Knowing The Word in Genesis 21:1-7, The Birth of Isaac

1 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. [The repetition of God’s actions confirms the enormity of the event. Without a child there will be no descendants; without a child, there will be no heir. The main message is that God acts and keeps his promises.] 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. [Abraham is obedient to God’s commands.] 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” [Earlier the name of Isaac was associated with a laugh of incredulity; here it is associated with a laugh of joy.] 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” [God is in the miracle business to show people by his grace that he is faithful and in control.]