Contributor: Ngozi Roberts

INTRODUCTION
We learnt in Genesis 20 of Abraham and Sarah’s stay in Gerar. Fearing for his life, Abraham tells King Abimelech that Sarah is his sister. Abimelech takes her, but God warns him in a dream. Abimelech returns Sarah and confronts Abraham, who admits his fear. The chapter ends with God healing Abimelech’s household, which had been afflicted because of Sarah’s presence. We learnt of God’s protection over His covenant and His ability to work through human flaws.
Genesis 21 and 22 focus on Abraham's life, specifically his relationships and a crucial test of faith. Genesis 21 describes the birth of Isaac, the fulfilment of God's promise, and the subsequent ejection of Hagar and Ishmael. It also includes a covenant between Abraham and Abimelech, solidifying their peaceful coexistence and marking the establishment of Beersheba. Genesis 22 then recounts the dramatic story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering, demonstrating his ultimate obedience to God, who then provides a ram as a substitute sacrifice and reaffirms His covenant with Abraham.

Genesis 21: God Keeps His Promise and Guides Through Difficult Decisions
Isaac Is Born (Genesis 21:1–7)
God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son (Genesis 17:19), and in this chapter, that promise finally comes true. Sarah becomes pregnant and gives birth to a boy named Isaac, even though she was very old. It was truly a miracle. Sarah had once laughed in disbelief when told she would have a child, but now her laughter is filled with joy. Isaac’s birth reminds us that God always keeps His promises, even when things seem impossible.

Lesson
 emphasizes God’s faithfulness and power
 illustration of transformation and renewed trust in God.

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away (Genesis 21:8–21)
After Isaac grows older, tension rises between Sarah and Hagar, Sarah’s servant, whose son Ishmael had been born earlier to Abraham. When Ishmael appears to mock Isaac, Sarah becomes upset and asks Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Although this is a hard decision, God tells Abraham not to worry. God promises to take care of Ishmael and make him into a great nation too (Genesis 17:20). As Hagar wanders in the desert, God hears
her cry and provides water and hope. This shows God’s kindness, even to those outside the promised family.

Lesson
 Show how God can provide and make a way when seems to be rejection and no way
 God hears our cry to him especially from children
 It shows that we all have inherence in God as children of God
 There is a divine purpose for each of us

Abraham Makes a Peace Treaty (Genesis 21:22–34)
Later, Abraham makes an agreement with King Abimelech so they can live peacefully in the same land. Abraham also worships God by planting a tree and calling on God as the “Everlasting God.” This shows Abraham’s growing influence and his deepening relationship with the Lord.

Lesson
 When you walk in alignment with the will of God, people will be attracted to you (Luke 2:52 (NIV); Isaiah 60:3.
 Abraham’s act of planting a tamarisk tree and calling on “the name of the LORD, the Eternal God” shows his worship and ongoing relationship with Yahweh
Genesis 22: Abraham’s Test and God’s Amazing Provision
Abraham Is Tested (Genesis 22:1–10)
God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. This request is heartbreaking, but Abraham trusts God and obeys without hesitation. He travels to Mount Moriah with Isaac, prepares everything for the offering, and is about to sacrifice Isaac when something incredible happens.

Lesson
 As children of God we should be ready to let go of any relationship that might have intense emotional weight for a deeper relationship with God
 We should strive to build up our faith in God to portray a matured confidence and trust in Him even during difficult circumstances - 22:5 Abraham says, “He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”. He trusted God to keep his promise. God had promised that he would have descendants from Isaac. He did not know how God would do that, because he knew that he must offer Isaac to God as a sacrifice.

God Provides a Substitute (Genesis 22:11–14)
At the last moment, an angel calls out and stops Abraham. God provides a ram caught in a bush to take Isaac’s place. Abraham names the place The Lord Will Provide (Yahweh Yireh), showing his faith in God’s ability to meet our needs. This powerful event points ahead to how God would one day provide Jesus as a sacrifice for the world.

Lesson
 Our God is a covenant keeping God and will always provide for us in all circumstance when we totally believe and trust in him: 22:12 Abraham still believed that God would keep his promise. So he believed that God would bring Isaac back from death. As seen in Hebrews 11:17-19 -Here is an example of Abraham's faith. God wanted to proof Abraham real trust in HIM... Heb. 11:17 ‘By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. (NIV)
God Repeats His Promise (Genesis 22:15–19) Because Abraham obeyed, God blesses him again—promising that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars and that through them, all nations will be blessed. Abraham’s faith and obedience are highlighted as an example for generations to come.

Lesson
 Full and instant obedience is necessary for us to be like our father Abraham – a friend of God

Summary / Reflection: Trusting the God Who Provides
Genesis chapters 21 and 22 take us on a powerful journey—from the joy of a long-awaited promise finally fulfilled to the deep tension of a faith-stretching test. In chapter 21, we witness God's faithfulness as Abraham and Sarah welcome their son, Isaac, in their old age. This moment reminds us that God keeps His word, no matter how long it takes or how impossible it may seem to us (Genesis 21:1–2). But not long after, we also see sorrow and separation when Hagar and her son Ishmael are sent away. Even then, God shows His compassion by caring for them in the wilderness, proving that His mercy extends to all who cry out to Him (Genesis 21:15–20).

In chapter 22, the story reaches a dramatic peak. God asks Abraham to do something unthinkable—sacrifice Isaac, the son he loves so deeply. Abraham obeys, showing the depth of his trust in God. Just as he raises the knife, God steps in and provides a ram as a substitute for Isaac (Genesis 22:13–14). Abraham names that place “The Lord Will Provide,” and it becomes a powerful symbol of how God always meets our deepest needs—especially in our most trying moments.
Together, these two chapters remind us that trusting God isn't just about celebrating the good times. True faith means walking with Him through uncertainty, heartache, and sacrifice. God's promises don’t always come quickly, and the journey may not always be easy—but He is always faithful, and He always provides.

Lessons from Genesis 21 and 22
 Faith and Obedience: Abraham’s trust in God shows us that true faith often involves challenges and choices. Obedience brings growth and blessing.
 God Provides: Whether it's a well in the desert for Hagar or a ram on the mountain for Abraham, God always meets the needs of His people.
 Promises Fulfilled: Isaac’s birth proves that God never forgets what He has promised.
 Hope for the Outsider: Even though Ishmael wasn’t part of the covenant promise, God cared for him too.
 A Picture of Salvation: Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac foreshadows a deeper truth in Christianity—that God would provide His own Son as a substitute.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Genesis chapters 21 and 22 offer a profound journey through fulfilled promises and tested faith. Isaac’s birth reveals God’s power to do the impossible and His unwavering commitment to His word. The challenges faced by Hagar and Ishmael show that God’s compassion extends beyond the chosen line, offering hope to the overlooked and the outcast. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac reveals the depth of faith that trusts even when it doesn’t understand, and God’s provision of the ram confirms that He sees, He cares, and He provides at just the right time. Together, these chapters remind us that God’s promises are sure, His timing is perfect, and faith that obeys—even when costly—is always met with divine provision and blessing.
God bless us all in Jesus Name Amen!!