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ND 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 to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. (Genesis 21:1-3)
In most mentions of Isaac, we read that he is the son of Abraham. That is a true statement; however, Abraham had more sons – seven, in fact. (six by Keturah after Sarah’s passing, and one by Hagar). But Isaac is accounted the son of promise to Abraham since the promise was made to both Abraham and Sarah. Ishmael was illegitimate in the eyes of the Lord, so Isaac is considered the only son of Abraham at the time of the Lord’s testing.
When mankind fails to trust in the Lord and begins to launch off into spiritual realms of uncharted waters, calamity is the usual result. Sarah was childless long years after the promise was made of a son. When she was of a ripe old age, she began to doubt the Word of the Lord concerning a child. So, she decided to accomplish the matter where God was unable. 1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. (Genesis 16:1-3) Ishmael was born of that unfortunate union of Hagar and Abraham. This was not the son promised. God had promised the son to Abraham AND Sarah. Adultery was wrong then, and adultery is wrong today.
As Sarah reached the age of 90, it was clear to her, but not to God, that she could never have a child. But she DID! You will remember the angelic visitors (one of whom was the Lord) who visited Abraham and Sarah on the Plains of Mamre and revealed to Sarah that she would bear a son. Sarah laughed. But what was the result? 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 to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
Question
How could God fulfill His promise of making Abraham the father of many nations when he and Sarah had only one son? As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. (Genesis 17:4-6) The progeny of Abraham was not in the physical bloodline, but in the spiritual faith passed down from Abraham in the promises of a Redeemer made to him by God. The true children of Abraham are neither Jewish, Greek, nor Gentile, but SPIRITUAL! Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7) and 13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 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 4:13-18)
Isaac was the son of promise. He came by miraculous birth in many ways as did Christ. He stood as a type of Christ in that he was carried to be offered on the same Mt. Moriah upon which Christ was crucified, but God spared Isaac. When we think of Isaac, we must remember that he was the only legitimate son of Abraham and Sarah. Abraham looked forward to the promised Messiah with stronger faith than required to look back on the accomplished event in our day. We are sons and daughters of God through adoption in faith through the promise made to Abraham, and Christ is the only Begotten Son because He possesses the very substance and likeness of the Father.
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