Genesis — Chapter 21

AND THE LORD VISITED SARA, AS HE HAD PROMISED: AND FULFILLED WHAT HE HAD SPOKEN. — \"Visited\" = looked upon with special care and providential attention; conferred the grace of conception promised. Isaac was born one year after the promise at Mambre (Gen. 18:10). Sara conceived immediately after Abraham's encounter with Abimelech (Gen. 20), so that the child's paternity was unquestionable — a providential arrangement.

ISAAC. — \"Isaac\" = laughter (from Hebrew tsachaq = to laugh, rejoice). Sara's laughter of incredulity (Gen. 18:12) became the name of the child of promise — turned from doubt to joy. \"God has made me laughter: everyone who hears it will laugh with me.\" Allegorically (Ambrose, De Isaac): Isaac is the type of Christ, who is the \"laughter\" and joy of heaven — desired by all nations, born miraculously, offered in sacrifice, received back as from the dead (Heb. 11:19).

AND SARA SAID TO ABRAHAM: CAST OUT THIS BONDWOMAN AND HER SON; FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE HEIR WITH MY SON ISAAC. — Paul (Gal. 4:22-31) uses this history as an allegory: Hagar = the Old Covenant (Sinai), her son Ishmael = the carnal Jews who persecute Christians; Sara = the New Covenant (Jerusalem from above), Isaac = Christians born of the free woman. \"Cast out the bondwoman and her son\" = the Old Law gives way to the New; the synagogue to the Church; the carnal to the spiritual. Note Isaac's precedence: the election of grace overrides the precedence of nature.

AND ABRAHAM PLANTED A GROVE IN BERSABEE, AND THERE CALLED UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD GOD ETERNAL. — \"El Olam\" = God the Eternal or God of the ages. The first time in Scripture God is called \"Eternal\" — a name that Abraham now uses after his treaty with Abimelech, as if to say: all earthly kingdoms and treaties are transient, but God's covenant and kingdom are eternal. The grove (Hebrew \"eshel\" = tamarisk tree) was planted for shade and to mark the sacred spot — a public, permanent memorial of worship.