DaySpring Hope & Encouragement Bible - Flipbook - Page 45
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G enesis 21
any place where you would like to live.” 16 And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am
giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silver* in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This
will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared.”
17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and
his female servants, so they could have children. 18 For the Lord had caused
all the women to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham’s
wife, Sarah.
The Birth of Isaac
The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had
promised. 2 She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for
Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it
would. 3 And Abraham named their son Isaac. 4 Eight days after Isaac was
born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. 5 Abraham was
100 years old when Isaac was born.
6 And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter.* All who hear about
this will laugh with me. 7 Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would
nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”
21
Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away
8 When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a
huge feast to celebrate the occasion. 9 But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of
Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac.*
10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman
and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I
won’t have it!”
11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. 12 But God
told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever
Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be
counted. 13 But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son
because he is your son, too.”
14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent
her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of
Beersheba.
15 When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush. 16 Then
she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards* away. “I don’t want
to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.
17 But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar
from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the
boy crying as he lies there. 18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a
great nation from his descendants.”
19 Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She
quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.
20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became
a skillful archer, 21 and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.
0:16 Hebrew 1,000 [shekels] of silver, about 25 pounds or 11.4 kilograms in weight. 21:6 The
2
name Isaac means “he laughs.” 21:9 As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew lacks of
her son, Isaac.
21:16 Hebrew a bowshot.
GENESIS 21:14-19
Take comfort,
because right there
on God’s to-do list,
he has “Taking care of you,”
and he is more than happy to do it!
Lord, your care of me is evident in
so many ways. As I learn to walk
in childlike faith, help me to grow
in my ability to see life as you
see it—and with the peace and joy
that comes with the territory—in
your Kingdom.
Read more about this topic on page 278.
