“And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.”
Cross references: : Gen. 17:19 ; Gen. 18:10
“For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”
Therefore the miracle was greater. Matt. 1:2 ; Acts 7:8 ; Gal. 4:23 ; Heb. 11:11
“And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.”
She accuseth herself of ingratitude, that she did not believe the Angel.
“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.”
He derided God’s promise made to Isaac, which the Apostle calleth persecution, Gal. 4:29 .
“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.”
The promised seed shall be counted from Isaac, and not from Ishmael, Rom. 9:7 ; Heb. 11:18 .
“And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.”
The Ishmaelites shall come of him.
“And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.”
True faith renounceth all natural affections to obey God’s commandment.
“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 is.”
For his promise sake made to Abraham; and not because the child had discretion and judgment to pray.
“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.”
Except God open our eyes, we can neither see, nor use the means which are before us.
“And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer .”
As touching outward things God caused him to prosper. Or, shot in the bow, and was an hunter.
“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: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned. that thou: Heb. if thou shalt lie unto me”
Hebrew, deal falsely with me , or lie .
“And Abraham said, I will swear.”
So that it is a lawful thing to take an oath in matters of importance, for to justify the truth, and to assure others of our sincerity.
“And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.”
Wicked servants do many evils unknown to their masters.
“Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them. Beersheba: that is, The well of the oath”
Or, well of the oath, or of seven, meaning lambs.
“Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.”
Thus we see that the godly, as touching outward things may make peace with the wicked that know not the true God.
“And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God. grove: or, tree”
That is, he worshipped God in all points of true Religion.