Bible Biography: Isaac

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 17:19 - 35:29.

BIOGRAPHY

Isaac, whose name means Laughter, was the son of Abraham and Sarah. He was the long awaited child who had been promised to Abraham and is in the direct line of Jesus Christ. Abraham at 100 was sexually dead thus the birth of Isaac at Gerar (about 1900 BC was miraculous. Isaac when a teenager was directed to be sacrificed by his father but was spared by the divine provision of a ram in a thicket. When he was 40 years old he married Rebekah who had been sought out by his father's unnamed servant. The arranged marriage worked well with Isaac and Rebekah proving to be a loving couple (Genesis 26:8).

Although there had been difficulties between Isaac and his step-brother Ishmael, the father of the Arabs, they co-operated in the burial of Abraham (Genesis 25:9). Isaac was 60 when the twins Jacob and Esau were born. He prospered being blessed with cattle and became very wealthy. His household increased so much that he became the envy of the land. Unlike his nomadic father, Isaac dwelt at Gerar and Beersheba. Isaac eventually died at the age of 180 having lived the longest of the three great patriarchs, being buried by his sons Esau and Jacob (Genesis 35:29).

SUMMARY

a) Isaac is the promised seed (Genesis 17:16).

b) Isaac's birth was a miracle as it was physically impossible for him to be conceived (Genesis 17:17-19).

c) Abraham is instructed to sacrifice his son (Genesis 22:1,2). The sacrifice is on Mount Moriah.

d) Isaac was obedient to his father unto death (Genesis 22:5-12).

e) A ram is substituted for Isaac (Genesis 22:13).

f) After the obedience of Isaac his mother Sarah dies (Genesis 23:1).

g) Abraham sends his oldest servant to select a bride for his son (Genesis 24). The bride responds to the servant even though she is in a foreign country.

h) Rebekah before marrying Isaac acquires silver and gold (Genesis 24:53).

i) Isaac went out and brought Rebekah into his mother's tent (Genesis 24:63-67).

j) After the marriage Abraham takes another bride (Genesis 25:1).

k) Abraham gives all things to Isaac (Genesis 25:5).

l) God's covenant confirmed with Isaac (Genesis 26:3-5).

LIFE LESSONS

a) Jesus Christ is the promised seed (Galatians 3:16).

b) Jesus Christ's birth was miraculous, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18-25).

c) God spared not His only Son (John 3:16; Romans 8:32). Jesus died on Mt Moriah.

d) Jesus was obedient unto death (Philippians 2:5-8).

e) Christ's death was substitutionary for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).

f) After the death of Christ, Israel was set aside (but only for a time). After the incident of the ram, Sarah died.

g) The Holy Spirit is sent out into the world to seek out the Church. The Church responds even though she is in the devil's world (Ephesians 6:12).

h) Before the marriage with Christ the bridegroom, the Church acquires gold, silver and precious stones (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

i) Christ meets the Church in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and takes her to His Father's house (John 14:1-3).

j) After this marriage, the rapture, another period starts where Israel is used by God (Daniel 12:1).

k) God has given all things to Christ (Ephesians 1:22; Hebrews 1:2).

l) Jesus Christ's spiritual children are the children of promise (Romans 9:8).