Celebration of Abraham

Genesis 21 is a celebration of birth. The promise of a son is now fulfilled. Isaac is born. His name means "laughter", and this time it was not laughter of unbelief (Gen.18:9-15). The birth of Isaac revealed the power of God. That was the reason God waited so long: He wanted Abraham and Sarah to be "as good as dead" so that their son's birth would be a miracle of God and not a marvel of human nature (Rom.4:17-21). Abraham and Sarah experienced God's resurrection power in their lives because they yielded to Him and believed His Word. Truly, faith in God's promises releases God's power (Eph.3:20-21; Phil.3:10).
Paul expounds on Isaac's birth in his letter to the Galatians. In Galatians 4:28-29, Paul makes it clear that Ishmael represents the believer's first birth (the flesh) and Isaac represents the second birth (the Spirit). Ishmael was "born of the flesh" because Abraham had not yet 'died' and was still able to begat a son (Gen.16). Isaac was "born of the Spirit" because by that time his parents were both 'dead' and only God's power could have brought conception and birth. Ishmael was born first, because the natural comes before the spiritual (1 Cor.15:46).
When you place your faith in Jesus Christ, you experience a miracle birth from God (John 1:11-13), and it is the work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-8). Abraham represents faith, and Sarah represents grace (Gal.4:24-26), so Isaac was born "by grace...through faith" (Eph.2:8-9). This is the only way a lost sinner can enter the family of God (John 3:16-18). And joy results when lost sinners repent and come to the Lord (Luke 15:7, 10). That's a celebration!