1. The Impossible Dream Genesis 21
The Birth of Isaac God’s Good or God’s Best The Prince and the Patriarch 1

2. The Impossible Dream Genesis 21
The Birth of Isaac
“Delight yourself in the Lord”
Lesson #1 – God is faithful to His promises!
They had believed but … they also doubted.
God points out His faithfulness three times.
Lesson #2 – God is all powerful!
Abraham’s age is emphasized here.
All things are possible with God.
Not just for Abraham but also for YOU! 2

3. The Impossible Dream Genesis 21
The Birth of Isaac
Lesson #3 – God is never in a hurry but instead has a definite plan with a definite time frame.
God never rushes His actions.
God never delays His actions.
God is always on time. 3

4. The Impossible Dream Genesis 21
The Birth of Isaac
What Isaac and Jesus have in common.
Both were the promised “seed.”
Both had a period of delay between promise and fulfillment.
“Is anything too hard for God?”
Names given before birth were symbolic.
Births occurred at God’s appointed time.
Births required a miracle.
Surrounded by laughter and joy. 4

5. The Impossible Dream Genesis 21
The Birth of Isaac
Isaac is an example of the New Birth.
Both births were humanly impossible.
Abraham believed it could only be God’s power – Romans 4:20-21; John 3:5. 5

6. Romans 4: (NASB)
20  yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
21  and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

7. John 3:5 (NASB)
5  Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

8. The Impossible Dream Genesis 21
The Birth of Isaac
Isaac is an example of the New Birth.
Both births were humanly impossible.
Abraham believed it could only be God’s power – Romans 4:20-21; John 3:5.
Abraham’s glory could only be in God – Romans 4:20; 1 Corinthians 1:28-29. 5

9. 1 Corinthians 1: (NASB)
28  and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
29  so that no man may boast before God.

10. The Impossible Dream Genesis 21
The Birth of Isaac
Isaac is an example of the New Birth.
Both births were humanly impossible.
Abraham believed it could only be God’s power – Romans 4:20-21; John 3:5.
Abraham’s glory could only be in God – Romans 4:20; 1 Corinthians 1:28-29.
We need Abraham’s example – Romans 4:23-24. 5

11. Romans 4: (NASB)
23  Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
24  but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

12. The Impossible Dream Genesis 21
God’s Good or God’s Best
A difficult family parting
Abraham loved Ishmael and Hagar.
God had Abraham turn his back on a good thing for something better.
As far as we know, Abraham never saw his first born son again.
God strengthened Abraham for the task ahead that he was being called to do. 6

13. The Impossible Dream Genesis 21
God’s Good or God’s Best
Lesson #1 – Salvation is by faith and not by good works.
Hagar represents the old covenant – law.
Sarah represents the new covenant – grace.
Lesson #2 – God’s Word is supreme and always supersedes man’s word.
Lesson #3 – God is always above family. 7

14. The Impossible Dream Genesis 21
The Prince and the Patriarch
Relationships between believers and unbelievers
There can be mutual respect.
There can be mutual interests.
Peace
Justice
We must live in the world yet not become of the world.
We must illuminate the darkness and flavor the world we live in. 8

15. The Impossible Dream Genesis 21
Application
Have you experienced God’s greatest miracle in your life?
What are you doing to strengthen and cultivate your faith?
Are you willing to exchange God’s good for God’s best?
What is your first priority?
Or WHO is your first priority? 9