Genesis 21:1-21

Genesis 21 brings us to a powerful moment in Abraham's journey: the birth of Isaac, the child of promise. After decades of waiting, Sarah conceives at age 90 and Abraham at 100, proving that God's promises never fail, even when they seem humanly impossible. This passage isn't just ancient history; it's a living allegory about how we navigate our spiritual lives today. We discover that walking by faith means separating our old nature from our new life in Christ. The tension between Hagar's son Ishmael and Sarah's son Isaac represents the ongoing battle within each believer between the flesh and the Spirit. Just as Abraham had to make the difficult choice to send Hagar and Ishmael away, we must make determined decisions to put off our old patterns and embrace God's way, even when it feels uncomfortable. The story reminds us that God works on His timetable, not ours, and that He remains faithful even in our failures. Most importantly, we're challenged to consider our own 'set time' - that appointed moment when we'll step from time into eternity. Are we walking by faith now, or are we coddling our old nature? This isn't about perfection but about progress, about choosing daily to trust God's promises over our own understanding.