Biblical Worldview Learning Center: Daily Bible Reading- Genesis 21:1-34

**This reading plan is produced by the staff of "Biblical Worldview Learning Center." The views espoused do not necessarily agree with the views held by "The Contender's Notebook."

January 19th Genesis 21:1-34

The "child of promise" finally comes! For years, Abraham and Sarah have patiently waited. They have struggled with their personal doubts. They have tried to take matters in their own hands. They have wondered how any of this could ever be possible. Then, just as the Lord had repeatedly promised, "the Lord visited Sarah.and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken" (Genesis 21:1). It happened, just as the Lord said it would! Sarah was old. She was well past the age when a woman could naturally continue having children. Outside of a miracle, she knew, Abraham knew, everyone knew, it was impossible for Sarah to become pregnant. Yet, "Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him" (Genesis 21:2). The miracle happened! When Sarah had laughed to herself at the time the three visitors came and told of Abraham that Sarah would have a child, the Lord posed the question, "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14). Now, the Lord had demonstrated the answer to that question. No! Nothing is too hard for the Lord! Having given birth, Sarah laughed again. This time, however, it was not the doubting, cynical laugh of before. This was the joyful laugh of rejoicing and celebrating. Also, Sarah knew that every time she told her story the other women would laugh in amazement with her (see Genesis 21:6,7). No wonder they named the newborn Isaac. The name Isaac literally means, "laughter." Isaac was the "child of promise" and his birth was certainly a miracle. However, Isaac is only a stepping stone in God's wonderful plan to provide salvation for all men. At the time of the first sin, which you read about in Genesis chapter 3, God promised a child that would destroy the power of the Devil. In Genesis 3:15 God called that child the seed of the woman. Isaac, who we read about being born in Genesis chapter 21, is not the child spoken of in Genesis 3:15. Isaac is a "child of promise," a miracle baby. But, he is not "The Promised Child." "The Promised Child" will be a miraculous baby with whom no other can compare. For, "The Promised Child" will not be simply a newborn human being. "The Promised Child" will be God Himself, born in human flesh. As we read through the Bible, we are going to read of many different miraculous things, just as we did here about the birth of Isaac. Several of these miraculous events will be used by God to point us to the one greatest miracle of all time. Isaac, this miracle "child of promise" is one of the first clear pictures of the One, True, Miraculous "Promised Child" yet to come. Thank God for His wonderful plan, and ask Him to open your eyes to see this plan unfold in His Holy Word, the Bible.