05-01
I am too old to have children
Sarai did not believe God could cause her to have a child when she was very old. She decided she should find a way to help God keep his promise.
Marry her also
The custom of that time allowed a man to have more than one wife.
have a child for me
Because Hagar was Sarai’s servant, she did not have the same rights as Sarai. Sarai would treat any children she had as if they were Sarai’s children.
05-02
Sarai became jealous of Hagar
Even though Sarai told Abram to take Hagar as his wife, she was jealous that Hagar was able to have a child when Sarai was not able.
05-03
I will make a covenant with you
God had already made this covenant with Abram (See: 04:09). Now, God added to that covenant by telling Abram to circumcise the males in his family.
circumcise every male
The term circumcise means to cut off the foreskin of a man or male child. A circumcision ceremony may be performed in connection with this.
05-04
the son of promise
Through Isaac, God would keep his promise to make Abram a great nation and to give the land of Canaan to his descendants.
my covenant will be with Isaac
God would bless Abram’s son, Ishmael. However, God would cause Abram’s other son, Isaac, and his descendants to receive the blessings of God’s covenant with Abram.
05-05
Sarah gave birth to Abraham’s son
Sarai had been wrong to believe that God could not give her a son when she was very old (See: 05:01).
05-06
God tested Abraham’s faith
God wanted to show that Abram would obey God in whatever he asked. He did not want Abraham to actually kill Isaac. However, Abraham did not yet know that he would not have to kill Isaac.
05-07
wood for the sacrifice
Abraham planned to kill Isaac and offer him as a burnt offering. He brought the wood to make the fire.
the lamb
A lamb was the normal sacrifice to God in that day.
05-08
He was about to kill his son
Abraham showed that he was willing even to kill Isaac if God told him to do that.
Stop! Do not hurt the boy!
God did not want Abraham to kill Isaac. He only told Abraham to do that so that he could test Abraham’s faith (See: 05:06).
05-09
a ram that was stuck in a bush
God provided this ram. It would be very unusual for a ram to be stuck in a bush.
05-10
all the families of the world
This refers to the other people groups who are not descendants of Abraham.
your family
This refers to the Jews, because they are the descendants of Abraham.