Genesis 21:1-34 The Fulfillment of the Promise of a Son (Genesis 21:1-21)
At last, after years of waiting, the promise of God to Abraham and Sarah is fulfilled. Isaac, the child of promise, is born. This chapter narrates the story of his early years and also the conflict and jealousy which seems to have arisen between Sarah and Hagar, resulting in Hagar’ s flight, taking her son Ishmael with her. Here we have the beginning of two great nations and two religions, both emanating from Abraham-Muslimism, and Judaism, which found its fulfillment in Christianity. Muhammad and Christ. These are in perpetual conflict one with the other.
One cannot but be impressed with the absolute reliability of the word and promise of God. Jehovah will keep His word, even though years elapse between the announcement and fulfillment of the promise. If the vision tarry, wait for it.
Unanswered yet?
The prayer your lips have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail, is hope departing,
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire, sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet?
Though when you first presented
This one petition at the Father’ s throne,
It seemed you could not wait the time of asking,
So urgent was your heart to make it known.
Though years have passed since then, do not despair;
The Lord will answer you sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet?
Nay, do not say ungranted;
Perhaps your part is not yet wholly done;
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what He has begun;
If you will keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall see sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet?
Faith cannot be unanswered;
Her feet were firmly planted on the Rock;
Amid the wildest storm, prayer stands undaunted,
Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock.
She knows Omnipotence has heard her prayer,
And cries, ‘ It shall be done,’ sometime, somewhere.