Genesis 21:1-5 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had spoken.… I. AS IT ILLUSTRATES THE POWER OF GOD. 1. God's power as distinctly seen. 2. God's power as it affects personal interest. 3. God's power manifested as benevolent. II. As IT ILLUSTRATES THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD. 1. The promises of God sooner or later pass into exact fulfilment. 2. Their fulfilment justifies our confidence in God. 3. Their fulfilment is the stay of the believer's soul. III. As IT ILLUSTRATES THE FAITH OF MAN. Abraham believed in God against all human hope, and Sarah "by faith received strength to conceive seed" (Hebrews 11:11). 1. It was a faith which was severely tried. (1) By long waiting. Abraham had waited for twenty-five years. (2) By natural difficulties. He and his wife had advanced to a stage of life when there could be no human prospect of offspring. 2. It was a practical faith. All the time he was waiting, Abraham was obedient to the word of the Lord. IV. As IT LOOKS ONWARD TO THE BIRTH OF THE WORLD'S REDEEMER. 1. Both births were announced long before. 2. Both occur at the time fixed by God. 3. Both persons were named before their birth. 4. Both births were supernatural. 5. Both births were the occasion of great joy. 6. Both births are associated with the life beyond. (T. H. Leale.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.WEB: Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken. |
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