it, but today. _GOD IS WITH - The Birth of Isaac So we never bear witness for Jesus Christ, which is precisely what Satan wants. God used the only Scripture this retarded young man knew to give eternal life to this sophisticated businessman (told by Martin & Deidre Bobgan, Competent to Minister [EastGate], pp. A.M. 2118. Abraham at Sarah who at an earlier point had The prudent measure Abraham gave Abimelech seven ewe lambs as a witness that he had digged the well, and consequently had a right to its possession. reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH MAKE A COVENANT AT BEERSHEBA. Abimelech. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. In spite of Abrahams past deception, Abimelech recognized God in his life. Genesis 20:17 Genesis 26:28 College Press Bible Study Textbook Series, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible, George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly, John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible, Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible, Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible, Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh, Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary, Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith. 22 At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, "God is with you in everything you do. V2 So Sarah became *pregnant. How Jesus demonstrated all five of Gary Chapmans love languages (and how you can too). This is one of the attributes of God to His people. Verses 1-34. We dont always think about it, but if the world knows that were Christians, they watch us to see if were different than everyone else. Whenever he looks at the slip of paper that contains her prayer, he is amazed, for it reads, Please, dear Lord, give us this day our daily bread. (Our Daily Bread.). the title not only of the king of Gerar, but of the kings of the 22. CRITICAL NOTES. Peace established, Abimelech and Phichol, having accomplished their mission, returned to Philistia. One of Abrahams deeply rooted fears when God called him to leave his homeland and go to the land of Canaan was that the people of the land would see his wife and kill him in order to take her. Here God shows Abraham that not only would the people of the land not take his wife, they wouldnt even take his well. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? Abimelech attributes Abrahams success to God. Sarah, at the unlikely age of 90 years, gives birth to Isaac, GENESIS 21:23. 14. Genesis 21:22-34 ESV - A Treaty with Abimelech - Bible Gateway 7. 45-46). 4 He is circumcised. Genesis 21:22. Youll have to put these things in yourself. With a tearful thank you, the woman took her groceries and left. Th Genesis 21:22 time H6256 Abimelech H40 Phichol H6369 commander H8269 So if Abimelek gives the well back to Abraham, Abimeleks servants might react, You believe that foreigner over us? _The Covenant with Abimelech_ (Genesis 21:22-34) I. CHAPTER 21 22 Abimelechs couenant with Abraham at Beer-sheba. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. It also signified a tranquil, settled life, under Gods providential care. @#$%^&* salary!. Because of that fear, before they left Haran, he and Sarah had worked out a deceptive scheme to pawn her off as his sister (20:13). As Abraham is the father of all the faithful, so the Vs.1-7 The birth of Isaac. And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God. Abimelech and Phichol. He lived in the desert and became an archer. Here he is in this situation where he dug a well, a large investment in that area at that time. There he made, not only a constant practice, but an open profession of his religion. Daily Devotion: This Thirsty World (Gen 21:22-34) - RayStedman.org The significance of the presence of Phichol at the ceremony indicates Abimelechs promise not to pursue military action against Abraham. Abimelek the king of Gerar and his top general Phicol approach Abraham and say to him, We recognize that God is with you in everything you do. The grocer later discovered that the scale was out of order. CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME, &C. Hence it is plain that Abraham had Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. Do others see the hand of God on your life? CRITICAL NOTES. The passage is narrative. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God also took care of Hagar and Ishmael, remembering His promise to greatly multiply their descendants (see Birth of Isaac ). Abimelech, on the other hand, acts generously as of old, and shows no signs of ill-will at the growing power of one whose expectation was that his race would possess the whole land. 139:16)! _chemet_ bottle, akin to _chamah_, Probably an official title. This passage chronicles a covenant between Abraham and Abimelech. And it came to pass at that time,possibly in immediate sequence to the incident of the preceding chapter, but, "according to the common law of Hebrew narrative, probably not long after the birth of Isaac."(Murphy)that Abimelechthe king of Gerar (Genesis 20:2; Genesis 26:1, Genesis 26:16)and Phi-cholif the name be Shemitic, "mouth of all," i.e . Scripture Story: Genesis 21:1-5; Genesis 22:1-12. That world could tell that God was with him in all he did! Wheres the balance between taking measures for our own safety versus trusting God to protect us? In Chapter s 20, 21 we have the question of the heir and of the path How to respond to critics the way Jesus did. ISAAC IS BORN xx. Didnt Jesus tell us If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. On Genesis, Part 6: The Blooming of Trees | Christogenea.org EXPOSITION. has We dont know how much Abimelech knew about the one true God, but he at least knew enough to see clearly that God made a difference in Abrahams life. I. Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not de Genesis 21 II. On Genesis, Part 6: The Blooming of Trees. COVENANT BETWEEN Love Like Jesusbegins with the story of how after a life of regular church attendance and Bible study, Bennett was challenged by a pastor to study Jesus. _God is with thee in all tha 1 Isaac is borne. and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken (Genesis 21:1). Genesis 21:22-34 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary Now the grace of God bears its most important fruit in the history of As you think about Abrahams life, you realize that he was a fairly ordinary man, except that he was a man of extraordinary faith and obedience to God. Because Abimelech had taken Sarah into his harem, God struck him and all his household with some illness and threatened to kill them if he didnt return Sarah to Abraham. He felt you do. Genesis 21:22 Its about your relationship with the person of God and your relationships with other people. It is as much the duty of him who has a grievance to reveal it, as it is the duty of him who has caused the grievance to remove it. He checked his badge, it was on right side up. The greatest possible injury of a material kind that could be done to a nomads chief was the all faction of his water supplies. CONCLUSION: Behind every promise of God is the purpose a Genesis 21:3. Genesis 21:22-34 Meaning and Commentary - Bible Study Tools It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have been kind to us. The contemplated object. Abraham called on the name of the Lord. Gen. 21:22-34 Locate the passage This passage chronicles a covenant between Abraham and Abimelech. The honest and fearless revelations of Bennetts own moral failures affirm he wrote this book for himself as much as for others. ALL CHRISTIAN PROSPERITY IS CONSCIOUSLY IDENTIFIED WITH GOD. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. "Abraham stretched forth his hand, ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH COVENANT all that thou _AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME, THAT ABIMELECH AND PHICHOL THE Because of the cops statement that I wont ask you again! this situation is destined to go sideways. 23 Now therefore, swear[ a] 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 The Lords whole thing boils down to that. 22. The tree sealed the site of the oath. II. _The birth of Isaac. captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God [is] with thee in Peace. A son was ABIMELECHS COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM. ALL CHRISTIAN PROSPERITY IS CONSCIOUSLY IDENTIFIED WITH GOD. Genesis 21:22 When we lived in California and would take our young children to the beach, there wasnt a second while they were playing in the waves that they were not under our watchful gaze. Sarah 4. V2 So Sarah became *pregnant. Treaty with Abimelech (21:22-34) Abraham had settled in the south of Canaan in Abimelech's territory and at Abimelech's invitation (see 20:15). Abimeleks servants seized the well so Abraham mustered his servants and seized it right back, correct? Most of Gods people have been simple, ordinary folks who are not famous or politically powerful. The birth of Isaac. Hagar in distress. Youve never said anything to me about this before and I dont know who might have done it. So the treaty is solidified. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Character of God, Discipleship, Ecclesiology (The Church), Empower, Spiritual Life, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. How Jesus didnt love everyone the same (and why you shouldnt either). You many Read Genesis 21:22-34 here: Bible Gateway. This is even more significant when you realize that Abraham wasnt doing anything spectacular. )was probably the Tamarix Africanae (Gesenius, Furst, Delitzsch, Rosenmller, Kalisch), which, besides being common in Egypt and Petraea, is mid to have been found growing near the ancient Beershebain Beersheba, and called there (not beneath the tree or in the grove, but in the place) on the name of the Lord,Jehovah (vide Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:4)the everlasting Godliterally, the God of eternity (LXX; Vulgate, Onkelos); not in contrast to heathen deities, who are born and die (Clericus), but "as the everlasting Vindicator of the faith of treaties, and as the infallible Source of the believer's rest and peace" (Murphy). (1) God fulfills His promise to Abraham and Sarah. of his host, spoke to Abraham saying, God is with you in all that No more can be expected from an honest man than that he be ready to do right, as soon as he knows he has done wrong. (1) The world is watching the lives of believers. Th Genesis 21:22 time H6256 Abimelech H40 Phichol H6369 commander H8269 It seems to me that the answer is, It shows the faithfulness of God in the ordinary. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. Without even reading it, he put it on one side of his old-fashioned scale. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. Plus, if you add the three times shava is used and the three times sheva is used with the use of Beersheba that makes a total of seven times the words are used. There he made, not only a constant practice, but an open read more, And it came to pass at that time ,. Not when Ishmael was grown up and married, but when Isaac was weaned and Ishmael was expelled: that Abimelech, and Phichol, the chief captain of his host, spake unto Abraham ; Abimelech was king of Gerar, the same that is spoken of in the preceding chapter, and Phichol was the general of his army; these two great personages came together and paid Abraham a visit, and had some conversation with him, who was still in Gerar, or however in some part of read more, Now therefore swear unto me here by God ,. By the true and living God, by whom only an oath is to be taken, who was Abraham's God, and whom Abimelech seems to have known and to have been a worshipper of; and therefore moves for an oath to be taken by him, which he knew would be sacred and binding to Abraham, could he prevail upon him to swear: that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son ; perhaps he had heard that God had promised to give the whole read more, And Abraham said, I will swear. Abraham's acquiescence in the king's proposal was no doubt dictated by a peaceable disposition, a sense of equity, a spirit of contentment, and an unwavering confidence in God. Sometimes we think that weve got to be perfect before God can use us as a witness. Read the Scripture: Genesis 21:22-34. Love Like Jesus: How Jesus Loved People (and how you can love like Jesus). Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you., Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimeleks servants had seized. Phichol.] It may have been that his servants were telling him, No way, Abraham didnt dig that well, we did! God burned the words into his heart and gave him the faith to believe. THE PROMISE FULFILLED IN ISAAC In Genesis 21:22-34, we see Abraham in a scene from his ordinary life. As he was leaving, a young man walked up and quoted John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. The businessman didnt see how such a thing could be true and he didnt understand the connection between Gods giving His Son and a person having eternal life. Ishmael mocking (Genesis 22:9) 3. Now the grace of God bears its most important fruit in the history of _Isaac;_ that is, laughter or holy joy. Subscribe | RSS | Privacy Disclaimer. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 21:22-34 Commentary on Genesis 21:22-34 (Read Genesis 21:22-34) Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. Why did the woman have the prayer already written before he asked for it? Even in this ordinary incident, Abraham acknowledged Gods faithful care for him. 15 Hagar in distresse. and poetical word. Show us kindness like we have been kind to you. Do you call on the name of the Lord regardless of your circumstances. Abraham's name of God, Jehovah El Olam; the two revelations, the God of nature and the God of grace. 2. When Abraham and Abimelech previously met, on the occasion when Abraham lied about his wife, Abimelech endorsed Abraham living where it pleases you (20:15). And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days. all-commanding. He made a traffic stop that went something like this: Listen, I know my rights. I already did that during the night while I was watching over my sick child, she replied. See also David living in the land of the Philistines (1 Sam. His friendship is valued, is courted, though a stranger, though a tenant at will to the Canaanites and Perizzites. The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. He sent the plagues on Egypt and parted the Red Sea. Arise We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the Although some of Abrahams resources came directly from Abimelech (20:16), the king sees the blessing of the Lord on all that you do.. As the years passed, he often wondered if it was just a coincidence.