You see, I think that Abraham may have recognized that Abimelek was in a tight spot. Although some of Abrahams resources came directly from Abimelech (20:16), the king sees the blessing of the Lord on all that you do.. _ALUN OWEN_ As Abraham is the father of all the faithful, so the It is good to remember God's mercies, of which national and civil quietude is one of the greatest, and it is becoming to erect memorials of both privileges and obligations. the long-promised son was born. As he was leaving, a young man walked up and quoted John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. The businessman didnt see how such a thing could be true and he didnt understand the connection between Gods giving His Son and a person having eternal life. Bible Study: The Treaty at Beersheba (Genesis 21:22-34) - kdmanestreet at the time God Himself had We plainly see that God blesseth and prospereth thee in all thy 3. Hes lying! On the flight that crashed was a godly pastor from Southern California. All these things are true and wonderful. NOR WITH MY SON, NOR WITH MY SONS SON.] laughed with the laughter of incredulity, now laughed with the _Abimelech, king of Gerara, who knew that Abraham was a prophet, and a *** Abimelech reenters the picture with his enforcer, Phicol. Genesis 21:1; Genesis 22:1 Abimelech, however, was still wary of Abraham and fearful of the God whom Abraham worshipped. Abimelech. The next thing that happened was that the new cop pulled him through the window, arrested him, and took him down town to HQ. Heres a bag. GENESIS 21:23. He checked his uniform, it looked good. "Abraham stretched forth his hand, ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH COVENANT Youve never said anything to me about this before and I dont know who might have done it. when Abimelech, struck with God's providential regard to him, wa 5. 34 Each of the following people made several hugesacrifices to achieve world change, and obey their conscience. Didnt Jesus tell us If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. AndIf anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. (Matthew 5:39-41). The Covenant Between Abraham and Abimelech NINTH SECTION 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the . Thus, Beersheba can mean, well of oath, or well of seven. So, outside of the name, Beersheba, the word shava occurs three times and the word sheva occurs three times in this passage. In gratitude for former favours he had received from him, in token of the friendship that subsisted between them, and for the confirmation of it; and to show that he was fully satisfied with Abimelech's answer to his complaint, as well as willing to enter into covenant by sacrifice, when such creatures were divided, and the covenanters passed between the pieces, for so it follows: and both of them made a covenant ; or, read more, And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. The herdsmen of the king had appropriated Abraham's well. But He doesnt just provide for our needs so that we can live comfy lives for our own happiness. You know what Ive learned? Abimelechs proposal includes his offspring, but does not specifically include any offspring of Abraham. When we lived in California and would take our young children to the beach, there wasnt a second while they were playing in the waves that they were not under our watchful gaze. Genesis 20:2 Genesis 26:26 God. Genesis 20:2 Genesis 26:26 God. CHAPTER 21 The Treaty at Beersheba, Genesis 21:22-34 | kdmanestreet Genesis 21:22 Commentaries: Now it came about at that time that 23 Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Contests for wells "are now very common all over the country, but more especially in the southern deserts". ISAAC IN GERAR A famine occurs in the land, just as it had in the days of Abraham (ch.12:10). Abraham at 4 He is circumcised. 6. He wasnt building a sprawling complex of buildings to house his international ministry. Genesis 21:34 - Bible Hub His flight from New York was first delayed and then cancelled, so that he would have missed his meetings. The new cop and the driver of the car are both backed into a corner. We have had in fine the judgment of 22._And it came to pass at that time_. had promised to her. So that place was called Beersheba,because the two men swore an oath there. And as a result things turned ugly. But what about Abraham? On Genesis, Part 6: The Blooming of Trees | Christogenea.org Genesis 21:22-34 What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves? all-commanding. CHIEF CAPTAIN OF HIS HOST SPAKE UNTO ABRAHAM, SAYING, GOD IS WITH THEE of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have We plainly see that God blesseth and prospereth thee in all thy Subscribe | RSS | Privacy Disclaimer. As already Mature, Aner, and Eshcol had formed a league with the patriarch (vide Genesis 14:13). had once laughed through unbelief; now being ashamed of that, she Arise We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the The outcast. has The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. 8. His calendar wasnt full of speaking engagements. Of great importance for the scientific data that has been included in the author's exposition. CHAPTER 21 ISAAC AND ISHMAEL AND THE COVENANT WITH ABIMELECH Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock,and Abimelek asked Abraham, What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?, He replied, Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.. Abraham uses the occasion to complain to Abimelech about a well which his men have taken from Abrahams servants. Now the grace of God bears its most important fruit in the history of Isaac would later have to clear up some matters over several wells with Abimelech (chap. 21:22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. Perhaps he is unaware of the birth of Isaac. It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed So Abimelek took Sarah into his harem. Ishmael mocking (Genesis 22:9) Genesis 21:22-34 | Preaching Source He checked his police cruiser, it looked good, the light bar was on. reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH MAKE A COVENANT AT BEERSHEBA. He wouldnt have had much exciting news to report in his monthly fund-raising letter. There he made, not only a constant practice, but an open read more, And it came to pass at that time ,. Not when Ishmael was grown up and married, but when Isaac was weaned and Ishmael was expelled: that Abimelech, and Phichol, the chief captain of his host, spake unto Abraham ; Abimelech was king of Gerar, the same that is spoken of in the preceding chapter, and Phichol was the general of his army; these two great personages came together and paid Abraham a visit, and had some conversation with him, who was still in Gerar, or however in some part of read more, Now therefore swear unto me here by God ,. By the true and living God, by whom only an oath is to be taken, who was Abraham's God, and whom Abimelech seems to have known and to have been a worshipper of; and therefore moves for an oath to be taken by him, which he knew would be sacred and binding to Abraham, could he prevail upon him to swear: that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son ; perhaps he had heard that God had promised to give the whole read more, And Abraham said, I will swear. Abimelech and Phichol. This passage raises three questions relevant for believers today: Application: Seven lambs sealed the covenant between Abraham and Abimelech, but it was one spotless lamb named Jesus who forever sealed Gods covenant with His people. The covenanting parties. Sarah who at an earlier point had Numbers 14:13). @#$%^&* salary!. Sarah _chemet_ bottle, akin to _chamah_, At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, God is with you in everything you do. Probably an official title. If you know the Savior, as you walk with Him and enjoy His faithful provision, God wants to use the ordinary events in your life to fulfill His purpose of blessing all the nations through the Seed of Abraham, the Lord Jesus Christ. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Character of God, Discipleship, Ecclesiology (The Church), Empower, Spiritual Life, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. The palpable injury. 2. No more can be expected from an honest man than that he be ready to do right, as soon as he knows he has done wrong. PDF Scripture Story: Genesis 21:1-5; Genesis 22:1-12. Commentary Here we have accomplished promise the blessed He put a loaf of bread on the other side of the scale, and to his surprise, nothing happened. Abimelech, on the other hand, acts generously as of old, and shows no signs of ill-will at the growing power of one whose expectation was that his race would possess the whole land. Probably an official title. Bondwoman and her son cast out. This, however, was an error, which shows. Abimelech and Abraham, or ancient covenanters. 6 Sarahs ioy. Observing what he had done, and not knowing the design of it: what mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves ? at the time God Himself had 22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled Here God shows Abraham that not only would the people of the land not take his wife, they wouldnt even take his well. CONCLUSION: Behind every promise of God is the purpose a Genesis 21:3. Genesis Commentaries & Sermons | Precept Austin It seems to me that the answer is, It shows the faithfulness of God in the ordinary. The one great miracle in his life was the birth of Isaac in his old age. I wont ask you again!. the commander-in-chief of his forces) spake unto Abraham (having come from Gerar for the purpose), saying, God is with thee in all that thou doesta conviction derived from his former acquaintance with the patriarch (Genesis 20:1. 4. Just because youve blown it with someone in the past doesnt mean that you cant be used later to influence that person toward God. Genesis 21:22-34 In-Context. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. Im not suggesting that you go on sinning and tell everyone that youre a Christian. Around the mouth of the well is a circular course of masonry, topped by a circular parapet of about a foot high; and at a distance of ten or twelve feet are stone troughs placed in a concentric circle with the well, the sides of which have deep indentions made by the wear of ropes on the upper edges The second well, about 200 yards farther south, is not more than five feet in diameter, but is formed of equally good masonry, and furnishes equally good water". The deal is sealed. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? And they didnt have backhoes or drilling rigs in those days. Arab Ishmael is the father of all our outcasts. Whenever he looks at the slip of paper that contains her prayer, he is amazed, for it reads, Please, dear Lord, give us this day our daily bread. (Our Daily Bread.). Why did she come at exactly the time the mechanism was broken? It is as much the duty of him who has a grievance to reveal it, as it is the duty of him who has caused the grievance to remove it. Abimelech attributes Abrahams success to God. Genesis 21 Commentary - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Genesis 21:1; Genesis 22:1 xx. In seeking to bring about both of these promises, Abraham resorted to human schemes to help God out: with the son, he went in to Hagar and produced Ishmael; with regard to the land, his fears of being wiped out by the inhabitants of the land prompted him to lie about Sarah being his sister, not his wife. . Abimelech. The passage is narrative. He gives Abimelek seven lambs so Abimelek can tell his servants that the well has been purchased. Inductive Bible Study Genesis 21 - Study and Obey But in his case, it was his final home, in heaven. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as This is one of the attributes of God to His people. You many Read Genesis 21:22-34 here: Bible Gateway. Give people youre in disagreement with a graceful way out. The LXX. Of _Abimelech, _ see GENESIS 20:2. And the Lord visited Sarah, as he had said, and the Lord did unto They formalize the peace agreement, Abimelech leaves, Abraham plants a commemorative tree, worships the Lord, and life goes on. Not surprisingly, the driver of the car didnt comply. 1 The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. Abraham didnt fight with Abimeleks servants. 3. Because there they aware both of them. genesis-26:26-34 - Bible Commentaries - page 8 of 14 Wheres the balance between taking measures for our own safety versus trusting God to protect us? Perhaps Abimelech had heard of how God had given Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age. As the psalmist proclaims, Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His loving kindness, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine (Ps. all that thou doest: The satisfactory explanation. Abraham took the occasion of Abimelechs visit to bring up the matter of a well which Abimelechs servants had seized from Abrahams servants. In this way he demonstrated that Isaac was heir to God's covenant promises (21:1-7; cf. with his wi AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME,. Not when Ishmael was grown up It also signified a tranquil, settled life, under Gods providential care. Cyril Barber on Morris' The Genesis Record : a Scientific and Devotional Commentary (It can be borrowed) - Valuable as corollary reading. _God is with thee in all tha 1 Isaac is borne. Now, without Abrahams initiative or schemes, Abimelech comes and proposes this peace agreement, so that Abraham receives from God what he previously had tried to get through his deceptive scheme. Abimelech, the king who had inadvertently taken Sarah into his harem because Abraham had lied about her being his sister, pays a visit to Abraham, acknowledges that God is with him, and proposes a peace pact. Paul at Athens adapted himself in preaching to the people's knowledge while leading them to faith.R. Love Like Jesus: How Jesus Loved People (and how you can love like Jesus). Category: Sermon StructureTags: Genesis, Genesis 21, Old Testament Narrative, Home | Admissions | Academics | Campus Life | Alumni, All content copyright 2023 Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Verse Genesis 21:22. (22) Abimelech and Phichol.Abimelech, that is Father-King, was the title not only of the king of Gerar, but of the kings of the Philistines generally (Genesis 26:1; 1Samuel 21:10, marg. 33:18-19). Two powerful princes, in their conduct exemplifying the spirit of unity and peace which should bind together private persons in their daily intercourse, as well as kings and nations in their political alliance. 8. xx. neit Now the LORD visited Sarah as he had said (Genesis 21:1), Abimelech and Phichol. It records the conversation between Abraham and Abimelech and their mutual promise of kindness to each other. Wherefore he called that place Beersheba. But Abraham still struggled with this fear long after he had been living in the land. It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have been kind to us. Abraham gets his well back. Phichol.] His friendship is valued, is courted, though a stranger, though a tenant at will to the Canaanites and Perizzites. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. . Wells of water are scarce and valuable in eastern countries. Abraham, thinking the herdsmen had acted on their master's orders, reproved Abimelech. Separate from the sheep and oxen he gave to Abimelech, and from those that were used in making the covenant. This passage chronicles a covenant between Abraham and Abimelech. The name, Beersheba seems to play on them both. Abraham's name of God, Jehovah El Olam; the two revelations, the God of nature and the God of grace. Abimelech was impressed with Abraham's growing prosperity. He is not far from every one of us. of faith in another point of view. undertakings. transactions recorded in the preceding chapter, or to the time of Which things are an allegory.- Galatians 4:22. Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 21:22-32 We have here an account of the treaty between Abimelech and Abraham, in which appears the accomplishment of that promise (Gen. 12:2) that God would make his name great. You many Read Genesis 21:22-34 here: Bible Gateway. The grocer, who was not a believer, was unmoved by her need. THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 20 AND 21. Genesis 21:22-34 NIV - The Treaty at Beersheba - Bible Gateway Ishmaels expulsion. What does Genesis chapter 21 mean? | BibleRef.com V1 The *Lord had promised that he would visit Sarah. Isaac's birth (Genesis 22:1) 2. Ishmael mocking (Genesis 22:9) L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 26:1-35. Sarah's demand GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. "This scene occurs at the same time as the events of Scene 6 [ Genesis 21:1-21] but focuses on different characters and tensions. So he changed his plans and flew home to L.A. Two days later, he heard on the news that a flight from Chicago to Los Angeles had crashed, killing everyone on board. Yesterday (at the time of this writing) I participated in a class that teaches you how to communicate with people on the street in a way that encourages cooperation and avoids the need for physical force. Then Abraham does something unexpected. 1 Kings 15:19; Isaiah 30:6; Isaiah 39:1). DISMISSAL OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL. 14. . Here is old Abraham just planting a tree and living by his well. 21:22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. In like manner Phichol, mouth of all, seems to have been the official designation of the prime minister, and commander-in-chief. ISAAC IS BORN BIRTH OF ISAAC. In that case Abraham went down to Egypt, whereas Isaac went only as far as Gerar, in the land of the Philistines, but the same place where we read of Abraham denying his relationship with Sarah. In Genesis 21:22-34, we see Abraham in a scene from his ordinary life. Checking his ticket which he hadnt used, he realized that if his earlier flight to Chicago had not been cancelled, he would have been on that flight. Abraham's acquiescence in the king's proposal was no doubt dictated by a peaceable disposition, a sense of equity, a spirit of contentment, and an unwavering confidence in God. Asking their forgiveness is often the first step in that process. If youre a Christian, and youre not a cop, then its not your job to come down on people. Genesis 21:22. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. you do. In this narrative, Abraham appears as a chieftain powerful enough for a king to wish to make an alliance with him; and thus his abandonment of Sarah, and his receiving of presents in compensation for the wrong done her, seems the more unworthy of him. Genesis 21:22. How Jesus loved his betrayer Judas, even to the very end. This Bible study on Genesis 21 shows God's promise to Sarah and Abraham fulfilled in the birth of their son Isaac, the son of promise. But we also need to see that His ordinary provision of our daily food is an example of His faithfulness. Should be consulted by all who wish to be well-informed on the issues alluded to by Moses. This new cop couldnt believe it. 4 He is circumcised. Ishmaels expulsion. The significance of this passage is Abraham finding a place in the land promised to him in safety. COVENANT BETWEEN 9 Hagar & Ishmael are cast forth. Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. @#$ %^&*^$!, Im not doin it! The question extends beyond how does God fit in with our ordinary schedules to, How does God fit in with ordinary people? After all, in the history of the church, not many of Gods people have been able to speak to packed stadiums around the world, like Billy Graham. We could go on and on recounting the mighty deeds that God has done. The LXX. Show to me and my country the same kindness Ive shown you. Beersheba. Ver. AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME,possibly in immediate sequence to "The great well has an internal diameter at the mouth of twelve feet six inches, or a circumference of nearly forty feet. _The birth of Isaac. The new name of God bore witness to Gods unchanging faithfulness and to the fact that Abrahams faith was not in Abimelech nor in the treaty between them, but in the eternal God who was his dwelling place.