Three Kinds of People: A Christ-Centered Introduction to Genesis 21

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse,  and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:3

In Genesis 21, we have three stories in one. Verses 1–7 tell the long-awaited birth story of Isaac, then verses 8–21 recount how Ishmael, the son of an Egyptian slave, is cast out because he laughed at Isaac, while verses 22–34 finish the chapter by describing the covenant that Abimelech made with Abraham after some of his men ran afoul of Abraham’s servants.In all, these three stories repeat the patterns established in Genesis 9. If you remember, when the three sons of Noah stepped out of the ark, one of them brought a curse upon his father by seeing his nakedness. But the other two refused to partake in Ham’s wickedness, and instead honored their father by covering his nakedness. Suffice it to say, the result of their divergent actions led to differing kinds of blessing and curses.
First, Ham’s son Canaan was cursed because he sinned against his father. By contrast, Shem was chosen as the firstborn for Noah's blessing, while Japheth was blessed in the tents of of Shem. As I explained in the sermon on this passage, these three men provide a pattern for blessing and cursing in the Bible. In Scripture there are (1) those who are blessed and (2) those who are cursed, depending on how they treat (3) the firstborn son. Confirming this, God said to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 that he would bless all those who blessed his chosen seed, while those who cursed the seed would be cursed. And of course, this reinforces the three types of people—the seed of promise, those who are blessed by the seed, and those who are cursed by the seed.

Now, in the fulness of time, we know who the seed of Abraham is—it is Jesus Christ, as Paul identifies in Galatians 3:16. And that means those who are blessed by the seed are the ones who trust in Christ. And those who are cursed are the ones who reject Christ. It is simple as that.

Yet, that pattern does not just show up in the beginning and the end, but it is found all the way through the Bible, including Genesis 21. As mentioned above, Genesis 21 is divided into three sections that follow the pattern of Genesis 9 and Genesis 12. There is the promised seed; there is the one who curses the seed; and there is one who blesses the seed.

Now, there is more to see in Genesis 21 than these three types of people, but this is the start. And so, to prepare for Sunday, take time to read this chapter with this pattern in place. And then pray for further insight into the Word and into your own heart, as you come to Sunday.

If you were with us on Wednesday, you heard an introduction to this chapter as we considered the way that laughter tests and trains our hearts. And if you are driving back from Thanksgiving Dinner this weekend, you can listen to that sermon here. But even if you missed that homily (= a shorter sermon), we will look at the whole chapter this Sunday. So, plan to join us this Sunday, as we gather to give thanks to God for all the blessings he has given to us in Christ. As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you there.

For His Glory and your joy in Christ,
Pastor David