The life of Isaac (1)

The people of God are pilgrims. We read in 1 Peter 2:11, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” A stranger is one who lives in a country other than his fatherland. There he has his work and his house, so he may stay there for years, yet he will know that this is not his home country. The people speak a different language and have other customs. A pilgrim is one who may travel through a strange country as a visitor. He may admire the beauty of nature and see works of art or advanced technology, but he is a traveller through this land that does not belong to him. The patriarchs were also pilgrims with no abiding place though there was a marked difference between them. We can see this difference in Abraham, the father of the faithful, in whose life was revealed the power of faith, while in the life of Jacob, we see the trial and wrestling of faith. Both patriarchs had a life with many experiences of trial and deliverance.

Of Isaac, we don’t read so much. It seems that, in general, his life did not have as many heights and depths as that of the other two patriarchs. Yet, he was also a man of faith. In him we do not see so much of the power of faith, like Abraham, or the trial of it, like Jacob, but there is clearly evidence of the submission of faith. We read of him in Genesis 17:17&19 that he was promised to Abraham and Sarah. In chapter 21, we read that a wonder has taken place in Abraham’s tent.

Isaac’s birth

The LORD visited Sarah. Sometimes, this visiting indicates that God comes to execute His judgments upon a disobedient people. Sometimes, however, it speaks of a visiting in love and mercy. Here in chapter 21:1, it is a visit which will cause great joy. Is it not the prayer of pilgrims in the wilderness, “Visit me with Thy salvation”? Such a visit will drive away the darkness, will strengthen the weak, and will gladden the heart of those who are grieving. It is the Lord, it is Jehovah who remembers His oath and keeps His covenant word. This is not the covenant of works but the covenant of grace.

“And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said.” This was as a song of hope in the life of a barren woman. A child will be born, the child that had been promised in Genesis 17:16, “And I will bless her and give thee a son also of her; yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.” God always keeps His word.

Balaam said, “God is not a man, that He should lie, neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” Although the fulfilment of the promise goes through impossibilities, not one of God’s words will fall to the ground. His word will be confirmed.

Oh, what gladness this child gives. His name is an expression of it. Already in chapter 17:19, the Lord had said, “And thou shalt call his name Isaac.” The name Isaac means laughter, or laughing. How fitting this name is.

1) When Abraham received the promise, he fell upon his face and laughed. It is something incomprehensible, a wonder to him.

2) Of Sarah, we read that she laughed in distrust and unbelief, Genesis 18:12, “Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying after I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” She denied and said, “I laughed not,” for she was afraid.

3) Isaac himself was mocked and laughed at a few years later by Ishmael.

4) It is a fitting name because from Isaac’s seed would come the promised Messiah, who, when revealed to God’s people as their Redeemer, fills their hearts with unspeakable joy and gladness.

“And the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken.” According to His eternal decree, His counsel will stand, and He will do all His pleasure. At the set time of which God had spoken, the child is born as a token of God’s almighty power and faithfulness.

God’s works shown

How clearly we read that God glorifies Himself in the birth of this child. It is His work that we see in it.

A) Isaac is a child of God’s promise. The Lord had already said in Genesis 12:2, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great: and thou shalt be a blessing.” This happened when Abraham was called to leave his country, his kindred, and his father’s house to travel to an unknown country. God showed that He knew of Abram. No, it was not Ishmael who was the son of promise. He was the son of calculation, of human planning and efforts. It was Isaac from whom the Messiah would be born. How this promise was tried in the years that followed! Abram said in chapter 15:2, “Lord GOD, what will Thou give me seeing I go childless?” And in verse 3, “Behold to me Thou hast given no seed: and lo, one born in mine house is mine heir.” But no, the Lord says, “This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.” However, in chapter 16:1, we read, “Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children.” How must the mockers have said, “Abram, where is now your God?” Mockers will also speak in the life of God’s children and say, “It was all imagination; it was something you made up yourself, otherwise, that which God promised would take place.” Does not the Lord always lead His Church in ways in which all human expectations are cut off? The reason is that they might learn that nothing is impossible with God.

B) Isaac is also the child of a divine miracle, for, from a human perspective, this could not happen anymore. Yet we read in Genesis 18:14, “Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed, I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” God still performs wonders. Is not the new birth a wonder that can never be understood? It is a wonder when an enemy becomes a friend, when one who has no desire to walk in God’s ways receives a love to do God’s will, even if it goes against his flesh to follow Him.

C) Isaac is also the child of God’s good pleasure. When the Bible says, “And the Lord did unto Sarah as He had spoken,” this means, as He had appointed, ordained, ordered. It all happened according to His counsel, “at the set time,” at the time of which God had spoken to them. It was not because Isaac was better or more qualified, or because he had special merits. “Thou hast not chosen Me, but I have chosen you.” It was only because it had pleased the Lord. This is the only reason that this child of God’s promise, of a divine miracle, will also be a pilgrim who must travel in the way the Lord has appointed for him.

Isaac is a type of One greater than he, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God’s promise, Genesis 3:15. This promise was fulfilled at God’s time when it seemed to be utterly impossible. Christ is also the Son of a divine wonder. He was born from a virgin. He is a Rod out of the stem of Jesse. His birth took place in the fullness of time when enemies reigned over Israel. He is the Son of God’s good pleasure. Did not the angels sing about it? “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” And the Father testified of Him, “Thou art My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

The rejoicing in Abram’s tent was profound, but how great is that miracle when this promised Child whose name is Jesus is revealed to the soul of a waiting people. In Isaac’s life we will see the leadings of the Lord with a pilgrim. Christ was as a stranger on earth, in a howling wilderness. In Him we see also the holy submission to the will of His Father. In Him, all the families of the earth will be blessed. He will make His people who mourn because of their sins to rejoice in Him. p

(To be continued)

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Terug naar resultaten Printen