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1140 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter XXI].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01020.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01022.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page131"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have,
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I. Isaac, the child of promise born into
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Abraham's family,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:1-8">ver. 1-8</A>.
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II. Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman,
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cast out of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:9-21">ver. 9-21</A>.
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III. Abraham's league with his
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neighbour Abimelech,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:23-32">ver. 22-32</A>.
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IV. His devotion to his God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:33">ver. 33</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge21_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge21_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge21_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge21_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge21_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge21_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge21_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge21_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Birth of Isaac.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1897.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> visited Sarah as
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he had said, and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> did
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unto Sarah as he had spoken.
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2 For
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Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham
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a son in his old age, at the set time
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of which God had spoken to him.
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3 And Abraham called the name of his
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son that was born unto him, whom
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Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
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4 And
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Abraham circumcised his son Isaac
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being eight days old, as God had commanded
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him.
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5 And Abraham was
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an hundred years old, when his son
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Isaac was born unto him.
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6 And Sarah
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said, God hath made me to laugh,
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<I>so that</I> all that hear will laugh with
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me.
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7 And she said, Who would have
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said unto Abraham, that Sarah should
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have given children suck? for I have
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borne <I>him</I> a son in his old age.
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8 And
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the child grew, and was weaned: and
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Abraham made a great feast the <I>same</I>
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day that Isaac was weaned.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Long-looked-for comes at last. The vision
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concerning the promised seed is for an appointed
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time, and now, at the end, it speaks,
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and does not lie; few under the Old Testament
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were brought into the world with such
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expectation as Isaac was, not for the sake of
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any great person eminence at which he
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was to arrive, but because he was to be, in
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this very thing, a type of Christ, that seed
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which the holy God had so long promised
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and holy men so long expected. In this
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account of the first days of Isaac we may
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observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The fulfilling of God's promise in the
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conception and birth of Isaac,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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Note,
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God's providences look best and brightest
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when they are compared with his word, and
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when we observe how God, in them all, acts
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as he has said, as he has spoken.
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1. Isaac
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was born according to the promise. The
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Lord visited Sarah in mercy, as he had said.
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Note, No word of God shall fall to the
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ground; for he is faithful that has promised,
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and God's faithfulness is the stay and support
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of his people's faith. He was born <I>at
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the set time of which God had spoken,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Note, God is always punctual to his time;
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though his promised mercies come not at
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the time we set, they will certainly come at
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the time he sets, and that is the best time.
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2. He was born by virtue of the promise:
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<I>Sarah by faith received strength to conceive</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:11">Heb. xi. 11</A>.
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God therefore by promise
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gave that strength. It was not by the
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power of common providence, but by the
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power of a special promise, that Isaac
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was born. A sentence of death was, as it
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were, passed upon the second causes: Abraham
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was old, and Sarah old, and both as
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good as dead; and then the word of God
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took place. Note, True believers, by virtue
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of God's promises, are enabled to do that
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which is above the power of human nature,
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for <I>by them they partake of a divine nature,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+1:4">2 Pet. i. 4</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. Abraham's obedience to God's precept
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concerning Isaac.</P>
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<P>
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1. He named him, as God commanded
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him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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God directed him to a name for
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a memorial, <I>Isaac, laughter;</I> and Abraham,
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whose office it was, gave him that name,
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though he might have designed him some
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other name of a more pompous signification.
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Note, It is fit that the luxuriancy of human
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invention should always yield to the sovereignty
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and plainness of divine institution;
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yet there was good reason for the name, for,
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(1.) When Abraham received the promise of
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him he laughed for joy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+17:17"><I>ch.</I> xvii. 17</A>.
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Note,
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When the sun of comfort has risen upon the
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soul it is good to remember how welcome
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the dawning of the day was, and with what
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exultation we embraced the promise.
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(2.) When Sarah received the promise she
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laughed with distrust and diffidence. Note,
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When God gives us the mercies we began
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to despair of we ought to remember with
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sorrow and shame our sinful distrusts of
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God's power and promise, when we were in
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pursuit of them.
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(3.) Isaac was himself,
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afterwards, laughed at by Ishmael
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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and perhaps his name bade him expect it.
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Note, God's favourites are often the world's
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laughing-stocks.
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(4.) The promise which
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he was not only the son, but the heir of,
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was to be the joy of all the saints in all ages,
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and that which would fill their mouths with
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laughter.</P>
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<P>
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2. He circumcised him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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The covenant
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being established with him, the seal of
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the covenant was administered to him; and
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though a bloody ordinance, and he a darling,
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yet it must not be omitted, no, nor deferred
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beyond the eighth day. God had kept time
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in performing the promise, and therefore
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Abraham must keep time in obeying the
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precept.</P>
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<P>
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III. The impressions which this mercy
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made upon Sarah.</P>
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<P>
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1. It filled her with joy
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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"<I>God has
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made me to laugh;</I> he has given me both
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cause to rejoice and a heart to rejoice."
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Thus the mother of our Lord,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:46,47">Luke i. 46, 47</A>.
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Note,
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(1.) God bestows mercies upon his
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people to encourage their joy in his work
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and service; and, whatever is the matter of
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<A NAME="Page132"> </A>
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our joy, God must be acknowledged as the
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author of it, unless it be the <I>laughter of the
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fool.</I>
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(2.) When mercies have been long
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deferred they are the more welcome when
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they come.
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(3.) It adds to the comfort of
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any mercy to have our friends rejoice
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with us in it: <I>All that hear will laugh with me;</I>
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for laughing is catching. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:58">Luke i. 58</A>.
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Others would rejoice in this instance of God's
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power and goodness, and be encouraged to
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trust in him. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:74">Ps. cxix. 74</A>.</P>
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<P>
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2. It filled her with wonder,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Observe here,
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(1.) What it was she thought so wonderful:
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That <I>Sarah should give children suck,</I>
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that she should, not only bear a child, but
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be so strong and hearty at the age as to
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give it suck. Note, Mothers, if they be
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able, ought to be nurses to their own children.
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Sarah was a person of quality, was
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aged; nursing might be thought prejudicial
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of herself, or to the child, or to both; she
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had choice of nurses, no doubt, in her own
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family: and yet she would do her duty in
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this matter; and her daughters the good
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wives are while they thus <I>do well,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+3:5,6">1 Pet. iii. 5, 6</A>.
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See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=La+4:3">Lam. iv. 3</A>.
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(2.) How she expressed
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her wonder: "<I>Who would have said
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it?</I> The thing was so highly improbable, so
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near to impossible, that if any one but God
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had said it we could not have believed it."
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Note, God's favours to his covenant-people
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are such as surpass both their own and
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others' thoughts and expectations. Who
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could imagine that God should do so much
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for those that deserve so little, nay, for those
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that deserve so ill? See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:20,2Sa+7:18,19">Eph. iii. 20; 2 Sam. vii. 18, 19</A>.
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Who would have said that God
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should send his Son to die for us, his Spirit
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to sanctify us, his angels to attend us? Who
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would have said that such great sins should
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be pardoned, such mean services accepted,
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and such worthless worms taken into covenant
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and communion with the great and
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holy God?</P>
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<P>
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IV. A short account of Isaac's infancy:
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<I>The child grew,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Special notice is taken
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of this, though a thing of course, to intimate
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that the children of the promise are growing
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children. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:80,Lu+2:40">Luke i. 80; ii. 40</A>.
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Those
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that are born of God shall increase of God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:19">Col. ii. 19</A>.
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He grew so as not always to need milk, but
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was able to bear strong meat, and then he
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was weaned. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+5:13,14">Heb. v. 13, 14</A>.
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And
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then it was that Abraham made a great feast
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for his friends and neighbours, in thankfulness
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to God for his mercy to him. He made
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this feast, not on the day that Isaac was
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born, that would have been too great a disturbance
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to Sarah; nor on the day that he
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was circumcised, that would have been too
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great a diversion from the ordinance; but
|
||
|
|
on the day that he was weaned, because
|
||
|
|
God's blessing upon the nursing of children,
|
||
|
|
and the preservation of them throughout the
|
||
|
|
perils of the infant age, are signal instances
|
||
|
|
of the care and tenderness of the divine providence,
|
||
|
|
which ought to be acknowledged,
|
||
|
|
to its praise. See
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+22:9,10,Ho+11:1">Ps. xxii. 9, 10; Hos. xi. 1</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_9"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_10"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_11"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Hagar and Ishmael Expelled.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1892.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar
|
||
|
|
the Egyptian, which she had borne unto
|
||
|
|
Abraham, mocking.
|
||
|
|
10 Wherefore
|
||
|
|
she said unto Abraham, Cast out this
|
||
|
|
bondwoman and her son: for the son
|
||
|
|
of this bondwoman shall not be heir
|
||
|
|
with my son, <I>even</I> with Isaac.
|
||
|
|
11 And
|
||
|
|
the thing was very grievous in Abraham's
|
||
|
|
sight because of his son.
|
||
|
|
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it
|
||
|
|
not be grievous in thy sight because
|
||
|
|
of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman;
|
||
|
|
in all that Sarah hath said
|
||
|
|
unto thee, hearken unto her voice;
|
||
|
|
for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
|
||
|
|
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman
|
||
|
|
will I make a nation, because
|
||
|
|
he <I>is</I> thy seed.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The casting out of Ishmael is here considered
|
||
|
|
of, and resolved on.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Ishmael himself gave the occasion by
|
||
|
|
some affronts he gave to Isaac his little
|
||
|
|
brother, some think on the day that Abraham
|
||
|
|
made the feast for joy that Isaac was
|
||
|
|
safely weaned, which the Jews say was not
|
||
|
|
till he was three years old, others say five.
|
||
|
|
Sarah herself was an eye-witness of the
|
||
|
|
abuse: she <I>saw the son of the Egyptian mocking</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
mocking Isaac, no doubt, for it is
|
||
|
|
said, with reference to this
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+4:29">Gal. iv. 29</A>),
|
||
|
|
that
|
||
|
|
<I>he that was born after the flesh persecuted him
|
||
|
|
that was born after the Spirit.</I> Ishmael is
|
||
|
|
here called the <I>son of the Egyptian,</I> because,
|
||
|
|
as some think, the 400 years' affliction of
|
||
|
|
the seed of Abraham by the Egyptians began
|
||
|
|
now, and was to be dated hence,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+15:13"><I>ch.</I> xv. 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
She saw him <I>playing with Isaac,</I> so the
|
||
|
|
LXX., and, in play, <I>mocking him.</I> Ishmael
|
||
|
|
was fourteen years older than Isaac; and,
|
||
|
|
when children are together, the elder should
|
||
|
|
be careful and tender of the younger: but it
|
||
|
|
argued a very base and sordid disposition in
|
||
|
|
Ishmael to be abusive to a child that was no
|
||
|
|
way a match for him. Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. God takes
|
||
|
|
notice of what children say and do in their
|
||
|
|
play, and will reckon with them if they say
|
||
|
|
or do amiss, though their parents do not.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Mocking is a great sin, and very provoking
|
||
|
|
to God.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. There is a rooted remaining
|
||
|
|
enmity in the seed of the serpent against the
|
||
|
|
seed of the woman. The children of promise
|
||
|
|
must expect to be mocked. This is
|
||
|
|
persecution, which those that will live godly
|
||
|
|
must count upon.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. None are rejected and
|
||
|
|
cast out from God but those who have first
|
||
|
|
deserved it. Ishmael is continued in Abraham's
|
||
|
|
family till he becomes a disturbance,
|
||
|
|
grief, and scandal to it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Sarah made the motion: <I>Cast out this
|
||
|
|
bond-woman,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
This seems to be spoken
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page133"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
in some heat, yet it is quoted
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+4:30">Gal. iv. 30</A>)
|
||
|
|
as if it had been spoken by a spirit of prophecy;
|
||
|
|
and it is the sentence passed on all
|
||
|
|
hypocrites and carnal people, though they
|
||
|
|
have a place and a name in the visible
|
||
|
|
church. All that are born after the flesh and
|
||
|
|
not born again, that rest in the law and reject
|
||
|
|
the gospel promise, shall certainly be
|
||
|
|
cast out. It is made to point particularly at
|
||
|
|
the rejection of the unbelieving Jews, who,
|
||
|
|
though they were the seed of Abraham, yet,
|
||
|
|
because they submitted not to the gospel
|
||
|
|
covenant, were unchurched and disfranchised:
|
||
|
|
and that which, above any thing,
|
||
|
|
provoked God to cast them off was their
|
||
|
|
mocking and persecuting the gospel church,
|
||
|
|
God's Isaac, in its infancy,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+2:16">1 Thess. ii. 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note, There are many who are familiarly
|
||
|
|
conversant with the children of God in this
|
||
|
|
world, and yet shall not partake with them in
|
||
|
|
the inheritance of sons. Ishmael might be
|
||
|
|
Isaac's play-fellow and school-fellow, yet not
|
||
|
|
his fellow-heir.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. Abraham was averse to it: <I>The thing
|
||
|
|
was very grievous in Abraham's sight,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. It grieved him that Ishmael had given
|
||
|
|
such a provocation. Note, Children ought
|
||
|
|
to consider that the more their parents love
|
||
|
|
them the more they are grieved at their misconduct,
|
||
|
|
and particularly at their quarrels
|
||
|
|
among themselves.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. It grieved him that
|
||
|
|
Sarah insisted upon such a punishment.
|
||
|
|
"Might it not suffice to correct him? would
|
||
|
|
nothing less serve than to expel him?"
|
||
|
|
Note, Even the needful extremities which
|
||
|
|
must be used with wicked and incorrigible
|
||
|
|
children are very grievous to tender parents,
|
||
|
|
who cannot thus afflict willingly.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. God determined it,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
We may well suppose Abraham to be greatly
|
||
|
|
agitated about this matter, loth to displease
|
||
|
|
Sarah, and yet loth to expel Ishmael; in this
|
||
|
|
difficulty God tells him what his will is,
|
||
|
|
and then he is satisfied. Note, A good man
|
||
|
|
desires no more in doubtful cases than to
|
||
|
|
know his duty, and what God would have
|
||
|
|
him do; and, when he is clear in this, he is,
|
||
|
|
or should be, easy. To make Abraham so,
|
||
|
|
God sets this matter before him in a true
|
||
|
|
light, and shows him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. That the casting
|
||
|
|
out of Ishmael was necessary to the establishment
|
||
|
|
of Isaac in the rights and privileges
|
||
|
|
of the covenant: <I>In Isaac shall thy seed be
|
||
|
|
called.</I> Both Christ and the church must
|
||
|
|
descend from Abraham through the loins of
|
||
|
|
Isaac; this is the entail of the promise upon
|
||
|
|
Isaac, and is quoted by the apostle
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+9:7">Rom. ix. 7</A>)
|
||
|
|
to show that not all who come from Abraham's
|
||
|
|
loins were the heirs of Abraham's
|
||
|
|
covenant. Isaac, the promised son, must be
|
||
|
|
the father of the promised seed; therefore,
|
||
|
|
"Away with Ishmael, send him far enough,
|
||
|
|
lest he corrupt the manners or attempt to
|
||
|
|
invade the rights of Isaac." It will be his
|
||
|
|
security to have his rival banished. The
|
||
|
|
covenant seed of Abraham must be a peculiar
|
||
|
|
people, a people by themselves, from the
|
||
|
|
very first, distinguished, not mingled with
|
||
|
|
those that were out of covenant; for this
|
||
|
|
reason Ishmael must be separated. Abraham
|
||
|
|
was <I>called alone,</I> and so must Isaac be.
|
||
|
|
See
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+51:2">Isa. li. 2</A>.
|
||
|
|
It is probable that Sarah little
|
||
|
|
thought of this
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:51">John xi. 51</A>),
|
||
|
|
but God took
|
||
|
|
what she said, and turned it into an oracle,
|
||
|
|
as afterwards,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+27:10"><I>ch.</I> xxvii. 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. That the
|
||
|
|
casting out of Ishmael should not be his
|
||
|
|
ruin,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
He shall be a <I>nation, because he
|
||
|
|
is thy seed.</I> We are not sure that it was his
|
||
|
|
eternal ruin. It is presumption to say that
|
||
|
|
all those who are left out of the external dispensation
|
||
|
|
from all his mercies: those may be
|
||
|
|
saved who are not thus honoured. However,
|
||
|
|
we are sure it was not his temporal ruin.
|
||
|
|
Though he was chased out of the church, he
|
||
|
|
was not <I>chased out of the world. I will make
|
||
|
|
him a nation.</I> Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Nations are of
|
||
|
|
God's making: he founds them, he forms
|
||
|
|
them, he fixes them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Many are full of
|
||
|
|
the blessings of God's providence that are
|
||
|
|
strangers to the blessings of his covenant.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) The children of this world often fare the
|
||
|
|
better, as to outward things, for their relation
|
||
|
|
to the children of God.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>God's Mercy to Hagar and Ishmael.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1892.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>14 And Abraham rose up early in
|
||
|
|
the morning, and took bread, and a
|
||
|
|
bottle of water, and gave <I>it</I> unto
|
||
|
|
Hagar, putting <I>it</I> on her shoulder,
|
||
|
|
and the child, and sent her away: and
|
||
|
|
she departed, and wandered in the wilderness
|
||
|
|
of Beer-sheba.
|
||
|
|
15 And the
|
||
|
|
water was spent in the bottle, and she
|
||
|
|
cast the child under one of the shrubs.
|
||
|
|
16 And she went, and sat her down
|
||
|
|
over against <I>him</I> a good way off, as it
|
||
|
|
were a bowshot: for she said, Let me
|
||
|
|
not see the death of the child. And
|
||
|
|
she sat over against <I>him,</I> and lift up
|
||
|
|
her voice, and wept.
|
||
|
|
17 And God
|
||
|
|
heard the voice of the lad; and the
|
||
|
|
angel of God called to Hagar out of
|
||
|
|
heaven, and said unto her, What aileth
|
||
|
|
thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath
|
||
|
|
heard the voice of the lad where he
|
||
|
|
<I>is.</I>
|
||
|
|
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold
|
||
|
|
him in thine hand; for I will make
|
||
|
|
him a great nation.
|
||
|
|
19 And God
|
||
|
|
opened her eyes, and she saw a well
|
||
|
|
of water; and she went, and filled the
|
||
|
|
bottle with water, and gave the lad
|
||
|
|
drink.
|
||
|
|
20 And God was with the lad;
|
||
|
|
and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness,
|
||
|
|
and became an archer.
|
||
|
|
21 And
|
||
|
|
he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran:
|
||
|
|
and his mother took him a wife out of
|
||
|
|
the land of Egypt.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here is,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. The casting out of the
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page134"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
bond-woman, and her son from the family of
|
||
|
|
Abraham,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
Abraham's obedience to
|
||
|
|
the divine command in this matter was
|
||
|
|
speedy--<I>early in the morning,</I> we may suppose
|
||
|
|
immediately after he had, in the night's
|
||
|
|
visions, received orders to do this. It was
|
||
|
|
also submissive; it was contrary to his judgment,
|
||
|
|
at least to his own inclination, to do it;
|
||
|
|
yet as soon as he perceives that it is the
|
||
|
|
mind of God he makes no objections, but
|
||
|
|
silently does as he is bidden, as one trained
|
||
|
|
up to an implicit obedience. In sending
|
||
|
|
them away without any attendants, on foot,
|
||
|
|
and slenderly provided for, it is probable that
|
||
|
|
he observed the directions given him. If
|
||
|
|
Hagar and Ishmael had conducted themselves
|
||
|
|
well in Abraham's family, they might
|
||
|
|
have continued there; but they threw themselves
|
||
|
|
out by their own pride and insolence,
|
||
|
|
which were thus justly chastised. Note, By
|
||
|
|
abusing our privileges we forfeit them. Those
|
||
|
|
that know not when they are well off, in such
|
||
|
|
a desirable place as Abraham's family, deserve
|
||
|
|
to be cashiered, and to be made to know
|
||
|
|
the worth of mercies by the want of them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Their wandering in the wilderness,
|
||
|
|
missing their way to the place Abraham designed
|
||
|
|
them for a settlement.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. They were reduced to great distress
|
||
|
|
there. Their provisions were spent, and
|
||
|
|
Ishmael was sick. He that used to be full
|
||
|
|
fed in Abraham's house, where he waxed
|
||
|
|
fat and kicked, now fainted and sunk, when
|
||
|
|
he was brought to short allowance. Hagar
|
||
|
|
is in tears, and sufficiently mortified. Now
|
||
|
|
she wishes for the crumbs she had wasted
|
||
|
|
and made light of at her master's table. Like
|
||
|
|
one under the power of the spirit of bondage,
|
||
|
|
she despairs of relief, counts upon nothing
|
||
|
|
but <I>the death of the child</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>),
|
||
|
|
though God had told her, before he was born, that
|
||
|
|
he should live to be a man, a great man.
|
||
|
|
We are apt to forget former promises, when
|
||
|
|
present providences seem to contradict them;
|
||
|
|
for we live by sense.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. In this distress, God graciously appeared
|
||
|
|
for their relief: he heard <I>the voice of
|
||
|
|
the lad,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
We read not of a word he
|
||
|
|
said; but his sighs, and groans, and calamitous
|
||
|
|
state, cried aloud in the ears of mercy.
|
||
|
|
An angel was sent to comfort Hagar, and it
|
||
|
|
was not the first time that she had met with
|
||
|
|
God's comforts in a wilderness; she had
|
||
|
|
thankfully acknowledged the former kind
|
||
|
|
visit which God made his in such a case
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+16:13"><I>ch.</I> xvi. 13</A>),
|
||
|
|
and therefore God now visited her
|
||
|
|
again with seasonable succours.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The
|
||
|
|
angel assures her of the cognizance God
|
||
|
|
took of her distress: <I>God has heard the voice
|
||
|
|
of the lad where he is,</I> though he is in a wilderness
|
||
|
|
(for, wherever we are, there is a way
|
||
|
|
open heaven-ward); therefore <I>lift up the lad,
|
||
|
|
and hold him in thy hand,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note, God's
|
||
|
|
readiness to help us when we are in trouble
|
||
|
|
must not slacken, but quicken, our endeavours
|
||
|
|
to help ourselves.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) He repeats the
|
||
|
|
promise concerning her son, that he should
|
||
|
|
be <I>a great nation,</I> as a reason why she should
|
||
|
|
bestir herself to help him. Note, It should
|
||
|
|
engage our care and pains about children
|
||
|
|
and young people to consider that we know
|
||
|
|
not what God has designed them for, nor
|
||
|
|
what great use Providence may make of
|
||
|
|
them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) He directs her to a present supply
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
||
|
|
<I>He opened her eyes</I> (which were
|
||
|
|
swollen and almost blinded with weeping),
|
||
|
|
and then <I>she saw a well of water.</I> Note,
|
||
|
|
Many that have reason enough to be comforted
|
||
|
|
go mourning from day to day, because
|
||
|
|
they do not see the reason they have for
|
||
|
|
comfort. There is a well of water by them
|
||
|
|
in the covenant of grace, but they are not
|
||
|
|
aware of it; they have not the benefit of it,
|
||
|
|
till the same God that opened their eyes to
|
||
|
|
see their wound opens them to see their
|
||
|
|
remedy,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:6,7">John xvi. 6, 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
Now the apostle
|
||
|
|
tells us that those things concerning Hagar
|
||
|
|
and Ishmael are <B><I>allegoroumena</I></B>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+4:24">Gal. iv. 24</A>),
|
||
|
|
they are to be allegorized; this then will
|
||
|
|
serve to illustrate the folly,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Of those
|
||
|
|
who, like the unbelieving Jews, seek for
|
||
|
|
righteousness by the law and the carnal ordinances
|
||
|
|
of it, and not by the promise made in
|
||
|
|
Christ, thereby running themselves into a
|
||
|
|
wilderness of want and despair. Their comforts
|
||
|
|
are soon exhausted, and if God save
|
||
|
|
them not by his special prerogative, and by
|
||
|
|
a miracle of mercy open their eyes and undeceive
|
||
|
|
them, they are undone.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Of those
|
||
|
|
who seek for satisfaction and happiness in the
|
||
|
|
world and the things of it. Those that forsake
|
||
|
|
the comforts of the covenant and communion
|
||
|
|
with God, and choose their portion
|
||
|
|
in this earth, take up with a bottle of water,
|
||
|
|
poor and slender provision, and that soon
|
||
|
|
spent; they wander endlessly in pursuit of satisfaction,
|
||
|
|
and, at length, sit down short of it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The settlement of Ishmael, at last, in
|
||
|
|
the wilderness of Paran
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>),
|
||
|
|
a wild
|
||
|
|
place, fittest for a wild man; and such a one
|
||
|
|
he was,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+16:12"><I>ch.</I> xvi. 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
Those that are born
|
||
|
|
after the flesh take up with the wilderness of
|
||
|
|
this world, while the children of the promise
|
||
|
|
aim at the heavenly Canaan, and cannot be
|
||
|
|
at rest till they are there. Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He
|
||
|
|
had some tokens of God's presence: <I>God
|
||
|
|
was with the lad;</I> his outward prosperity
|
||
|
|
was owing to this.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. By trade he was an
|
||
|
|
archer, which intimates that craft was his
|
||
|
|
excellency and sport his business: rejected
|
||
|
|
Esau was a cunning hunter.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. He matched
|
||
|
|
among his mother's relations; she took him
|
||
|
|
a wife out of Egypt: as great an archer as he
|
||
|
|
was, he did not think he could take his aim well,
|
||
|
|
in the business of marriage, if he proceeded
|
||
|
|
without his mother's advice and consent.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_23"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_24"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_25"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_26"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_27"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_28"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_29"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_30"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_31"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_32"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Abimelech's Covenant with Abraham.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1892.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>22 And it came to pass at that
|
||
|
|
time, that Abimelech and Phichol the
|
||
|
|
chief captain of his host spake unto
|
||
|
|
Abraham, saying, God <I>is</I> with thee in
|
||
|
|
all that thou doest:
|
||
|
|
23 Now therefore
|
||
|
|
swear unto me here by God that
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page135"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor
|
||
|
|
with my son, nor with my son's son:
|
||
|
|
<I>but</I> according to the kindness that I
|
||
|
|
have done unto thee, thou shalt do
|
||
|
|
unto me, and to the land wherein thou
|
||
|
|
hast sojourned.
|
||
|
|
24 And Abraham
|
||
|
|
said, I will swear.
|
||
|
|
25 And Abraham
|
||
|
|
reproved Abimelech because of a well
|
||
|
|
of water, which Abimelech's servants
|
||
|
|
had violently taken away.
|
||
|
|
26 And
|
||
|
|
Abimelech said, I wot not who hath
|
||
|
|
done this thing: neither didst thou tell
|
||
|
|
me, neither yet heard I <I>of it,</I> but to
|
||
|
|
day.
|
||
|
|
27 And Abraham took sheep
|
||
|
|
and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech;
|
||
|
|
and both of them made a
|
||
|
|
covenant.
|
||
|
|
28 And Abraham set seven
|
||
|
|
ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
|
||
|
|
29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham,
|
||
|
|
What <I>mean</I> these seven ewe
|
||
|
|
lambs which thou hast set by themselves?
|
||
|
|
30 And he said, For <I>these</I>
|
||
|
|
seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my
|
||
|
|
hand, that they may be a witness unto
|
||
|
|
me, that I have digged this well.
|
||
|
|
31 Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba;
|
||
|
|
because there they sware both
|
||
|
|
of them.
|
||
|
|
32 Thus they made a covenant
|
||
|
|
at Beer-sheba: then Abimelech
|
||
|
|
rose up, and Phichol the chief captain
|
||
|
|
of his host, and they returned into the
|
||
|
|
land of the Philistines.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have here an account of the treaty between
|
||
|
|
Abimelech and Abraham, in which
|
||
|
|
appears the accomplishment of that promise
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+12:2"><I>ch.</I> xii. 2</A>)
|
||
|
|
that God would <I>make his name
|
||
|
|
great.</I> His friendship is valued, is courted,
|
||
|
|
though a stranger, though a tenant at will to
|
||
|
|
the Canaanites and Perizzites.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. The league is proposed by Abimelech,
|
||
|
|
and Phichol his prime-minister of state and
|
||
|
|
general of his army.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The inducement to it was God's favour
|
||
|
|
to Abraham
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
||
|
|
"<I>God is with thee in all
|
||
|
|
that thou doest,</I> and we cannot but take notice
|
||
|
|
of it." Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) God in his providence
|
||
|
|
sometimes shows his people such tokens for
|
||
|
|
good that their neighbours cannot but take
|
||
|
|
notice of it,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+86:17">Ps. lxxxvi. 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
Their affairs do
|
||
|
|
so visibly prosper, and they have such remarkable
|
||
|
|
success in their undertakings, that
|
||
|
|
a confession is extorted from all about them
|
||
|
|
of God's presence with them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It is
|
||
|
|
good being in favour with those that are in
|
||
|
|
favour with God, and having an interest in
|
||
|
|
those that have an interest in heaven,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:23">Zech. viii. 23</A>.
|
||
|
|
<I>We will go with you, for we have
|
||
|
|
heard that God is with you.</I> We do well for
|
||
|
|
ourselves if we have fellowship with those
|
||
|
|
that have fellowship with God,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+1:3">1 John i. 3</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The tenour of it was, in general, that
|
||
|
|
there should be a firm and constant friendship
|
||
|
|
between the two families, which should
|
||
|
|
not upon any account be violated. This
|
||
|
|
bond of friendship must be strengthened by
|
||
|
|
the bond of an oath, in which the true God
|
||
|
|
was appealed to, both as a witness of their
|
||
|
|
sincerity and an avenger in case either side
|
||
|
|
were treacherous,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
||
|
|
Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) He
|
||
|
|
desires the entail of this league upon his
|
||
|
|
posterity and the extension of it to his people.
|
||
|
|
He would have his son, and his son's son,
|
||
|
|
and his land likewise, to have the benefit of
|
||
|
|
it. Good men should secure an alliance and
|
||
|
|
communion with the favourites of Heaven,
|
||
|
|
not for themselves only, but for theirs also.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) He reminds Abraham of the fair treatment
|
||
|
|
he had found among them: <I>According
|
||
|
|
to the kindness I have done unto thee.</I> As those
|
||
|
|
that have received kindness must return it, so
|
||
|
|
those that have shown kindness may expect it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. It is consented to by Abraham, with a
|
||
|
|
particular clause inserted about a well. In
|
||
|
|
Abraham's part of this transaction observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He was ready to enter into this league
|
||
|
|
with Abimelech, finding him to be a man of
|
||
|
|
honour and conscience, and that had the fear
|
||
|
|
of God before his eyes: <I>I will swear,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Religion does not make men morose
|
||
|
|
and unconversable; I am sure it ought
|
||
|
|
not. We must not, under colour of shunning
|
||
|
|
bad company, be sour to all company, and
|
||
|
|
jealous of every body.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) An honest mind
|
||
|
|
does not startle at giving assurances: if
|
||
|
|
Abraham say that he will be true to Abimelech,
|
||
|
|
he is not afraid to swear it; an oath is
|
||
|
|
for confirmation.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He prudently settled the matter concerning
|
||
|
|
a well, about which Abimelech's servants
|
||
|
|
had quarrelled with him. Wells of
|
||
|
|
water, it seems, were choice goods in that
|
||
|
|
country: thanks be to God, that they are not
|
||
|
|
so scarce in ours.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Abraham mildly told
|
||
|
|
Abimelech of it,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note, If our brother
|
||
|
|
trespass against us, we must, with the meekness
|
||
|
|
of wisdom, tell him his fault, that the
|
||
|
|
matter may be fairly accommodated and an
|
||
|
|
end made of it,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+18:15">Matt. xviii. 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) He
|
||
|
|
acquiesced in Abimelech's justification of
|
||
|
|
himself in this matter: <I>I wot not who has
|
||
|
|
done this thing,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
||
|
|
Many are suspected
|
||
|
|
of injustice and unkindness that are perfectly
|
||
|
|
innocent, and we ought to be glad when they
|
||
|
|
clear themselves. The faults of servants
|
||
|
|
must not be imputed to their masters, unless
|
||
|
|
they know of them and justify them; and no
|
||
|
|
more can be expected from an honest man
|
||
|
|
than that he be ready to do right as soon as
|
||
|
|
he knows that he has done wrong.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) He
|
||
|
|
took care to have his title to the well cleared
|
||
|
|
and confirmed, to prevent any disputes or
|
||
|
|
quarrels for the future,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
|
||
|
|
It is justice,
|
||
|
|
as well as wisdom, to do thus, <I>in perptuam
|
||
|
|
rei memoriam--that the circumstance may be
|
||
|
|
perpetually remembered.</I></P>
|
||
|
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<P>
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3. He made a very handsome present to Abimelech,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
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It was not any thing curious or
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<A NAME="Page136"> </A>
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fine that he presented to him, but that which
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was valuable and useful--<I>sheep and oxen,</I> in
|
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|
gratitude for Abimelech's kindness to him, and
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in token of hearty friendship between them.
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The interchanging of kind offices is the improving
|
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of love: that which is mine is my friend's.</P>
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<P>
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4. He ratified the covenant by an oath, and
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registered it by giving a new name to the
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place
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>),
|
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|
<I>Beer-sheba,</I> the <I>well of the oath,</I>
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|
in remembrance of the covenant they swore
|
||
|
|
to, that they might be ever mindful of it; or
|
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|
|
<I>the well of seven,</I> in remembrance of the seven
|
||
|
|
lambs given to Abimelech, as a consideration
|
||
|
|
for his confirming Abraham's title to that
|
||
|
|
well. Note, Bargains made must be remembered,
|
||
|
|
that we may make them good, and may
|
||
|
|
not break our word through oversight.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_33"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge21_34"> </A>
|
||
|
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|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>33 And <I>Abraham</I> planted a grove
|
||
|
|
in Beer-sheba, and called there on
|
||
|
|
the name of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, the everlasting
|
||
|
|
God.
|
||
|
|
34 And Abraham sojourned
|
||
|
|
in the Philistines' land many days.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
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|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Abraham, having got into a
|
||
|
|
good neighbourhood, knew when he was well
|
||
|
|
off, and continued a great while there. There
|
||
|
|
he planted a grove for a shade to his tent, or
|
||
|
|
perhaps an orchard of fruit-trees; and there,
|
||
|
|
though we cannot say he settled, for God
|
||
|
|
would have him, while he lived, to be a
|
||
|
|
stranger and a pilgrim, yet he sojourned
|
||
|
|
many days, as many as would consist with
|
||
|
|
his character, as Abraham the <I>Hebrew,</I> or
|
||
|
|
<I>passenger.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. There he made, not only a
|
||
|
|
constant practice, but an open profession, of
|
||
|
|
his religion: <I>There he called on the name of
|
||
|
|
the Lord, the everlasting God,</I> probably in the
|
||
|
|
grove he planted, which was his oratory or
|
||
|
|
house of prayer. Christ prayed in a garden,
|
||
|
|
on a mountain.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Abraham kept up public
|
||
|
|
worship, to which, probably, his neighbours
|
||
|
|
resorted, that they might join with
|
||
|
|
him. Note, Good men should not only retain
|
||
|
|
their goodness wherever they go, but do
|
||
|
|
all they can to propagate it, and make others
|
||
|
|
good.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) In calling on the Lord, we must
|
||
|
|
eye him as <I>the everlasting God, the God of
|
||
|
|
the world,</I> so some. Though God had made
|
||
|
|
himself known to Abraham as his God in
|
||
|
|
particular, and in covenant with him, yet he
|
||
|
|
forgets not to give glory to him as the Lord
|
||
|
|
of all: <I>The everlasting God,</I> who was, before
|
||
|
|
all worlds, and will be, when time and days
|
||
|
|
shall be no more. See
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+40:28">Isa. xl. 28</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
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