Abraham’s son by the slave woman was born in the usual way. But his son by the free woman was born because of God’s promise.

然而，那使女所生的是按着血气生的；那自主之妇人所生的，是凭着应许生的。

那使女所生的是按着肉体生的；那自由的妇人所生的是凭着应许生的。

那使女所生的是按着肉体生的；那自由的妇人所生的是凭着应许生的。

婢女的儿子是按着人的意愿生的，主母的儿子是按着上帝的应许生的。

但那出于婢女的，是按着肉体生的；那出于自由的妇人的，是凭着应许生的。

那出于女仆的是由肉体生的，那出于自由女人的是藉着应许生的。

然而，那使女所生的是按着血氣生的；那自主之婦人所生的是憑着應許生的。

那使女所生的是按着肉體生的；那自由的婦人所生的是憑着應許生的。

那使女所生的是按着肉體生的；那自由的婦人所生的是憑着應許生的。

婢女的兒子是按著人的意願生的，主母的兒子是按著上帝的應許生的。

但那出於婢女的，是按著肉體生的；那出於自由的婦人的，是憑著應許生的。

那出於使女的、是只按普通程序生的、而那出於自主婦人的、卻是憑着應許生的。

那出於女僕的是由肉體生的，那出於自由女人的是藉著應許生的。

婢出者、依形軀而生、自由出者、乃由應許焉、

婢出者、循人道、婦出者、因應許、

其由婢生者、循血氣而生、其由自主之婦生者、因應許而生、

然婢女之子、乃因肉情而生；而主婦之子、則憑恩諾而生。

His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.

But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.

The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.

But the one by the slave was born as a result of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through promise.

But the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.

But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,

Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise.

But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

But he[ who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman[ was] by promise.

But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise.

However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

And Sarah had faith. So God made it possible for her to become a mother. She became a mother even though she was too old to have children. But Sarah believed that the God who made the promise was faithful.

Not everyone in Abraham’s family line is really his child. Not at all! Scripture says,“ Your family line will continue through Isaac.”( Genesis 21:12)In other words, God’s children are not just in the family line of Abraham. Instead, they are the children God promised to him. They are the ones considered to be Abraham’s children.

The Lord was gracious to Sarah, just as he had said he would be. The Lord did for Sarah what he had promised to do.Sarah became pregnant. She had a son by Abraham when he was old. The child was born at the exact time God had promised.

Then one of them said,“ I will surely return to you about this time next year. Your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.Abraham and Sarah were already very old. Sarah was too old to have a baby.So she laughed to herself. She thought,“ I’m worn out, and my husband is old. Can I really know the joy of having a baby?”Then the Lord said to Abraham,“ Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say,‘ Will I really have a baby, now that I am old?’Is anything too hard for me? I will return to you at the appointed time next year. Sarah will have a son.”

Brothers and sisters, you are children because of God’s promise just as Isaac was.At that time, the son born in the usual way tried to hurt the other son. The other son was born by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the same now.

When there was no reason for hope, Abraham believed because he had hope. He became the father of many nations, exactly as God had promised. God said,“ That is how many children you will have.”( Genesis 15:5)Abraham did not become weak in his faith. He accepted the fact that he was past the time when he could have children. At that time Abraham was about 100 years old. He also realized that Sarah was too old to have children.But Abraham kept believing in God’s promise. He became strong in his faith. He gave glory to God.He was absolutely sure that God had the power to do what he had promised.

God also said to Abraham,“ Do not continue to call your wife by the name Sarai. Her name will be Sarah.I will give her my blessing. You can be sure that I will give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations. Kings of nations will come from her.”Abraham fell with his face to the ground. He laughed and said to himself,“ Can a 100- year- old man have a son? Can Sarah have a child at the age of 90?”Abraham said to God,“ I really wish Ishmael could receive your blessing!”Then God said,“ Yes, I will bless Ishmael. But your wife Sarah will have a son by you. And you will name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him. That covenant will last forever. It will be for Isaac and his family after him.

But what does it say?“ The message is near you. It’s in your mouth and in your heart.”( Deuteronomy 30:14) This means the message about faith that we are preaching.