Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The story of Isaac is told in Genesis 21 – 28

Influential Men Of The Bible
Isaac
The story of Isaac is told in Genesis 21 – 28
The only son of Abraham by Sarah. He was born in the south country, probably Beer-sheba (Gen. 21:14,31), when Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90 years old (Gen. 17: 17; 21: 5). He was named Isaac because both Abraham and Sarah had laughed at the thought of having a child at their age (Gen. 17:17-19; 18:9-15; 21:6). His birth must be regarded as a miracle. It was 25 years after God had promised the childless Abraham and Sarah a son, that the promise was fulfilled. He is rightly called the child of promise, in contrast with Ishmael, who was born of Hagar, Sarah's maid, and Abraham. When he was eight days old, he was circumcised (Gen. 21:4). Fearing future jealousy and strife between the two boys when she observed Ishmael mocking Isaac, Sarah tried to persuade Abraham to cast out Hagar and Ishmael. Abraham was unwilling to do this because he loved the boy, and did so only when he received explicit direction from God, who said to him that his seed would be called in Isaac, but He would also make of Ishmael a nation (Gen. 21 :9-13).
The next recorded event in the life of Isaac is connected with God's command to Abraham to offer him as a sacrifice on a mountain in the land of Moriah (Gen. 22). It is his acceptance of his father's purpose, his unquestioning submission and obedience, that stand out as much as his father's faith. Bound upon the altar and about to be slain, his life was spared when an angel of the Lord stepped in and substituted for him a ram, which was offered up instead of him .”And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.” (Gen 22:14).
Sometimes God may ask us to follow instructions that seem strange to us, but if we will give God complete obedience, then His will shall be accomplished with us in the center of it. Would you want to miss out on the blessings of God because you fail to obey? Just like Abraham no doubt you have thought God’s requests seem strange, but He obeyed and was blessed for it. Isaac complied with complete obedience to his father’s strange request and was also in the middle of the blessing. Make today the day you get caught in the middle of God’s blessings through your obedience to His Word.

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