The Birth of Isaac, Part 1

The Birth of Isaac | Genesis 21:1–21 | Pastor Zach Terry

God always keeps His promises — even when it seems impossible. In this message, Pastor Zach Terry walks through the long-awaited birth of Isaac, the child of promise, and contrasts it with the birth of Ishmael, the child of human effort.

From this moment in Genesis, two paths emerge: the path of faith or the path of the flesh. One is born of God’s divine power, the other from human will. Every person must ask—which path am I on? 

📖 Key Themes:

• God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises

• The danger of “helping” God through human means • Isaac and Ishmael as pictures of grace vs. works 

• Freedom in Christ versus bondage to religion

“Religion by works always enslaves—‘Do more, be better, earn favor.’

Grace liberates—‘It is finished.’”