²¹ But my covenant^(A) I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you^(B) by this time next year.”^(C)

² The Lord appeared^(A) to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt;^(B) live in the land where I tell you to live.^{(C) 3} Stay in this land for a while,^(D) and I will be with you^(E) and will bless you.^(F) For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands^(G) and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham.^{(H) 4} I will make your descendants^(I) as numerous as the stars in the sky^(J) and will give them all these lands,^(K) and through your offspring^[a] all nations on earth will be blessed,^{[b](L) 5} because Abraham obeyed me^(M) and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees^(N) and my instructions.^(O)”

² Sarah became pregnant and bore a son^(A) to Abraham in his old age,^(B) at the very time God had promised him.^{(C) 3} Abraham gave the name Isaac^[a](D) to the son Sarah bore him.

²⁹ If you belong to Christ,^(A) then you are Abraham’s seed,^(B) and heirs^(C) according to the promise.^(D)

⁵ Theirs are the patriarchs,^(A) and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,^(B) who is God over all,^(C) forever praised!^[a](D) Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice

⁶ It is not as though God’s word^(E) had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.^(F)

¹⁰ Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year,^(A) and Sarah your wife will have a son.”^(B)

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.

⁹ By faith he made his home in the promised land^(A) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,^(B) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.^(C)

⁹ For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”^[a](A)

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.^(A)