Author: E.Y. Redal

Isaac, The Son Of Abraham

Humans have not changed much in 4000 years. The longing for children and the desire for land still surge up. Sarah, whose name was changed by God, had a baby at the same time that God had told her she would. She had laughed and said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Abraham was 100 years old when the baby was born. He named his son Isaac. It must have been confusing to Isaac when Abraham decided to sacrifice him when he was a young man. But he went through with it because God had told him to do it. Isaac even carried the wood for the fire. Would you go through with anything like this? True, God stopped it, but even that must have been confusing! It’s confusing to me, how about you?

The three of them marched on, going where God asked them. But, now he had company! Thousands of animals, servants and much silver and gold, which he had received through princes and kings of countries they had traveled through. Sarah died in the land of Canaan. That was also the land where Isaac married Rebekah. They had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was very hairy, and Jacob was fair skinned.

When Isaac was old and his eyes were very weak, he called for his son Esau, his favorite son, and said, “I am very old and I don’t know when I will die so I want you to make the kind of stew that I like and bring it to me and I will give you the blessing.”

Rebekah heard what he was saying and told Jacob, her favorite son, “Now listen carefully, bring me some goats so I can prepare the stew your father likes, and some game with lots of hair. I’ll fix you up so you will get the blessing instead of Esau.”

Jacob was afraid he would get a curse instead of a blessing but Rebekah said, “Let any curse fall on me. just do what I say, and it will be fine.”

So everything was done and Jacob went in to see his father. Isaac was very suspicious. But Jacob was mad, even taking the Lord’s name in vain. The trick backfired and Jacob had to run for his life. He ended up herding his Uncle Laban’s sheep.

That’s the story of Isaac. It’s not what you would like is it? But it’s true and that is what bible does. It tells the good and the bad of people. It is God’s book and everything in it is true. Why don’t you read the story of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob beginning in Genesis, chapter 6? It’s interesting reading.

The Ups And Downs Of Abraham

A lonely guy, not a King, or even a wealthy landowner. You can’t even call Abraham your neighbor, he moves around too much. However, God called him, “A father of a great nation.” So, for a time, I guess you can call him a neighbor. He lived in Ur of the land of the Chaldeans. He had no children because his wife Sarai was barren. He later moved to Haran.

Abraham was important because God chose him. After the great flood of Noah, Abraham was chosen by God to begin a new humanity promising to make his family great. The promises were hard to believe. He was getting too old to have children, he owned no land, but God still chose him. Abraham always listened to God, much like Noah did. He visited many countries and peoples, and everywhere he went he was given lands, silver, and gold.

The Lord said to Abraham in Haran, “Leave your country, your people, and your fathers household and go to the land I will show you.” Now, I ask you, would you go? Would you take your family and head off to a country you never heard of? Well, Abraham did. He was told by God that he would be richly blessed. When he arrived at Egypt he noticed the King was looking at his wife who was very beautiful. So he said “She is my sister.” He said this so that the two of them wouldn’t be killed if the King thought they were married. What would you do in this case? The Bible calls it sin.

One day, God told them they would have a son born a year from today. Both Sarii and Abraham laughed because they were getting too old to have a child. Maybe you would laugh too, huh? Anyway they decided he would go to bed with Hagar, a servant of Sarii. They were going to help God out. The two had a baby and so did Abraham and Sarii. This caused lots of jealousy and sorrow. Sarii’s baby was named Isaac and Hagar’s baby was named Ishmael. Later, Abraham would send both Hagar and Ishmael away from them.

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” Abraham placed the wood they would need on Isaac’s back and he carried the fire and the knife. I can’t imagine doing such a thing. When all was ready and Isaac was lying in the rock God called to stop it. He said, ”Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” God offered his only son that he loved only He went through with it!

So, we all know Abraham was probably dwelling on his sins, but God wasn’t. I am sure He didn’t like them, but he wanted Abraham to obey Him and this he did. Probably a good lesson for you and I. Abraham’s wonderings caused the religion of Jewish faith to be spread in many countries, and from that seed came Christianity.