JamesBrowning Dr.Curtis ExegesisinGenesis AnExegeticalExaminationofGenesis21:17 ThepurposeofthispaperisexegeticallyexamineGenesis21:17.Thepassagein questioncontainsthestoryofthebirthofIsaac.ThisstoryistheculminationofGodslong delayedpromisetoAbrahamandSarahofhavingachild.Thisistheshortestpassagethatwe havediscussedinclassbutoneofthemostpregnanttheologically(punintended).Andwhilethis paperwillmainlyfocusontheinherentimportanceandpurposeforthispassage,theeventsof Genesis21reverberatethroughouttherestoftheBiblewithdramaticresultsintheNew Testamentwhentheriteofcircumcisioneffectivelycomestoanendphysicallybuttransformsto aspiritualpictureofGodsredemptiveworkthroughJesusChrist,anothermiraculousbirth. IhopetoshowthatthemainideaofGenesis21:17isthatGodiscontrolandhis faithfulnessandloveisworthtrustingandobeyingnomatterhowlongordelayedtheymayseem tobeincoming.

AbrahamandSarahwereobedientfromtheirfirstcallingthroughuntilthe momentthatGodspromisewasfinallyborn.ThebirthofIsaacisGodbeginningtoinitiatethe covenantthathehadmadewithAbraham,beginningtoinitiatethekingdomthathehad promised,akingdomthroughwhichthewholeworldwouldbeblessed. WewilllookathowSarahreactedtothepromiseandthewaythatitiscontrastedwith AbrahamsabilitytovisualizeGodspromise.WhilethispromiseisexplicitlytoAbrahamitdoes haverepercussionsfortheworldtodayincludingus.IbelievethateventssuchthebirthofIsaac areillustrativeoftheprogressivewaythatGodworkstheseemingfulfillmentofapromisethatis fundamentallyabeginningratherthananending,itistheinaugurationofamuchlargerjourney ratherthanjusttheend. EventsSurroundingTheBirth Abrahamisfamousforhisfaith,forobedientlyfollowingGodandleavinghisfatherand

familyinordertogotoplacethatGodwouldtellhim.GodcommandsAbraminGenesis12:13 togoforthandthatGodwouldmakeagreatnationofhim.HepromisedtomakeAbrama blessingandtoblessthosewhoblesshimandtocursethosewhocursehim.AbramobeyGod, packeduphiswifeandnephewandleftimmediatelyforthelandofCanaanwhereGodshowed himthelandthathewouldgivehim.ThisistheexcitingbeginningofAbramsjourneyoffaith.Itis ofteneasyandthrillingtoobeyinthebeginning.Asoldiermaybeexcitedaboutfirstgoingoffto battle,butthewariswonovertimeandthroughhardships. AbramsjourneycontinuedthroughGenesis15when,inreceivingavisionfromGod, AbramaskedGodwhenhissonwouldbeborn.Godreassuredhimagain,promisingthathis descendentswouldbelikethestarsintheheavens.Abrambelievedanditwascountedtohim asrighteousness.ThisreassuranceandbeliefarecrucialtotheunderstandingofGenesis21. AbramsfaithinGodguideshisthoughts,plans,andactionsfortherestofhislife.Godsvivid descriptionofthefutureenabledAbramtoconceptualizetherealityofGodspromise.Buteven Abram,inallofhisfaithandintimacywithGoddidnotcomprehendorunderstandthefullnessof Godslongtermplan.Abrambeingmadeoffleshwasstillmoreconcernedaboutthephysical andpracticalimplicationsofGodspromise.ThatiswhyinGenesis15,Godexplainsthedetails ofwhatisgoingtohappen:AbramsunborndescendantswouldbeslavesinEgyptfor400 years.EgyptwouldthenbejudgedandthepeopleofAbramwouldcomebacktoretaketheland thatwasbeingpromisedtoAbram. GodhadtobeveryspecificwithAbramtoassuagehisdoubtsinthefulfillmentofthe promise.ThiswasAbramsThomasmomentwhenheneededsomephysicalreassurance thatwhatGodhadpromisedwouldcometopass.ButAbramsJacobmomentwouldcomein theverynextchapterinGenesis16.Sarai,unabletounderstandhowGodcouldkeephis promisethroughherelderlywomb,offeredherservantHagartoAbraminordertofatheranheir.

HerreasoningwasnottotallydifferentatallfromthewaythatIoftenreasonaswell.She believedthatsinceGodhadclosedherwomb,hehadsomethingelseinmind.IfGodclosesone doorheopensanother,andinthiscase,SaraithoughtthatmaybethatotherdoorwasHagar. Thisisaninstanceofsomethingthatseemslikesuchagoodideabeforehand,butwhichis immediatelyprovedtobeaverybadthing.SaraiandAbramsconcernforhowGodspromise wasgoingtocometopassledthemtotrytofulfillitthemselves. Genesis17isyetanotherreiterationofthecovenantbetweenAbramandGod.Butthis time,Godprovidesaphysicalsignofthecovenant,theriteofcircumcision.NowGodisalso changingtheirnamesandAbrahamlaughsatthethoughtofa100yearoldmanfatheringachild. TheriteofcircumcisionisimmediatelycarriedoutbyAbraham,hisfamily,andeachoneofhis servants.ThisphysicalsignisgivenbyGodtohelpAbrahamunderstandthatGodisgoingto keephispromise.Ithasbeennearly25yearsatthispointandAbrahamhaslefteverythingfor Godandisstillwaiting.ButAbrahamimmediatelygoeshometocircumcisehisentire household. TheFulfillmentofthePromise Whenwefinallyreachchapter21ofGenesis,Isaacisfinallyborn.Theaccountofthe birthissurprisinglyshort,especiallyincomparisontothepreviousreiterationsofthepromise.It almostseemsanticlimacticcomparedtotheamountofsuspensethathasbeenbuildingover thepast10chapters.EventhepregnancyandbirthofIshmaeliscoveredmoreextensivelythan Isaacsnativity.Ibelievethatthisisdoneintentionally.Thebirthinandofitselfisntthe completionofGodspromise.Itisthebeginning,theinauguration.ThebirthofChristiscovered inLuke2andhardlyevenmentionedelsewhereintheGospelsbecauseitisChristlifeanddeath thatarethemostimportantpartofhiswork.ItisIsaacslifeanddescendentsthatarethe importantpart.IsaacsbirthisreallyandfundamentallythetruebeginningofAbrahamsjourney,

justasthebelieversjourneybeginsatsalvation.ItistheinaugurationofGodspromisethatis fulfilledthroughouttherestoftheentireOldTestament,Goddoesraisehispeoplefromthisone tinybabyandmakesthemintoanation,onethatismarkedbythecovenantalsignof circumcisionbutwhichtimeandtimeagainturnsfromGodandturnsfromAbrahamsexample intheirdisobedience. InthebirthofthischildweseewhotherealheroofthestoryandMosesisintentionalin lettingthereaderknowthatthiswasntanotherexamplelikeHagarwhereAbrahamandSarah figuredouthowtohelpGodfulfillhispromise.Genesis21:1thenameoftheLordisrepeated twice,emphasizingthefactthatthisisamiraclefromGod.Godisinthemaincharacterinthis story.WhilemuchismadeofAbrahamsfaithandobedience,itisonlyreallystrikingbecauseof Mansdisobedientnature.ThetruestoryisthefaithfulnessofGodtoeventhoseofuswhoare sofaithless,tothoseofuswholaughattheideathatGodcoulduseevensomeonelikeusto fulfillhispromises.JustastheLordsaid,justastheLordhadspoken,allofthishappened.The questionofAbrahamslifefromMosesperspectivewasntwhetherornotGodwoulddeliveron hispromise.MoseswaslivingonthefarendofGodsforetellingthatAbrahamsdescendants wouldliveasslavesfor400years.Mosesshortrecountingofthiseventisbecauseitisobvious andamatterofcoursethatGodshouldcausethisbabytobeborn.Theonlyonewhoisatall surprisedhereisSarahandsheistoohappytodoubtanylonger. ItisimportanttonotethatMosesisremindingthereaderofthatGodhadpreviouslymade thesepromises.TheIsraelitesareinfamousinSundaySchoolclasseseverywherefortheir inabilitytorememberGodspreviousmiraclesandpromises.Andwhileitistruethatthey regularlylapsedintodisobedience,theywerealsooftengoodatmakingmonumentsinorderto rememberGodsmiraclesandfaithfulness.Whetherapileofstones,orasisthecasehere,the nameofachild,AbrahamandhisdescendentssetupmonumentstothefaithfulnessofGodso

thattheymightrememberwhathehaddone,andwhathehadsaid.ItisimportantforAbraham torememberallofGodspromise,notjustthefirstbirthofhisdescendants,butallofGods promise.AndaremindertoMosesreadersthatthelandthattheywerejourneyingto,hadbeena partofthatverypromisethatledtoIsaac.TheexistenceoftheIsraelitesisanotherpartofthat promise.Godhadsaidthattheywouldnumberasthestars,thattheywouldserveasslavesfor 400years.Now,theyarealargenation,exitingslaverytoclaimthelandthathadbeenpromised, everysingleoneofthemachildofIsaacandAbraham. TheNamingofIsaac IsaacsnameisbothobediencetoGodscommandandanotherexampleofan intentionalreminder.TherearethreereasonsforIsaacsname.Thefirstofthosereasonsis simpleobedience.InGenesis17:19GodclearlycommandsAbrahamtonametheirsonIsaac. Soofteninparentingandotherlifeendeavors,wewishthatsomeonewouldjusttelluswhatto do.Here,thedecisionofwhattonameIsaaciseasy,simplyamatterofsayingyes,Lord. AbrahaminhisgratitudeforasonwouldhavebeenhappytonamehimanythingthatGodhad asked.WhilethetaskofofferingIsaacinthenextchapterrequiredaherculeaneffortof obedience,naminghimaccordingtothewishesoftheOnewhogaveIsaactoAbrahamwasa delight. ItisinterestingtonotethatIsaacistheonlyofthepatriarchsthatdidnthavehisname changedatalatertimebyGod.Heisalsotheonlyofthepatriarchstohavehisnamegiven beforebirth. ThisbringsupthesecondreasonforAbrahamtonamehissonIsaac,thisobedienceto GodinthenamingofIsaacisitselfarecognitionofwhereIsaaccamefrom.ToobeyGodisto recognizehisauthority.AbrahamwasverymuchconvincedofGodsauthority.Authoritycomes fromapersonsabilitytobackupwhattheysay.GodhadmadeseveralpromisestoAbraham

andmanytimestherewasacorrelatingcommand.GodpromisedalandtoAbraham,and commandedhimtogo.GodpromisedasontoAbrahamandcommandedhimtonamehim Isaac.Godclearlyhastherighttonamewhathehasgiven.ThefactthathehasgivenIsaac, especiallywhenitwassoseeminglyimpossible,provesGodsauthoritytogivethename. AbrahamhadtriedtotakemattersintohisownhandwithHagar.Hedidnothavethepowerto fatherthechildofpromise,orthroughhisownwife.Sohedidnothavetheauthoritytonamethe childexceptthatauthoritybedelegatedtohimbyGod.Genesis21saccountofthebirthofIsaac isthebeginningofoneendoftheobediencespectrumandthecommandtosacrificeIsaacisat theotherend.MoseswantsthereadertoknowthatAbrahamwasobedientinboththebigand thelittlethings,inthenamingofhischildandinthesacrificeofhischild. Thebirthofanychildisuniversallyrecognizedasabeginning.ThebirthofIsaacisnot justthebeginningofthelifeofIsaacorthebeginningofAbrahamsnewfamily,itisalsothe beginningofanation,andmostimportantly,itisreallythebeginningofthefulfillmentofGods promisenottheconclusion.LikesomanyoftheothersymbolsandritualsgiventoAbrahamto followinordertohelphimunderstandandmakemoreconcretethespiritualimplicationsof Godspromise,thebirthofIsaac,theseedofanation,isthebeginningofanearthshattering promise.Louderthananyfirstshotofawar,thebirthofIsaacisthebeginningoftheendofall wars,thoughimplicationofthepromiseisstillinthecoming.Beingaforgetfulanddoubting peoplewesooftenneedthatphysicalsignofthepromise.ForAbrahamandSarahthatsign wasIsaac,hewastheconstantreminderthatthepromisehadstartedhappening. FinallyitisimportanttonotethatIsaacshebrewname( )isaplayonthewordfor laughter( ).BothAbrahamandSarahlaughedattheideaofgivingbirthtoachildsolatein life.ThenamingwasgiveninGenesis17whenGodpromisedthechildtoAbrahamagainand Abrahamfellonhisfacelaughing,thinkingtohimselfthatitwasfunnythatsuchanoldman

wouldfatherachild.Laughtercancommunicatemanydifferentideas,rangingfromdelightto doubt.ItseemsclearthatSarahslaughterduringhersurreptitiouseavesdroppingofthethree visitorscertainlyseemstobethelaughterofdoubt.ButAbrahamslaughteratthe announcementisalittlemoreclouded.Sarahaddressesthisinverse6whenshesays,God .Thiswordequallymatchesthe hasmadelaughterformeeveryonewhohearsitwilllaugh ambiguityoflaughteritself.Itisaprepositionalparticlethatcanmeanarangeofthingsandthe varietyoftranslationshavereflectedthis.IsSarahafraidthatotherswilllaughatherinherold age?Willtheybelaughingatthesheerincredulityofsuchathinghappening?Willtheybe laughingwithher,sharinginherjoyandhappiness?Butinthecontextoftherestofthe sentence,Sarah,whodoeshavehermomentsofinsecurityanddoubtseemstobeoverjoyed atthebirthofIsaacdeclaringthatGodhasmadelaughter typicallytranslatedasforme,so itwouldstandtoreasonthatthesecondhalfofthiscorollarywouldalsobetranslatedthesame thuslyreading,everyonewhohearswilllaughforme ChangingPerspectives ThebirthofIsaacisanundeniablemiracle.Manypeoplecallthebirthofachildasa miracle,butbydefinition,childbirthisnaturalnotsupernatural.However,givingbirthtoachildin her90sisdefinitelythesignofamiracleperformedinthebodyofSarah.Itisamiracleso unnaturalthatallwhowouldhearitwouldlaughatthecrazyeventthathadhappenedto AbrahamandSarah. ButitwouldhavechangedthesurroundingpeoplesopinionofAbrahamandSarahby morethanjustafewchuckles.ThroughoutthewholeOldTestament,thevalueandcultural importanceofhavingasonisreiterated.SomanywomenshedsomanytearsintheOld Testamentoverbeingunabletobearason.Abrahamhadreceivedasignificantamountof prestigeandrespectthroughhiswealth,andoccasionalmilitaryendeavors,butthelackofason

wouldhavebeenamarkonhisrecordandtheblamewouldhavebeenputonSarah.Italso seemsthatthiswascertainlyapointofinsecurityforSarah.Whatotherreasoncouldshegiveto offerupherhandmaid?Itisalsothemostlikelyexplanationfortheanimositythatoccurs betweenSarahandHagar,whenHagarconceives.Andfinallyitistheexplanationfortheway thatSarahreactedtotheseeminginnocentlaughterofIshmael.AtleastaportionofSarahs perceivedselfworthandvaluewaswrappedupinthephysicalbirthofIsaacandinthiswaythe birthofIsaacwasalsothebirthoflegalism.Sarahwasthefirsttotrustinthephysicalritesmore thanthepromiseandthefirsttobedistractedfromthetruthbehindthesign.Thisisntto presumethatSarahwaswhollygiventolegalismandcompletelywithoutfaith.She,likemostof us,probablystruggledwithfaithanddoubt.Sheisntthefirstgodlywomantostrugglewith selfworthandinsecurityandshewasnotthelast. ThisisalsoevidenceofthedifferentwaysthatAbrahamandSarahperceivedGods promise.Theyhaddifferentdegreesofbeingabletograsptheabstractnatureoftheblessing containedinthepromise.Abrahamwasabletoimmediatelygoonthepromiseofbeingshown wheretogo,hewasabletotakehissontothemountaintoofferhimassacrifice.Buteven Abrahamneededtobeshownphysicalthingssuchasthestarstounderstandtheabstract nature.SarahhadanevenhardertimevisualizingwhatexactlyitwasthatGodwaspromising. ThatiswhyshelaughedtoherselfwhensheheardAbrahamdiscussingthebirthofIsaacwith thethreestrangers.Itisalsowhyshewassostartledandafraidwhentheycalledheroutforher laughter.ShehadnotunderstoodwhatAbrahamdid,thatthesethreestrangersweremorethan whattheyphysicallyappearedtobe. TheSealofCircumcision AfterthenamingofIsaac,thesecondactofobediencethatoccursinthispassageisthe circumcision.Abrahamhadalreadyinitiallyperformedtheriteofcircumcisiononhimselfandthe

restofhishouseholdwhenGodfirstgavehimthecommand.Butthisisthefirstinstancesince thatcommandthatscripturerecordsthebirthofsomeoneelseinAbrahamsfamilyandthefirst instanceofsomeonebeingcircumcisedonthe8thdayasGodhadcommanded.Thisis AbrahamsownsignandacceptanceofhissideofthecovenantandthefirststepinAbrahams journeyoffaithandobediencenowthatthiscovenanthadbeeninitiated.Isaacwasthefirstof countlessgenerationsofAbrahamsdescendantswhohavebeencircumcisedcontinuingon throughthebirthofthemessiahamilleniumlater. ThusthefaithofAbrahamissogreatthatitcontinuesoninhisdeathandispassedon untilitisfulfilledinthedeathandresurrectionofChrist.ThatiswhyPauldescribesthebelievers asthosewhohavebeencircumcisedintheirhearts,cuttingofftheflesh.JustasChrististhe newAdam,thegatewayforrighteousnesstobepassedontoall,ChristisalsothelastIsaac, thecompleteroftheriteofcircumcision.Thus,Isaacisalsoaphysicalpictureofthespiritual circumcisionthatoccursinsalvation. Application Thereismuchtodrawfromthispassage,itisrichonsomanylevelsthatithasbeen revisitedbyAbrahamsdescendantsandChristiansalikeforthousandsofyears.Fundamentally itisasignofGodspromise.AndwhileGodhasntpromisedtomakeanationofallofus,he doeskeepallofhispromises,thosethatweremadetoAbrahamandthosethatweremadeto me.ThatsamefaithfulGodwhowasbigenoughtokeepthepromiseofallowingacouplesoold togivebirthisabletokeephispromisestome.Heisfaithful,butheisfaithfulinhisowntime.A promiseisgiven,butsometimesitmaytake20years,orlonger,orless. Thispassageisalsoalessonofobedience.Abrahamwasafaithfulservant,faithfulin trustandbelief.AndfaithfulinobeyingtheLordinnamingIsaacandcircumcisinghimonthe8th day.ThisisthesameideacontainedinJesussermononthevineandthebranchesinJohn15:

Ifyoukeepmycommands,youwillremaininmylove,justasIhavekeptmyFathers commandsandremaininhislove.ThisisanexampleofAbrahamabidinginGodscommands andremaininginhislove.IsaacisthephysicalmanifestationofGodslove. Butfinally,thisisastoryofhopeinthefuture.AbrahamandSarahhadfollowedGodfor twentylongyears.Sarahhadprobablyevengivenuphopeofhavingachild.ButGodlovedthem somuchthatheofferedthemhope.Godofferedthemsomethingsobigandsowonderfulit couldonlycomefromGodanditcouldonlybenamedlaughterforthesheerdelightthatitwould bring.Godevenusedthatbabytobringhisplanofhopetothewholeworld. Mywifeispregnantwithourfirstchild.Thispastsummerwehadamiscarriageandso mywife,Hannah,hasbeenalittlenervousduringthispregnancy.Thisweekshewentinforan ultrasoundandthedoctorsfoundthatthebabyhasanencephaly,atypeofspinabifida.Itmeans thatthebabyhasnotdevelopedaskullorevenskinonthetopofitshead.Whilepartsofthe brainmayneverdevelopthereisenoughtheresothatourbabywillprobablycontinuetodevelop untilbirth.Butourbabywilldieatbirth.Ithasbeenaverysadweekforus,knowingthatour unbornbabyonlyhas6monthstolive.Wecantevenholdourbabyduringtheselastmonths. Mywifespregnancywillcontinuetogoon,herbellywillcontinuetogetbigger,shellfeelour babykicking,andeveryonewhoseesherwillaskherwhenthebabyisdueandwhetheritwillbe aboyoragirl.Then,onthedayofourchildsbirth,itwillbeborn,undevelopedbrainexposed, andwillonlyliveanywherefromamatterofsecondstoacoupleofdays. ItisntmydesiretoaddNewTestamenttheologytothispassageinGenesis.ButIam attemptingtoapplytheprinciplesandlessonsthatarecommonbetweenthetwo. ThestoryofIsaacisnotapromisefromGodthatourchildwillbehealed,oreventhatwellever haveababy.ButitisalessonthatGodlovesus,helovesourbaby,andthatheoffersusthe hopeofaneternallife.GodgaveIsaactoAbrahamandSarah,hegavethemlaughter,sothat

throughIsaacandhisdescendantsGodmightgiveusallhisownson,hisownchild,whowould comeasababy,whichwerememberthistimeoftheyear.Iknowthejoyandlaughterthat AbrahamandSarahfeltwhenshebecamepregnant.IalsoknowwhatitfeltlikewhenGod askedAbrahamtoofferuphissonslife.Abrahamcoulddoitbecausehehadthehopeofthe resurrection.ThesamehopeinthepromisethatGodwouldprovideanheirandthatheirwould beIsaac.IhaveahopeinGodspromiseofresurrection,hopethatGoddoeslovetheworld,and IhavethesignthatAbrahamhadinabirth.NotinthebirthofIsaac,butinthebirthofChrist.

Bibliography 1. JohnCalvin,CalvinsCommentaries(Complete)(trans.JohnKingAccordance electroniced.Edinburgh:CalvinTranslationSociety,1847),n.p. 2. DerekKidner,Genesis:AnIntroductionandCommentary(TOTC1IVP/Accordance electroniced.DownersGrove:InterVarsityPress,1967),150. 3. JohnF.WalvoordandRoyB.Zuck,eds.,TheBibleKnowledgeCommentary:Old Testament(Accordanceelectroniced.Wheaton:VictorBooks,1985),n.p. 4. NewBibleCommentary:21stCenturyEdition(ed.D.ACarsonetal.Accordance electroniced.DownersGrove:InterVarsityPress,1994),74. 5. Ross,AllenP.:CreationandBlessing:AGuideToTheStudyAndExpositionOfGenesis, GrandRapids,MI,BakerAcademic1993