HCBC Sunday School - “Friends” Class
Keeping His Promise (Genesis 21:1-8)

1) First Thoughts
a. Taking a leap – trustworthiness and the emotions experienced on both ends of such a leap. The trustworthiness of people is a crucial part of our decisions.
b. Genesis 21 tells the story of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah. God asked them to trust Him with their future… just like us!
2) Understand the Context
a. Twenty-five years after the original call of Abraham, God fulfilled the promise of offspring through the birth of Isaac. Doubts (Ishmael) and faith were intermingled in those intervening years. Circumvention of God’s plan is unacceptable to God. Faith is most strongly evidenced in covenant relationship made by the Lord.
3) Explore the Text
a. God’s Promise Realized (21:1-2)
i. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ I Corinthians 1:9
ii. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? ~ Proverbs 22:20-21
iii. “at the set time” – God is not surprised by the details and circumstances of our lives. He is well aware of our needs and conditions of our lives.
b. God’s Promise Remembered (21:3-7)
i. “whom Sarah bare unto him” – Our attempts to go around God’s plans show a lack of trust in God’s right and better way.
ii. “as God had commanded him” – Learning to obey God quickly and fully is a mark of a healthy believer.
c. God’s Promise Rejoiced (21:8)
i. “all that hear” – Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. ~ Romans 12:15
ii. Our response to others’ good fortune – pride versus brokenness.
4) In My Context/Memory Verse:
a. And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. ~ Genesis 21:1