A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

of the highest costs associated with the backsliding of a Christian is the negative influence of that
act in the lives of those who may be watching from a distance. Often the backsliding believer
may not realize the individual concerned is even aware of the problem.
FIFTEEN
ISHMAEL:
The Fruit of the Flesh
(Genesis 21:121)
What seems like such a simple story in this chapter is really the basis of some important
theological implications for us today. The casting out of Hagar and Ishmael was used by the
Apostle Paul to explain the nature of the conflict between the new nature we have in Christ and
the old or Adamic nature sometimes called the flesh (cf. Gal. 4:21-31). It is the story of the man
of faith overcoming the flesh.
Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old, after he had been promised a seed 25
years earlier. Fourteen years earlier, Hagar had given birth to Ishmael and for most of the
intervening period, Abraham had treated Ishmael as the heir. After the birth of Isaac, Ishmael
was seen mocking Isaac, just as faith and flesh often coexist until a choice must be made
between the two. Abraham was then faced with the difficult task of casting out his son Ishmael,
the fruit of the flesh. His example implies several important truths concerning being victorious in
overcoming the flesh.
CARING FOR THE FRUIT OF FAITH
(Gen. 21:1-8) (2066 B.C.)
The birth of Isaac was a celebration of the fruit of faith in the life of Abraham and Sarah.
Giving birth to her son is specifically mentioned in the New Testament as Sarah’s great act of
faith. It was only possible “because she judged Him faithful who had promised” (Heb. 11:11).
The close relationship between Sarah’s faith and the word of God is evident in the opening
verses of this chapter. Three times in the first two verses, there is a reference to the word of God.
The Word of God is the source of life. “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by
the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible”
(Heb. 11:3). Just as the spoken word of God is the source of life for Abraham, the Bible which is
the inscribed Word of God is our source of life. Jesus is also the incarnate Word of God because
“in Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). The Word of God is both the
source and object of our faith.
Sarah gave birth to Isaac “at the set time of which God had spoken” (Gen. 21:2). The
Hebrew word lammo`ed may be translated fixed or appointed time, season, epoch, or
appointment. God has a time for His appointments. We need to learn something about God’s
timing. Faith and patience are the twin powers to propel us over the trials of life. Trials will
prevent one from becoming overly optimistic and faith will keep one’s trials from making one
pessimistic. Faith is not developed because of trials. The Bible develops faith (Rom. 10:17).