The One Year Chronological Study Bible - Flipbook - Page 34
JANUARY 7
Day 7 •
•
page 30
JANUARY 7
Trouble ensues between the child of the flesh and the heir of the promise, so Hagar and Ishmael are sent
away. Yet God in His mercy still cares for Hagar and Ishmael.
All the promises of God are wrapped up in Isaac. God’s instruction to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac seems
to contradict His promise, yet Abraham immediately moves to obey. The New Testament assures us that
Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead, thus keeping His promise (Hebrews 11:19). God
provides a substitute at the last second, foreshadowing the way the promised Seed—Jesus— would
become the substitute for all people and sacrifice Himself for the sins of the world.
Sarah’s death and burial bring about Abraham’s first real estate in Canaan. Abraham’s instructions to his
servant about finding a wife for Isaac illustrate Abraham’s robust confidence in God’s faithfulness and providence, and his prohibition (Genesis 24:3) foreshadows the warnings to the Israelites that intermarriage
with pagans brings spiritual compromise.
22 About this time, Abimelech came with Phicol,
his army commander, to visit Abraham. “God
is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do,” Abimelech said. 23 “Swear to me
in God’s name that you will never deceive me,
my children, or any of my descendants. I have
been loyal to you, so now swear that you will be
loyal to me and to this country where you are
living as a foreigner.”
24Abraham replied, “Yes, I swear to it!” 25 Then
Abraham complained to Abimelech about a
well that Abimelech’s servants had taken by
force from Abraham’s servants.
26 “This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Abimelech
answered. “I have no idea who is responsible.
You have never complained about this before.”
27Abraham then gave some of his sheep,
goats, and cattle to Abimelech, and they made
a treaty. 28 But Abraham also took seven additional female lambs and set them off by themselves. 29Abimelech asked, “Why have you set
these seven apart from the others?”
30 Abra ham replied, “Please accept these
seven lambs to show your agreement that I dug
this well.” 31 Then he named the place Beersheba
(which means “well of the oath”), because that
was where they had sworn the oath.
32 After making their covenant at Beersheba,
Abimelech left with Phicol, the commander of his
army, and they returned home to the land of the
Philistines. 33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk
tree at Beersheba, and there he worshiped the
Lord, the Eternal God.* 34And Abraham lived as
a foreigner in Philistine country for a long time.
DIVIDED
KINGDOM
21:9 As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew lacks of her son,
Isaac. 21:16 Hebrew a bowshot. 21:33 Hebrew El-Olam.
KINGDOM
EXODUS
PATRIARCH
PATRIARCH
CREATION
A Treaty with Abimelech • GENESIS 21:22-34
JUDGES
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. 12But 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.
20And 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
8
mother arranged for him to marry a woman
from the land of Egypt.
CONQUEST
Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away •
GENESIS 21:8-21 / ca. 2062 or 1896 BC
