Deeper Christian Life Ministry – Youth Search The Scripture For February 13, 2022 (Lesson 6) : Topic –THE BIRTH OF ISAAC: THE HEIR OF PROMISE
YOUTH STS LESSON 7
THE BIRTH OF ISAAC: THE HEIR OF PROMISE
TEXT: Genesis 21:1-34
MEMORY VERSE: “For 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 birth of Isaac was one of the historic records of God’s faithfulness to the fulfilment of His promises in the Scripture. From the time God called Abram, He had promised to make of him a great nation. “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3). God made a great promise to give Abraham and Sarah a son when naturally all hopes seemed to have been lost.
Question 1: How old were Abraham and Sarah when they gave birth to Isaac?
At this time, Abraham and Sarah his wife were old and well-striken in age. The Scripture says: “Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women” (Genesis 18:11). Abraham and his wife could not believe the possibility of having a child at their old age. “Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?(Genesis 17:17; 18:12). Yet, he did not allow this to overturn the faith he had in God. No wonder God visited them turned their sorrow to joy, even in their old age.
THE BIRTH OF A LONG EXPECTED HEIR (Genesis 21:15:2-4; 12:2; 17:15; 18:11, 12; Philippians 4:6; Numbers 23: 19; Romans 4:3; Galatians 3: 6)
“And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him” (Genesis 21:1,2). Abraham had lived for long without any ray of hope of possibility to get a son that would be his heir. He was Wealthy and highly prosperous with great affluence. However, he was not satisfied and fulfilled because he was childless. That was why he did not hesitate to present his reproach of childlessness to God in his early days of covenant with Him (Genesis 15:2,3). Having presented his case before God, a response backed up with a notable promise that would end Abraham’s reproach of childlessness was given (Genesis 15:3,4). The lesson here is that when Christian youths are caught in the web of challenges, they should not forget to make their request known to God. “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).
Question 2: What lessons can youths draw from the attitude of Abraham to his challenge of childlessness?
“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3). The birth of Isaac in our text attested to the faithfulness of God to His promises. It also established the fact that God cannot lie and that He has power to do all He had promised’. This should motivate Christian youths to trust more in God and believe that He is able to do whatever He has promised (Numbers 23:19). The Scripture declared that Abraham believed in the Lord and it was counted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6). Christian youths are therefore, enjoined to believe in God for whatever they have requested from Him. This is the simple definition of faith — God said it, I believe it and that settles it. Isaac can figuratively represent our desires, needs or what we are trusting God for. If we believe in God, He will grant it unto us like He gave Isaac to Abraham.
Question 3: Identify the major attribute in Abraham’s life that can prompt Christian youths to receive from God.
“Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be” (Romans 4:18). Christian youths should remain hopeful, even when situations seem hopeless (Hebrews 10:36); they should be patient in tribulation, and continue in prayer (Romans 12: 12); and must continue in obedience to God.
THE BANISHMENT AND LAWFUL EJECTION OF HAGAR AND HER SON (Genesis 21:9-21; 16:1-6; Galatians 4:21-31)
Sarah’s subject of reproach and ridicule became unbearable after Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. Actually, Ishmael was a product of Sarah’s sensual arrangement to bail her family out of a conjugal sorrow. She initiated the process of Abrahamic polygamy and her husband gave his consent (Genesis 16:1-5). What Sarah thought would be the way out of her problem became an object of her problem. Many a times, Christian youths emotionally attempt to help God speed up the process of solution to their problems, and in doing that, they complicate the problems. Till today, the world has felt and will continue to feel the heat of Ishmael, the product of the Patriarch’s mistake. Christian youths are therefore, advised not to run ahead of God in their situations and challenges because this can make their path to be full of thorns and thistles.
Question 4: what can we learn from the ejection of Hagar and Ishmael from Abraham’s household?
God’s ways are not man’s ways. The bond woman and her son (a product of error) became thorns on Sarah’s flesh and as such, she demanded their leave. To Abraham, the demand sounded difficult to be met, but God stepped in and instructed Abraham to send away Hagar and Ishmael as it is written: “in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Genesis 21:12). Abraham obeyed God and sent them away. Christian youths are admonished to let go out of their lives anything that is not according to God’s will. After all the years spent in Abraham’s bosom, Hagar had never learnt how to commune with the God of Abraham. So, when she exhausted her provisions, she never thought of praying to God, neither did she make any move to search for water to save her life and that of her son. Many youths today are like Hagar. We must learn to employ the weapon of prayer to achieve victory in life. Were it not for the mercy of God Hagar and her son would have perished.
THE BORDERLINE BETWEEN THE ELECT AND THE HEATHEN (Genesis 21:22-34; Matthew 5:33-37; James 5: 12)
“And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest” (Genesis 21:22). As a result of the blessings of God upon Abraham, people were willing to associate with him and make him friend. That was what led to a covenant between Abraham and Abimelech. Christian youths should desire and pray for the abundance of God’s blessing on their lives most especially, in their academics and career. So that when people are attracted to them, they can lead them to Christ. Abimelech entered a covenant with Abraham and the latter was made to swear. “Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son… And Abraham said, I will swear” (Genesis 21:23,24). However Christian youth are not to enter into any covenant with anybody inside or outside the church, neither are they allowed to swear but should let their yes be yes, and no, no (Matthew 5:33-37; James 5:12).