Rev Xi An Poon
創世記 21:1–2 「耶和華按著先前的話眷顧撒拉，便照他所說的給撒拉成就。當亞伯拉罕年老的時候，撒拉懷了孕；到神所說的日期，就給亞伯拉罕生了一個兒子。」
今天創世記21章讓我們看見，神是守約的神。
創世記20章剛讓我們看見，亞伯拉罕雖然已經走了很長的信心道路，但在壓力和懼怕中，仍然可能落入舊有的模式。可是到了創世記21章，神沒有因人的軟弱停止祂的應許，反而按著祂先前所說的話，照著祂所定的日期，使以撒出生。
撒拉生了以撒之後說：「神使我喜笑，凡聽見的必與我一同喜笑。」這是看見之後的讚美。但神今天也要帶我們更深一步，不只是看見之後才喜樂，而是在未看見以前就信靠祂。
一、讓神的話先安定我們的心
創世記 21:1–2
「耶和華按著先前的話眷顧撒拉，便照他所說的給撒拉成就……到神所說的日期，就給亞伯拉罕生了一個兒子。」
這段經文重複強調：「按著先前的話」、「照他所說的」、「到神所說的日期」。
以撒的出生不是人的能力造成的，也不是環境自然好轉的結果，而是神按著祂自己所說過的話，在祂所定的日期成就了應許。
很多時候，我們的心容易被環境牽動。環境有改變，我們就有盼望；環境沒有改變，我們就灰心。但神今天提醒我們，信心的起點不是先看環境，而是先抓住神的話。
讓神的話先安定我們的心，我們就不會只等到看見才感謝，而是在未看見以前，已經學習相信神仍然掌權。
二、讓神打開我們在曠野中的眼睛
創世記 21:15–16
「皮袋的水用盡了，夏甲就把孩子撇在小樹底下……說：我不忍見孩子死，就相對而坐，放聲大哭。」
哈甲在曠野中走到盡頭。水用盡了，孩子似乎快要死去，她能做的只是坐在遠處哭泣。
哈甲不是沒有經歷過神。她曾經在曠野中遇見那位看顧人的神。可是當新的危機來到，當水用盡、出路看不見時，她似乎忘記了曾經經歷過的神。
創世記 21:17–19
「神聽見童子的聲音……不要害怕，神已經聽見童子的聲音了……神使夏甲的眼睛明亮，她就看見一口水井。」
神沒有忘記哈甲和以實瑪利。祂聽見孩子的聲音，也再次提醒哈甲祂的應許。
更寶貴的是，神使夏甲的眼睛明亮，她就看見一口水井。很多時候，不是神沒有預備，而是我們的眼睛被恐懼、憂傷和絕望遮住了。
今天，神不只是要給我們供應，也要打開我們的眼睛，讓我們在曠野中重新看見祂已經預備的水井。
三、讓神的同在成為別人看得見的見證
創世記 21:22
「亞比米勒同他軍長非各對亞伯拉罕說：凡你所行的事都有神的保佑。」
這句話不是亞伯拉罕自己說的，而是外邦王亞比米勒看見後說的。這表示神與亞伯拉罕同在，不只是亞伯拉罕自己知道，也開始被外面的人看見。
後來亞伯拉罕與亞比米勒在別是巴立約，也處理了水井的問題。
創世記 21:33
「亞伯拉罕在別是巴栽上一棵垂絲柳樹，又在那裡求告耶和華永生神的名。」
亞伯拉罕不只是解決了一場水井的糾紛，也不是只為自己爭取生存空間。他在別是巴留下敬拜神的記號，求告耶和華永生神的名。
這提醒我們，神的祝福不是只停留在「我得著了」，而是讓別人也能從我們身上看見：神是信實的，神是看顧人的，神是與人同在的。
總結
創世記21章讓我們看見三件事：
神按祂所說的話成就應許，使撒拉從不敢相信的笑，變成見證神信實的喜笑。
神在曠野中聽見以實瑪利的聲音，開哈甲的眼睛，讓她看見水井。
神也使亞比米勒看見，亞伯拉罕所行的事都有神的保佑。
今天，神也要帶領我們，不只是看見之後才讚美，而是在未看見以前就信靠；不只在環境改善後才相信，而是在曠野中讓神打開我們的眼睛；不只停留在自己蒙福，也讓神的同在成為別人看得見的見證。
追求
今天讓我們安靜在神面前思想：
我們是否常常要等到看見結果，才願意讚美神？
我們是否在未看見以前，心裡充滿懷疑和不安？
我們是否像哈甲一樣，曾經經歷神，卻在新的危機中只看見水用盡，看不見神已經預備的井？
我們是否只渴望神解決自己的問題，卻忘記神也要讓我們的生命成為別人看得見的見證？
禱告
親愛的天父，我們感謝祢。
祢是守約施慈愛的神。祢按著祢所說的話眷顧撒拉，也照祢所定的日期成就應許。
主啊，求祢幫助我們，不只是看見以後才讚美祢，更在未看見以前就信靠祢。讓祢的話先安定我們的心，不讓環境、懼怕和過去的失敗定義我們。
主啊，求祢打開我們的眼睛。當我們在曠野中，看見水用盡、出路不明時，求祢讓我們重新看見祢已經預備的水井。
主啊，也求祢使我們不只是領受祝福的人，更成為祢同在的見證。願我們的生命、家庭、教會、工作和關係，都讓人看見祢的信實與保守。
奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
創世記 21
1 耶和華按著自己說過的話眷顧撒拉，實現給她的應許。 2 亞伯拉罕年老的時候，撒拉懷了孕，在上帝指定的日期為他生了一個兒子。 3 亞伯拉罕為兒子取名叫以撒。 4 以撒出生後第八天，亞伯拉罕就照著上帝的吩咐為他行了割禮。 5 以撒出生時亞伯拉罕已經一百歲。 6 撒拉說：「上帝使我歡笑，凡聽見這事的人也必跟我一同歡笑。 7 誰曾料到我會為亞伯拉罕哺養孩子呢？我竟然在丈夫年老的時候給他生了兒子。」
8 以撒漸漸長大，亞伯拉罕在他斷奶的那天擺設宴席。 9 撒拉見埃及人夏甲給亞伯拉罕生的兒子以實瑪利嘲笑以撒， 10 就對亞伯拉罕說：「趕走這婢女和她的兒子，因為這婢女的兒子不可和我的兒子以撒一同承受產業。」 11 亞伯拉罕因兒子以實瑪利的事非常煩惱。 12 上帝對亞伯拉罕說：「你不要再為這孩子和你的婢女煩惱，只管照撒拉的意思去做，因為以撒生的才可算為你的後代。 13 至於那婢女的兒子以實瑪利，我也會使他自成一國，因為他也是你的兒子。」
14 第二天，亞伯拉罕清早起來，把食物和一皮袋水放在夏甲肩上，讓她和孩子離開。夏甲在別示巴的曠野流浪。 15 皮袋的水喝光了，夏甲把兒子留在一叢灌木下， 16 自己走到離孩子約一箭之遠的地方，對著孩子坐下，說：「我不忍心看著他死啊！」夏甲坐在那裡放聲大哭起來。 17 上帝聽見孩子的哭聲，就差遣天使從天上安慰夏甲說：「夏甲，你怎麼了？不要害怕，上帝已經聽見孩子的哭聲了。 18 你去扶他起來，安慰他，我必使他成為大國。」 19 上帝使夏甲的眼睛明亮，讓她看見一口水井，她就上前把皮袋裝滿水拿給兒子喝。 20 在上帝的看顧下，孩子在曠野漸漸長大，成為一個射箭能手。 21 他住在巴蘭曠野，他母親為他娶了一個埃及女子。
22 有一次，亞比米勒和他的將領非各對亞伯拉罕說：「你做的一切都有上帝保佑。 23 現在請你在這裡當著上帝的面向我起誓，你不會欺騙我和我的子孫後代。我怎樣善待你，請你也同樣善待我以及你所寄居之地的百姓。」 24 亞伯拉罕說：「我願起誓。」
25 由於亞比米勒的僕人霸佔了一口水井，亞伯拉罕就指責亞比米勒。 26 亞比米勒說：「我不知道是誰做的，你以前沒有告訴我，我今天才聽說這事。」 27 亞伯拉罕把牛羊送給亞比米勒，他們二人立了約。 28 亞伯拉罕又從羊群中分出七隻母羊羔。 29 亞比米勒問亞伯拉罕：「你分出七隻母羊羔是什麼意思？」 30 亞伯拉罕回答說：「你要從我手中接受這七隻母羊羔，表示你承認這口井是我挖的。」 31 所以，那地方被稱為別示巴，因為他們二人在那裡起了誓。
32 他們立約以後，亞比米勒和他的將領非各便回非利士去了。 33 亞伯拉罕在別示巴栽了一棵紅柳，又在那裡呼求耶和華——永恆上帝的名。 34 亞伯拉罕在非利士住了很長時間。
Genesis 21:1–2 “And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”
Today, Genesis 21 shows us that God is a covenant-keeping God.
In Genesis 20, we saw that Abraham, even after walking with God for many years, could still fall back into old patterns when he faced fear and pressure. Yet in Genesis 21, God did not stop His promise because of human weakness. He fulfilled what He had spoken, at the time He had appointed.
After Isaac was born, Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” This was praise after seeing the promise fulfilled. But today, God wants to lead us deeper — not only to rejoice after we see, but to trust Him before we see.
- Let God’s Word settle our hearts
Genesis 21:1–2
“And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken… at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”
This passage repeatedly emphasizes three things: “as He had said,” “as He had spoken,” and “at the set time.”
Isaac’s birth was not the result of human ability. It was not because the situation naturally improved. It happened because God fulfilled His own word at His appointed time.
Many times, our hearts are easily moved by circumstances. When things improve, we have hope. When nothing changes, we become discouraged. But today, God reminds us that faith does not begin by looking at our circumstances. Faith begins by holding on to God’s word.
When God’s word settles our hearts, we will not only give thanks after we see the result. We will learn to trust Him even before we see, knowing that He is still in control.
- Let God open our eyes in the wilderness
Genesis 21:15–16
“And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance… for she said to herself, ‘Let me not see the death of the boy.’ So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.”
Hagar came to the end of herself in the wilderness. The water was gone. Her child seemed close to death. All she could do was sit at a distance and weep.
Hagar had experienced God before. She had once met the God who sees her in the wilderness. But when a new crisis came, when the water ran out and there seemed to be no way forward, she appeared to forget the God she had once encountered.
Genesis 21:17–19
“And God heard the voice of the lad… ‘Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is…’ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.”
God had not forgotten Hagar and Ishmael. He heard the voice of the child, and He reminded Hagar again of His promise.
What is especially precious is this: God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well of water. Very often, it is not that God has not prepared a way. It is that our eyes are covered by fear, grief, and despair.
Today, God does not only want to give us provision. He wants to open our eyes, so that even in the wilderness, we can see the well He has already prepared.
- Let God’s presence become a visible testimony to others
Genesis 21:22
“And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, ‘God is with you in all that you do.’”
This was not Abraham’s own statement. It was spoken by Abimelech, a foreign king, after he observed Abraham’s life. This means that God’s presence with Abraham was no longer only something Abraham knew personally. Others were beginning to see it too.
Later, Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant at Beersheba and settled the matter concerning the well.
Genesis 21:33
“Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.”
Abraham did not merely resolve a dispute over a well. He did not only secure a place for survival. He planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.
This reminds us that God’s blessing is not meant to stop at “I have received.” God wants others to see through our lives that He is faithful, that He cares, and that He is with His people.
Summary
Genesis 21 shows us three important truths:
God fulfilled His promise according to His word, turning Sarah’s doubtful laughter into a testimony of His faithfulness.
God heard Ishmael’s voice in the wilderness, opened Hagar’s eyes, and showed her the well of water.
God also allowed Abimelech to see that everything Abraham did was under God’s blessing and protection.
Today, God wants to lead us not only to praise Him after we see, but to trust Him before we see; not only to believe when circumstances improve, but to let Him open our eyes in the wilderness; not only to receive blessing for ourselves, but to become a visible testimony of His presence to others.
Reflection
Let us quietly come before God and reflect:
Do we often wait until we see the result before we praise God?
Are our hearts filled with doubt and anxiety before we see the answer?
Are we like Hagar, who had experienced God before, but in a new crisis only saw the empty water skin and not the well God had prepared?
Do we only desire God to solve our problems, while forgetting that He also wants our lives to become a visible testimony to others?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You.
You are the God who keeps covenant and shows mercy. You visited Sarah according to Your word, and You fulfilled Your promise at Your appointed time.
Lord, help us not only to praise You after we see, but to trust You before we see. Let Your word settle our hearts, so that our circumstances, fears, and past failures will not define us.
Lord, open our eyes. When we are in the wilderness, when the water seems to have run out and the way ahead is unclear, help us to see the well You have already prepared.
Lord, make us not only people who receive blessing, but people whose lives become a testimony of Your presence. May our lives, families, church, work, and relationships allow others to see Your faithfulness and protection.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Genesis 21
1 And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac. 4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” 7 She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”
8 So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” 11 And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. 13 Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.”
14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. 15 And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. 16 Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”
19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. 20 So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. 21 He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
22 And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.”
24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”
25 Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized. 26 And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. 28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?”
30 And he said, “You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well.” 31 Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there.
32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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