Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” Genesis 17:17 NASB Laughed– Yesterday we looked at this verse in comparison with Genesis 18:12. We noticed that God does not correct…
How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance. Psalm 89:15 NASB Joyful sound– But of course, it isn’t just any joyful sound. This is the sound of tĕrûʿâ, the call of the Shofar to the assembly, the critical reminder of a community under Torah. Why does…
Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:6 NASB Laughter – Why does Peter list Sarah as a heroine of the faith (1 Peter 3:6)? With all that we have learned about her, it seems that Zornberg’s assessment, a life of “grim realism,” is more accurate than Peter’s praise. …
Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. Genesis 23:2 NASB Weep– We have reached the end of our stories about Sarah. The only remaining mention of her is a short account of her death (she is the only woman in…
Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. Genesis 21:3 NASB Abraham called– Perhaps the naming of Isaac is innocent. Perhaps it is simply a joyful reminder of that glorious day when God promised a child. But we should note that it is Abraham, not Sarah, who names…
Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:6 NASB Laugh– Abraham’s household journeys to Gerar. Once again he faces a king who might consider Sarah a prize. Abraham does not wait to measure the morality of the king. He retreats to a strategy that worked in the past. He pawns Sarah…
But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.Genesis 16:6 NASB In your power – Abram is a man caught in the middle. Not standing up for God’s promise in the first place has…
“May God decide which of us is right” Genesis 16:5 Eugene Peterson The Message Is right – Two intervening stories occur before we return to the saga of Sarai. In the first interlude, Abram takes a very different posture with his nephew Lot. He permits Lot’s choice over a dispute about grazing rights, in spite of the…
just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. 1 Peter 3:6 NASB Calling him lord – Peter places Sarah in the hall of saints. But of course he would. She is the matriarch of all matriarchs, the first, the original. …
God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Genesis 21:17 NASB Crying– I’m reading a book by Julia Blum. It purports to be an examination…
