Genesis 21 Doing it our way, apart from God’s way, inevitably leads to heartache

• Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah when he is 100 years old
• Isaac means "he laughs" to connote the joy of laughter over his birth
• Ishmael, born of Hagar the Egyptian servant woman, mocks Isaac
• God directs Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away
• Heartbroken, Abraham complies
• God preserves Hagar and Ishmael, though they live in hostility toward Abraham’s descendants

Genesis 22 Abraham is truly honored of God

• Abraham is tested by God (See James 2:20-24)
• He was not "tempted" as KJV translates
• A test is brought by God to bring out the best in you; temptation is brought by Satan to bring out the worst in you
• Abraham named the place on Mount Moriah, "Jehovah Jireh"- that is "on the mountain of the Lord it will be provided" (NIV) or "in the mount of the Lord it will be seen" (KJV) v.14
• Seen, as in Paul (I Cor. 2:9) quoting Isaiah 64:4 "no mind as seen what God has prepared for those who wait on Him"
• See to, as when (Matt. 22:43) the Pharisees told Judas "See thou to that" or "It is your responsibility to do that" (NIV)
• See after, as Peter tells us (I Peter 1:22) "See that you love one another from pure hearts"

• God swears to Abraham
• "I will surely bless you and make your descendents as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore" v. 16
• "Your descendents will take possession of the cities (gates- KJV) of their enemies"
• "Through your offspring (seed- KJV) all the nations of the earth will be blessed" v. 18

• "You have done this and have not withheld your son, your one and only son" v.16
• "…because you have obeyed me" v.18 (see Hebrews 11:17-19)

•  What is God’s ultimate aim with regard to mankind?
• What does he REALLY want from the human race- what is His Chief End?

"A time is coming and has now come when the True Worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks" John 4:23

Almost 1,900 years before Jesus spoke these words, on obscure Mt. Moriah Abraham begins the process that would create Israel and the Church- The Bride of Christ.

—and that Bride for His Son is one of God’s Chief Aims toward mankind