Isaac

Isaac, The Son of Promise (Genesis 25,26)

In contrast with the other patriarchs, Isaac may be described as a mild, patient, somewhat negative, character. Four events in his career stand out with special prominence.

(1) Offered in sacrifice

In God’s own time the promised child was born and was given the name of Isaac (laughter). When the lad was grown up, God appeared to his father Abraham with the startling command, “Offer up Isaac, thine only son Isaac.” Abraham took the lad, with fire and wood for the altar, and went a three-days’ journey and “by faith Abraham when he was tried offered up Isaac,” Isaac only being saved by the intervention of the angel of Jehovah.

(2) Married Rebecca

When Isaac was forty years of age, his father, Abraham, sent an aged servent to Haran to select and bring back a wife for his son. Rebecca, the daughter of Abraham’s brother, was chosen, and with rare faith she left her home and loved ones to share the fortunes of Isaac.

(3) The father of twins, Esau and Jacob

“And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field, and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents” (Genesis 25:27). As they grew, Isaac became partial to Esau, while Rebecca developed special fondness for Jacob. This parental partiality wrecked the happiness of the homelife.

(4) Blessed Jacob

When Isaac was old and stricken with blindness, Jacob having bargained with Esau and being guided by his mother, disguised himself as Esau and thus secured his father’s patriarchal blessing.
Having lived to a more advanced age than was attained by any other of the patriarchs, Isaac died, and his sons, forgetting their alienations, came together and buried him beside his father, Abraham, in the cave of Machpelah.