Bible Study Topics

Isaac

God blessed Abraham at the age of 100, and Sarah at the age of 90, with their biological son Isaac. This was the fulfillment of God's promised covenant to Abraham. When Sarah first overheard Abraham talking to God and his two angels, about her future pregnancy, she was so astonished and surprised that she laughed aloud.

"Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, 'After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?'" (Genesis 17:11-12)

Sarah Laughing Scene from the Story of Genesis [101]

Sarah lacked the faith in having a child, after having so many years of failure in becoming pregnant, that she gave her servant Hagar to Abraham. Hagar was successful in becoming pregnant by Abraham which resulted in the birth of Ishmael. Abraham did not have the faith to honor God's covenant and trusting the lord that Sarah would indeed eventually give birth to their own biological son. This sin resulted in creating great pain to Abraham's family and resulted in Hagar and Ishmael being sent out of Canaan and into Egypt so that Isaac would properly fulfill God's promise. 

Isaac grew up learning of God and following in his ways. Abraham was told to take Isaac to the land of Moriah to worship God through sacrifice. This was not unusual as lambs were often sacrificed to God for atonement. Isaac willingly assisted his father, likely in late adolescence, and was able to help Abraham build a sacrificial alter. Isaac did not fight back against his father, and he allowed himself to be tied and placed on top of the alter, trusting in God's judgment.  

The Sacrifice of Isaac - Juan de Valdes Leal 1659; Spain [102]

Abraham was true to his word in following God's command to sacrifice Isaac, and of course Isaac was saved by a messenger angel from God and a Ram was substituted in its place. This act of faith and sacrifice would lead to foreshadowing of how Jesus Christ was sacrificed and then raised from the dead to atone for sin. Jesus was the last sacrificial lamb that took the place for the sin of all mankind, offered up by a faithful father. Just as Isaac was saved, so too can the sinner be saved and replaced by the sacrificial gift of Jesus Christ. 

" By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, 'Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.' He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back". (Heb 11:17-19)

When it was time for Isaac to take a wife, Abraham sent a servant back to Ur in order to find Isaac a wife and avoid him marrying a Canaanite. Rebekah was brought back from Ur to Canaan and was married to Isaac. (Gen. 24:67) Rebekah would give birth to both Esau and Jacob who ended up being involved in sibling rivalry. Esau was favored by Isaac, since they shared more in common as an outdoorsman, and Jacob was favored by Rebekah and was known to stay more at home. 

The Wedding of Rebecca and Isaac - Enrico Savini Mid 19th Century [103]

Esau would eventually marry a Canaanite woman and Jacob married both Lea and her sister Rachel after years of working for their father Laben. Jacob would eventually return home and make peace with his brother Esau. Jacob would then go on to have 12 children that resulted in the 12 tribes of Israel. These 12 sons would become the twelve patriarchs of Israel, one of which Judah, which would eventually be the bloodline connected to Jesus. 

The Reconciliation of Jacob and Esau - Peter Paul Rubens [104]

There are many lessons that can be taken away from the story of Isaac. First, Isaac was not a perfect man. He stumbled with favoritism with his children, and he had lied about his wife being his sister in order to protect himself and reduce fear of being killed. Isaac was forgiven for his sins, and his faith was rewarded by the offspring that would go on to create a great nation. The sibling rivalry between Esau and Jacob was restored, setting an example of how the relationships in our own families can be restored. God shows us that he takes flawed individuals and can still grant purpose and great acts of works, if we only show continued faith and repentance. 

The Sacrificial Lamb [105]

God keeps his promises. He kept them to both Abraham and Isaac. He restores relationships just like the relationship between Esau and Jacob. These relationships led us to Jesus Christ who can restore any person, in any circumstance, and in all situations if a person places their faith in him, repents, and turns towards God and away from sin. [29]