Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes. A “great feast” was made on the day Isaac was weaned, not on the day Isaac was born or circumcised. When we come to the Lord as a newborn there is rejoicing and laughter. There is great rejoicing when we are baptized. But when we wean and mature and become able to eat and digest the meat of the Word of God the Lord throws a party!
ABRAHAM, THE FRIEND OF GOD
by Delbert Young
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
Scriptures: Genesis 21:1-2, Deuteronomy 28:1-2, Romans 10:9, John 8:51, John 14:23, Exodus 9:5, Job 7:1, Habakkuk 2:3, Genesis 17:21, Genesis 21:2, Genesis 18:14, Genesis 21:3-4, Genesis 21:5-7, Luke 1:46-48, Genesis 21:8, Hebrews 5:11-12-14, Hebrews 6:1, Genesis 21:8
Genesis 21:1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
Genesis 21:2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
1. at the set time
Matthew Henry says,
“Few under the Old Testament were brought into the world with such expectations as Isaac. He was in this a type of Christ, that Seed which the holy God so long promised, and holy men so long expected. He was born according to the promise, at the set time of which God had spoken.”1
When studying the ways of God we find that He moves in three dimensions concerning promises. First, there is what I call the “conjunction promise.” The conjunction promise is the most used. It always comes with a conjunction such as “if” or “and” or “but.” It simply is a promise that the Lord will do something “if” we do something. For example, much of the Mosaic covenant was conjunctional promises. God would bless them in every way “if…”
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. (emphasis added)
We find this also in the New Covenant. Basic salvation is conjunctional.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (emphasis added)
The Lord Jesus used “if” many times.
John 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
The second type of promise I call the “correct time” promise. This is when the Lord makes a promise, but will do it when He decides the time is correct. Many times these are included within the conjunctional. For example, the Lord promised the nation of Israel that He would bring them out of Egypt to take them into a land of milk and honey. He did take them in, but He took them in when He decided the time was correct. These promises come when we continue walking with the Lord. Many prophetic promises are of this nature. I have many unfulfilled prophetic promises over my life. They are continually being fulfilled. It seems every year another promise comes to pass. There is no “if” or “but” or conjunction attached to them. They happen at the “correct time.” All I need to do is continue walking with the Lord.
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
The third type of promise is the “set time” promise. When this promise is given nothing can stop it. The Lord told Noah that man had 120 years. 120 years later the flood came. It did not matter if Noah prayed or not. The flood came and it came at the set time–120 years later. Daniel was told there were 70 weeks determined for his people and for the coming of the Messiah. It did not matter if anyone prayed or believed. The Messiah came at the set time–70 weeks later.
Following are some “set time” promises.
Exodus 9:5 And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.
Job 7:1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth…
Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie…
Genesis 17:21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
Genesis 21:2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. (emphasis added)
People can become frustrated because they do not understand the ways of God’s promises. First ask, “Is my promise conjunctional? Do I need to do something, or stop doing something, first?” Next, never give up. Continue walking with the Lord. Most will fall in the wilderness, but Joshua and Caleb continued and went into the promise. At the “correct time,” the promise will be fulfilled. Lastly, if it is a “set time” it will happen no matter what you do. A specific day and date is set. You cannot hurry it or lengthen it. It will come at the set time.
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90. Their journey and walk with the Lord had begun no less than 25 years prior. The blessings, protection, and hand of God had always been with them. The presence of God had visited on many occasions. Yet it was 25 years later that the desire of Abraham’s heart was given to him. Isaac, the namesake, the lineage, the carrier of the seed was born.
Also, it was 25 years before Sarah experienced the high point of her life. She had laughed at the possibility of her and Abraham having a child just one year prior. Yet, here he was. Nothing is too difficult for the Lord. The Lord had promised an appointed time.
Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
Genesis 21:3-4
3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
Wycliffe says,
“The father had the joy of naming the lad, and then the privilege of circumcising him when he was eight days old.”2
2. Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old
This baby was named Isaac. Isaac means “laughter”. We would not say, Isaac. We would say, Laughter. Both Abraham and Sarah laughed. It was when Abraham laughed that the Lord told Abraham to name the child Laughter (Gen 17:17-19). Abraham did as he was instructed.
Abraham was also quick to administer the circumcision on the eighth day. Isaac became the first child in the lineage of Christ to receive the mark of circumcision on the eighth day. Circumcision was the seal of the covenant. Isaac was marked with the covenant before he had an opportunity to make the decision for himself. That truth is interesting.
Circumcision is a type of water baptism (Col 2:11-12). We could enter into all sorts of debates and discussions about children being baptized before some age of accountability. Some people have problems with children receiving communion at the Lord’s table before some age of accountability. Yet neither were optional in their type form. The child was circumcised as an infant. No one asked the child if he wanted to be circumcised. The child was not asked if he or she wanted to eat the Passover meal. They were told to sit down and eat as the parent told them of the Passover meaning.
No child in the Old Testament had to come to the age of accountability before circumcision.
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
In fact, if they waited until the age of accountability the parents were in trouble with the Lord. They had broken His commandment of the eighth day circumcision. After circumcision, the individual must develop a personal relationship with the Lord. This was much easier when the parents did their part. The Lord Himself gave specific instructions to the parents to bring the child into covenant marking at the age of eight days–not at the age of accountability. It was not optional.
We must wonder how some children today would be had they been baptized at eight days. How would some of them be had they had communion all their lives? My son was marked by the waters of baptism as an infant. He was older than eight days, but still an infant. Today he preaches the gospel. He has always been different and always loved the Lord and the things of God. Abraham circumcised Isaac on the eighth day.
Genesis 21:5-7
5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
Well past the age when both Sarah and Abraham should bear children they did. The time of life had been restored to Abraham. Sarah had conceived and gave birth to a son. This was the desire of her heart. The lesson we learn is that the promises of God will come at “the set time.” They do not come at “our time.” There is a set time.
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
3. Who would have said… that Sarah should have given children suck?
Not only had Sarah given birth to Isaac at an old age. She was also physically able to give the child suck. The Lord had given this aged woman strength to bear and strength to nurse. The Lord does not only give us the promise. He also must give us strength to birth the promise. Then He must give us strength and the ability to nurse the promise. Before the promise can bless us we must give suck to the promise.
Too often preachers expect to have a church that blesses before they understand that they must first birth and nourish the people that make the church. Then ten, fifteen, twenty years later the church is capable of blessing those that gave it birth. Is this not true in the natural? A child of ten can begin helping and blessing the parents. First the natural and then the spiritual (1Co 15:46).
4. God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
Sarah said, “God hath made me to laugh…” Once Sarah laughed at herself and Abraham (Gen 18:11-13). Here she laughed for joy! “Who would have said…”. Sarah shouted. In our vernacular, “Who would have thought it!” Laughter (Isaac) came from her womb. Certainly, Laughter came into her life. Also, Laughter came into Abraham’s life, and into the neighbor’s lives. People were happy for Sarah.
It is reminiscent of Mary the mother of Jesus. At Elizabeth’s house, Mary said,
Luke 1:46-48
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
It is not only that Sarah gave birth to a son. It was not only that Mary carried Jesus, though both of these are wonderful events for the sake of humanity. Their joy came in the truth that the Lord God almighty had selected them and loved them. When we receive the long-awaited promises we are excited that we have the promise. Yet a greater joy exists knowing that we are called and chosen by the creator of the universe to do something special for Him. The wonderful aspect is that the blessing and promise go hand-in-hand with the plan of God and we are selected to participate in that plan.
Sarah said, “…all that hear will laugh with me.” All of Sarah’s neighbors and friends would rejoice with Sarah. It is wonderful to have friends at times of great joy and blessings. We should all be able to remember a time when we were excited and needed to share the event with a friend. Mary shared her joyful event with Elizabeth and Elizabeth got happy with Mary. So much so that she was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luk 1:41). Elizabeth’s neighbors rejoiced with Elizabeth and Zacharias at the birth of John. We need friends to laugh with us at unforgettable moments.
Genesis 21:8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
5. the child grew, and was weaned
The child grew. Certainly, we see this in all the seed of God. Jesus grew (Luk 1:80; 2:40). The seed of God is also weaned. We learn truths for the spiritual from the natural (1Co 15:46). As a matter of fact, the natural process of life is birth, growth, weaning, and maturity. Also, there is a birthing into the spiritual. We are born again. First, we must be on suck. Not long after that, we should wean. The natural time is around one year. After the weaning, the baby begins to eat solid food which then causes accelerated growth. Overall, this is dealt with from a spiritual perspective in the book of Hebrews. To be sure, linking these thoughts may make the following Hebrews passage clearer than ever before.
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
Hebrews 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (emphasis added)
The writer of Hebrews says he has some “meaty” things to say to these Hebrew believers, but they are dull of hearing. They are still infants and cannot yet understand what is being said. They would simply look and “gooo,” and they couldn’t understand what he would be saying. This does happen to preachers. Preachers often attempt to get a little deeper into a teaching. Some people look, smile, and nod (gooo), but don’t have a clue what is meant. The writer of Hebrews likens this to a person who should be grown enough to eat hard food but actually remains on the breast.
Hebrews 5:13-6:1
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
The Lord expects us to grow. He wants us to be loved and nurtured and nursed, but a time comes when we must wean. The word “perfection” in Hebrews 6:1 is teleiotes (tel-i-o-tace’, Strong’s #5051 ). It is associated with the Greek word teleios (tel’-i-os. Which means “full grown, adult, of full age, mature.
Isaac We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
teleios {tel’-i-os}
from 5056
brought to its end, finished
of men; full grown, adult, of full age, mature
The thought is to mature in the word of righteousness. Wean from always needing correction by the word to a place where we can instruct others by the word.
Genesis 21:8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
6. great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned
Abraham made a great feast. This feast was not made on the day that Isaac was born. Nor was it made on the day that Isaac was circumcised. The father made the “great feast” on the day that Isaac was weaned. There was joy on the day Isaac was born. There was rejoicing on the day Isaac was circumcised. But a great feast was given on the day that Isaac was weaned!
When we come to the Lord as a newborn there is rejoicing and laughter. There is great rejoicing when we are baptized. But when we wean and mature and become able to eat and digest the meat of the Word of God there is a party!
7. What can we learn from this lesson that we can apply to our lives?
A. Firstly, our lives have promises from God.
Some are conjunctional. They have an “if” or a “but” connected to them. Those promises are fulfilled when we respond. Another type of promise is the “correct time” or convenient time promise. The Lord will do that at the correct time or at His convenience. There is also the “set time” promises. These have a day and date when they will automatically happen. Understanding this will help us understand our unfulfilled promises from God.
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
B. Secondly, where does the scripture instruct us to wait until some age of accountability before having our children baptized or partake of communion?
It does not that I am aware of. The types of baptism and communion that we are given, i.e. circumcision and Passover, were experienced in infancy. By waiting for some age of accountability we are allowing the devil years of free passage to mark our children with his mark.
C. Thirdly, the Lord gave Sarah the strength to birth and the strength to nurse the promise.
We want the promises of God, but we must birth them. Then we must nurse them.
D. Fourthly, the promises of God come as blessings to us.
The truth of the promise is not the blessing to us. Actually, it fulfills the plan and purpose of God. We are blessed showing that God has chosen us to do something special for Him and for the kingdom.
E. Fifthly, it is wonderful to have friends at times of great joy that share that joy with us.
All that heard Sarah laughed and celebrated with her.
F. Sixtly, the time comes when the believer should wean from the base things and move to deeper things.
After a year the believer should begin to digest “meaty” truths.
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
Isaac, We Need To Be Weaned sermon notes
Other Related Sermons:
Circumcise Hill of the Foreskins Father’s Day
Old Abraham Gave Up The Ghost And Died
Ishmael Mocking Isaac sermon notes
Famine In The Land Sermon audio video notes
Also see:
1 Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, Bible Research Systems