Genesis 21:1-7

Genesis 21:1-7

[1] And the LORD  visited  Sarah  as he had said,  and the LORD  did  unto Sarah  as he had spoken.  [2] For Sarah  conceived,  and bare  Abraham  a son  in his old age,  at the set time  of which God  had spoken  [3] And Abraham  called  the name  of his son  that was born  unto him, whom Sarah  bare  to him, Isaac.  [4] And Abraham  circumcised  his son  Isaac  being eight  days  old,  as God  had commanded  [5] And Abraham  was an hundred  years  old,  Isaac  was born  unto him. [6] And Sarah  said,  God  hath made  me to laugh,  so that all that hear  will laugh  with me. [7] And she said,  Who would have said  unto Abraham,  that Sarah  should have given children  suck?  for I have born  him a son  in his old age. 

What is the context of Genesis 21:1-7?

What does Genesis 21:1-7 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The emphasis in this brief section is on the faithfulness and power of God in keeping His promise and providing an heir miraculously through Sarah ( Genesis 17:16; Genesis 18:14). Note the threefold repetition of "as He had said," "as He had promised," and "of which God had spoken" ( Genesis 21:1-2). The tension of anticipation finally subsides, but only temporarily.
God "visited" Sarah ( Genesis 21:1, NIV), a common metaphor that describes God"s intervention in nature and human afffairs. The Hebrew word translated "visited" (paqad) also appears when God intervened to save the Israelites from Egyptian bondage ( Genesis 50:24-25; Exodus 4:31) and when He ended a famine ( Ruth 1:6). It also occurs when He made Hannah conceive ( 1 Samuel 2:21) and when He brought the Jewish exiles home from Babylonian captivity ( Jeremiah 29:10). Thus its presence here highlights the major significance of Isaac"s birth.
Abraham"s obedience in naming his son "Isaac" ( Genesis 17:19) and circumcising him on the eighth day ( Genesis 17:12) was an expression of worship.
Isaac"s name ("laughter") was appropriate for two reasons.
1.Isaac would be a source of joy to his parents as the fulfillment of God"s promised seed.2.Both Abraham and Sarah had laughed in amazement and unbelief respectively when told that God had chosen to bless them by giving them a son so late in life ( Genesis 17:17; Genesis 18:12). [1]