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God’s promise initially articulated in 12:2 finally reaches its fulfillment in the birth of a son. The promise has defied reason, and from the barrenness of Sarah’s womb, as from one who is “as good as dead” (Ro 4:19; Heb 11:12), the child of the promise appears. Isaac is born entirely by the grace of the God who “calls things that are not as though they were” (Ro 4:17). For Abraham and Sarah, there was no basis for hope within themselves. But by reliance upon God, the question posed in 18:14 finds its affirmation. So the God who spoke into the chaos and molded creation from it and breathed the breath of life into Adam’s lifeless form is the same God who speaks a word of promise to the barren womb of Sarah and brings to it fertility. The same God would one day speak into the cavernous tombs of Lazarus and Jesus and give life to the dead!
Inevitable conflict arises between the child of the promise and the child of expediency (vv.8-21). Yet, while one is undeniably chosen to perpetuate the promise (v.12), both are loved and cared for by God. This is clearly seen in the crisis faced by Hagar and Ishmael, where God redresses a situation of hopelessness; once again, in the midst of death (v.16), God extends his grace in abundant provision (v.19) and blessing (vv.18, 20). Ishmael means “God hears.”
Ch. 21 concludes with a pact between Abraham and Abimelech in which, contrary to the previous chapter, Abraham deals with candor and clarity. The basis of the relationship between these two is now established on mutual loyalty and cemented in the form of a covenant (vv.27, 32). It remains to be seen whether Abraham is really now living by faith.