“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.”
King James Version (KJV)
GiGi's comment on 2021-11-04 16:40:03:
continued: Abraham trusted God to provide for Hagar and Ishmael or he would have given her more food and water. God did provide for them in the wilderness, allowing Hagar to find find the spring/well of water. God was with them and brought them to a place in the wilderness to live. Ishmael grew up there and became proficient with the bow and arrow. This helped him provide for his mother and himself in an harsh environment.
It says that Ismael was blessed because he was a seed of Abraham. God promised to both Abraham and Hagar, Ishmael's parents, that he would become a great nation. And he did. Hagar must have taken him to Egypt to get a wife according to the text. The people who came from Ishmael and the Egyptian wife are the Arabs, part Hebrew and part Egyptian.
It says that God was with Ishmael. He looked after him. Hagar must have had some faith in the God of Abraham. She was blessed with at least two positive direct interactions with God. I don't see anything in her from the text that would warrant disliking her. She and Ishmael were just not the the bloodline of promise.
The tribes of Israel were scattered throughout the world from the exile in Assyria. It is very likely that many migrated north eastward and north westward from Assyria and mixed with the populations of Europe, Russia, and eastward. Some may have migrated southwesterly and southeasterly. Therefore it is likely that many people across the world have Abraham's bloodline in them. Many in the world do not. But in Christ it is no longer about the bloodline of Abraham; rather it is the about the spiritual bloodline of Christ through faith in Him that we inherit the promise of God. Any of Ishmael's descendants can have the promises of God through Christ if they believe. Any Jew or Israelite can have the promises of God through Christ. Any descendant of Ham or Japheth can have the promises of God through Christ. God's promises are for everyone who believes in Jesus and heirs of God.
GiGi's comment on 2021-11-04 16:20:29:
It is raining today again. Some people get down dur to rain and gray skies. For me, I try to remember God's promise with Noah and his covenant rainbow. Also,, I recall Hosea 10:12 where it says, "Sow for yourself in righteousness; reap inn mercy. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord 'til He comes and rains righteousness upon you."
I feel the rain on my head and know that Christ's righteousness is raining down on me, since He came!
Having read this chapter and the comments I see so much to be hopeful in the text. Abraham and Sarah knew that God had given them a specific time for Sarah to conceive. They were hopeful for God to fulfill his promise, and He did. They were hopeful throughout the pregnancy that the babe would be born safely, and he was. Sarah mentioned that those who hear of her son's birth will laugh with her. There was much joy in Abraham's camp! Abraham circumcised Isaac on the 8th day as God had commanded.
The next part speaks of a celebration of Isaac's weaning from breastfeeding. He was probably between 2 and 5 years old at this time since it was common for children to be breastfed this long in those times and even in many cultures today. This ensured that the child always had an instant supply of nutrition in environments that can be harsh.
Ismael was a teen ager at this time. We are not told how he mocked Isaac, perhaps provoking or teasing Isaac in an unkind way. With the age difference, Ishmael should have known better. This upset Sarah enough to want Ishmael and Hagar sent away into the wilderness, not wanting Ishmael to receive any of Isaac's promised inheritance. So maybe he was taunting Isaac about about being born first and of his father's favor. Abraham loved Ishmael and the thought of sending him away was a difficult decision to make. God intervened and told Abraham to go against his heart feelings and do as Sarah had said. He provided Hagar and Ishmael with some sustenance and sent them out into the wilderness.
Joseph M Wisener's comment on 2020-06-18 17:41:53:
Names of our father god
Chris's comment on 2020-06-18 01:10:41:
Page 2.
Can we then resurrect that 'dead' sin nature? Does it even still exist? Sadly, until we get to Heaven, our sin nature will always remain in us, but the victory lies in how we deal with it & how we deal with Satan who appeals to that nature. Can we resurrect that nature? Every time we listen to Satan, we are resurrecting that nature. Every time we listen to God, we are keeping that nature 'in death' & living in the Spirit. And this was the struggle that was with Paul as he wanted to live in the Spirit, but Satan kept attacking him in his old nature.
So, Joan, the struggle will always continue while we're here on Earth, but Christ gives us the victory. What can you do? You have already pleaded with God for release from your bondage - God hears your cries. Has He put anything else on your heart? I don't know your story, but the Spirit of God is there for you to give it all to Him & to give you victory. If your mind is afflicted, then set your mind on wholesome, spiritual things that are found in God's Word. If it is a lust for something, then turn away from that temptation or remove it from your view altogether & turn to God in prayer & in His Word. When you resist Satan, he will flee (James 4:7) because He knows that you are calling upon the Power of God against him. This is not just theoretical, but very practical as we stand against the wiles of the devil. Talk to the Lord often, wherever you are & in whatever you're doing & when Satan is near to tempt you, run to the Lord Who is listening for your call. And remember, your stand against the enemy can only be done in the Spirit's Power & not in your own strength.
Chris's comment on 2020-06-18 01:10:11:
Joan, Romans 7 is one of those very personal, intimate revelations Paul gave of his life: his battle between the spirit & the flesh. He could have easily avoided mentioning his struggle & given his readers the impression that he was a great follower of Christ, enjoying daily victory over every sin. But, being led of the Spirit, he had to confess that his apostleship, his meeting with Christ & even his vision of the glory of Heaven, were not enough to raise him to any greater position than we are at today. In fact, he said that he was "given a thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor 12:7) to keep him humble so those privileges wouldn't 'go to his head'.
So in Romans 7, Paul speaks of his battle in the spirit. He longed to please God in every area of his life, but evil (i.e. the working of the body of sin) was always present with him. And so he struggled, but he found that through all this, that only Jesus Christ could help & deliver him. How so? Two ways: by virtue of Christ's death, Paul & all who believe on Jesus, have their sins dealt with at the Cross. In other words, Satan can no more accuse us before God. And secondly, through Jesus alone, could Paul & us find victory over the flesh. Even though Satan will always niggle at us to make us sin, Christ gives us the power to withstand Satan & the appeals of the flesh. In fact, Paul speaks in Gal 2:20 that he is now crucified with Christ & in Rom 6:6, he tells us that our 'old man' (our old nature) was crucified at the Cross. And if that is the case, we are to reckon ourselves dead to sin & now alive to God through Jesus (Rom 6:11). (onto Page 2.)
Chris's comment on 2020-06-18 01:09:37:
Joan, Romans 7 is one of those very personal, intimate revelations Paul gave of his life: his battle between the spirit & the flesh. He could have easily avoided mentioning his struggle & given his readers the impression that he was a great follower of Christ, enjoying daily victory over every sin. But, being led of the Spirit, he had to confess that his apostleship, his meeting with Christ & even his vision of the glory of Heaven, were not enough to raise him to any greater position than we are at today. In fact, he said that he was "given a thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor 12:7) to keep him humble so those privileges wouldn't 'go to his head'.
So in Romans 7, Paul speaks of his battle in the spirit. He longed to please God in every area of his life, but evil (i.e. the working of the body of sin) was always present with him. And so he struggled, but he found that through all this, that only Jesus Christ could help & deliver him. How so? Two ways: by virtue of Christ's death, Paul & all who believe on Jesus, have their sins dealt with at the Cross. In other words, Satan can no more accuse us before God. And secondly, through Jesus alone, could Paul & us find victory over the flesh. Even though Satan will always niggle at us to make us sin, Christ gives us the power to withstand Satan & the appeals of the flesh. In fact, Paul speaks in Gal 2:20 that he is now crucified with Christ & in Rom 6:6, he tells us that our 'old man' (our old nature) was crucified at the Cross. And if that is the case, we are to reckon ourselves dead to sin & now alive to God through Jesus (Rom 6:11). (onto Page 2).
Joan Holland's comment on 2020-06-16 23:06:04:
When Paul talked about doing the things he didn't want to and not doing the things he wanted to
He said oh wretched man that I am. Who can set me free? Then thanked for Jesus, the one that can. I have prayed daily for this and ponder and wonder why i am still in bondage knowing it is not His will.
Kofi Peprah's comment on 2014-04-05 23:15:36:
Ismeal was teasing sarah for given birth at her old age which was not sarah 's fault .normally children born at old age are not strong as children born at youthful age.probably hagar told ismeal that and he used it against sarah and her son isaac
eman's comment on 2014-03-13 20:09:25:
Why in the begining of genesis 21 9 verse there is No THEREUPON its very important check knox bible
eman's comment on 2014-03-13 20:07:52:
Why in the begining of genesis 21 9 verse there is ni THEREUPON its very important check knox bible