Genesis 21 (For us it is impossible, God is absolutely possible)
PROMISE OF BIRTH OF ISAAC
( Gen. 17:15-19 )
Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years to have Isaac. When he received God's call, he received a promise and left, but he had a truly difficult time. He almost lost his wife twice, and made the mistake of obtaining Ishmael through human method, and when God made a promise by specifically naming the child Sarah would give birth to, he laughed in disbelief and said, "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!"
Abraham is called the father of faith, but there were times when his faith showed growth, but on the other hand, there were times when his faith fell drastically and he showed shame.
The Bible is book of the covenant. God is God of the covenant. Israel is people of the covenant. When God gave the covenant God changed name of people. That is God’s method to make people never forget the covenant.
1. People who enjoys the covenant.
1) Abraham(Gen.22:1-13)
2) Isaac(Gen.26:10-18)
3) Jacob(Gen.28:10-24, 32:22-32)
4) Joseph(Gen.39:1, 40:23)
5) Name of Israel
6) The Identity about people of the covenant.
2. Absolute principle to hold covenant.
1) Covenant of salvation (Gen.3:15)
(1) Gen. 4:1-20
(2) Gen. 6:1-18
(3) Passover
(4) 2Cor.4:1-10
2) Covenant to idol worship.
3) Covenant to Witness(Evangelism, Mission)
4) Covenant to the seed of people who accomplish this covenant.
3. Abraham receives the covenant.
1) Gen.17:5 No longer will you be called Abram ; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
2) Gen. 17:15 God also said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.
3) The covenant that impossible in worldly view.(Gen.17:16) I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her
so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her."
4) Abraham laughed(Gen.17:17) Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?
Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?"
5) Abraham believed logically and scientifically. (Gen.17:18)
6) God gave eternal covenant.(Gen.17:1) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty ;
walk before me and be blameless.
Sarah's last words are meaningful. “And she said, Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? And I bare a son to Abraham in his old age.” Change the words about nursing your children to salvation. Who would have said that I would be saved? Who would have said that humans could become children of God? But “I am saved.” But “we have become children of God.”
I hope that this praise of joy becomes a hymn to me and you every day.