2. Outline: I. Preservation of the Promise in Gerar 20 II. Promised Son Isaac is born 21:1-7 III. Expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael 21: 8-21 IV. Peaceful treaty at Beersheba 21:22-34

5. Our foolish acts can have great impact in the lives of others, especially those watching our witness.

6. God honors and fights to preserve purity in marriage Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pureHeb 13:14

7. God intervenes to preserve His purposes in our lives

9. God fulfills His Promises in His Time

10. Question: What does it take to inherit a promise of God?

11. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater to him to swear by, he swore by Himself, saying “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants. And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Heb 6:12-15

12. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Heb 10:35,36

16. God protects and provides for those in the wilderness

17. The truly good news is that God is not a distant God, a God to be feared and avoided, a God of revenge, but a God who is moved by our pains and participates in the fullness of the human struggle Henri Nouwen

19. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone Romans12:19 Make every effort to live in peace with all menHebrews 12:14 Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God Matthew 5:9

20. A time to weep and a time to laugh Ecclesiastes 3:4