GENESIS 21:1-7 The birth of Isaac was the second great step toward the fulfillment of God’s purpose. The first was the selection of Abraham to be the father of the chosen nation. Isaac’s birth marked a crisis in connection with the history of the chosen line of Christ. Even though...

GENESIS 25:1-8 Genesis 25 records the closing events in Abraham's life. In his last days, he made provision that Isaac would receive all of his inheritance. In addition to Isaac, Abraham had a son by Hagar and six others by Keturah. Abraham had married Keturah after Sarah's death. Abraham wanted...

GENESIS 23:1-16 Abraham had daily contact with his unbelieving neighbors, but he was always careful that they knew where he stood with God. Especially was this true at the time of Sarah's death. Sarah lived 37 years after Isaac was born and died at the age of 127. Abraham mourned...

GALATIANS 5:16-26 There are also many contrasts in the life of Abraham. By faith he left his country; in unbelief he stopped short at Haran. By faith he entered the land; in unbelief he forsook it for Egypt. By faith he returned to the land to sojourn; in unbelief he...

GENESIS 18:16-21 Abraham's faith grew and developed through the spiritual exercise of testing. This is also why God permits our faith to be tested. First Peter 1:7 says the purpose of testing is so "the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it...

GENESIS 18:1-5 Genesis 18 records how God greatly honored Abraham: "He lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, and said, My Lord, if now...

GENESIS 17:9-21 God did not refuse to bless Ishmael, but He caused Abraham to clearly understand that the covenant would be established with Isaac, who was not yet born. Ishmael was not to be an heir with Isaac. The Scriptures build on this principle in showing that the flesh (Ishmael)...

GENESIS 17:3-8 In Genesis 17 when God changed Abram's name to Abraham, the reason is given: "For a father of many nations have I made thee" (v. 5). Notice the expression "have I made thee." At this time no child has been born to Abraham and Sarah, yet God says...

EPHESIANS 3:14-21 By the time of the 17th chapter of Genesis, it had been 24 years since God's first promise to Abraham that he would have a seed and that the land would be given to his seed. When God now appears to Abraham, He appears to him as "the...

GENESIS 17:1-2 In Genesis 17:1 we are told, "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." Thirteen years had gone by since Abraham had hearkened unto Sarah, and...