Isaac is one of the most distinctive figures of the Old Testament. He played an important part between his father Abraham and son Jacob. The Biblical book Genesis describes his course of life. The name “Isaac” in Hebrew means “laughed” and “laughter.” Isaac is best known as the Hebrew patriarch who was nearly sacrificed by his father Abraham. (Infoplease.com, 2016)
The birth of Isaac was a real wonder. God told Abraham that his wife Sarah would be blessed and bear a child. She would be a mother of nations and kings. (Gen. 17:15-16 New King James Version) Abraham was very surprised. He couldn’t believe that because he was one hundred years old and his wife was in her early nineties. (Gen. 17:17 New King James Version) God said that it would be so and Sarah would give a birth to a son and his name was Isaac. In Genesis 17:19 God set up His covenant. “I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.” (Gen. 17:19 New King James Version) Abraham did as God will and at the age of ninety-nine he was circumcised. His son Ishmael and all the men, including slaves and servants, were circumcised too. (Gen. 17:24-27 New King James Version)
In a year as it was promised, Sarah bore a son. The child was named Isaac.
Some years later Abraham was tested by God. God’s will was to sacrifice Isaac. “Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt- offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Gen. 22:2 New King James Version) Abraham’s state of mind can’t be hardly described. He wanted to do God’s will because he loved God with all his heart but Isaac was his beloved son. It was so difficult to manage but Abraham had to obey in order to show God his loyalty. So, Abraham cut the wood, put it on the donkey, took two of his servants and Isaac and set up his journey to the place God pointed. (Gen. 22:3-4 New King James Version) Isaac knew nothing about his father’s intention. He was also surprised that they didn’t take a lamb for a burnt offering. (Gen. 22:9 New King James Version) Abraham built an altar and put the wood there “and he bound Isaac his son and laid on the altar, upon the wood.” (Gen. 22:9 New King James Version) Abraham took the knife and was ready to sacrifice his son by killing him but the Angel of Lord stopped him. (Gen. 22:12 New King James Version) It was a very difficult testing for father Abraham and his son Isaac that they passed successfully and God blessed them and their future descents.
The time passed, Abraham became very old and weak. His son grew up and turned a handsome man. So, Abraham called for his oldest and loyal servant and asked him to go to his native country to find a wife for his Isaac. (Gen. 24:1-4 New King James Version) “Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor”. (Gen 24:10 New King James Version) He prayed to God for a successful journey and asked Him to show the woman who would deserve to be Isaac’s wife. The servant was waiting by the well in the evening when women went out to get some water. “Now let it be the young woman to whom I say, “Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,” and she says, “Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink”- let her be the one You have appointed for your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.” (Gen. 24:14 New King James Version)
Rebekah appeared. She was a very beautiful virgin girl. The servant asked her to give him some drink from her jar. She gave him to drink and proposed to draw some water for his camels. (Gen. 24: 15-20 New King James Version) Rebekah was a daughter of Bethuel and she was born in Nahor. The servant was invited to Bethuel’s place where he told Rebekah’s relatives about his purposes. The parents asked their daughter if she would leave her house with the servant to become Isaac’s wife. She agreed. (Gen. 24:24-25, Gen. 24: 34-38, Gen. 24:57-58 New King James Version)
Isaac and Rebekah got married and had two twin sons Esau and Jacob. (Gen. 25: 24-26 New King James Version)
After Abraham’s death, Isaac lived at Beer Lahai Roi. (Gen. 25:11 New King James Version)
There was a famine in that land and Isaac went to the Philistines king Abimelech in Gerar. God told Isaac not to go to Egypt but live in the land He would tell him. (Gen. 26:1-2 New King James Version) So, Isaac dwelled in Gerar. He started to grow crops and became one of the richest people there. He also had a lot of cattle and much of fertile land and Philistines envied him (Gen. 26: 14-15 New King James Version) Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the land “for you are much mightier than we.” (Gen. 26:16 New King James Version) Isaac obeyed. He put up his tent in the valley of Gerar and lived there. (Gen. 26:17 New King James Version) He started to dig wells and succeeded. He continued digging and many sources of water were found soon. But the shepherds of Gerar argued with him and proclaimed that the water was theirs. (Gen. 26:18-21 New King James Version) Isaac had to move to Beersheba. God blessed him, in the name of his father Abraham, and promised to increase his descendants. Isaac set up an altar, put up his tent and prayed to Lord. Then he ordered his slaves to dig another well. (Gen. 26:23-25 New King James Version). Abimelech and Ahuzzath came to Isaac to make peace. He prepared food and drinks for them and they had the feast. In the morning, they said an oath with one another and went away. The same day Isaac’s servants notified him that water was found in the well they had dug. (Gen 26:26-32 New King James Version )
Isaac was one of the Biblical figures who was happy and successful in his life. He had good parents, married the woman he loved and had two wealthy sons. They had some misunderstanding but finally made peace. As the Bible tells us, his Isaac’s father Abraham loved God with all his heart and he was ready to sacrifice his son to show obedience. Remembering Abraham’s loyalty God blessed and protected Isaac throughout his life and made him the father of two nations.
References
Infoplease.com,. (2016). Isaac Biography (Biblical Figure). Retrieved 14 February 2016, from http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/isaac.html
The Holy Bible The New King James Version. (1983) (2nd ed., pp. 10-18 pp.). Nashville, Tennesse.
