Isaac's faith journey #1

 October 9, 2020 (Friday)

 

I am going to encourage you to continue to study Abraham from the perspective of the New Testament. I want to move on to the life of Isaac.

 

Isaac’s life is recorded in less detail, most likely because there was less drama. Still the record begins on an ominous note. “When a famine gripped the land, a different one from the first famine that occurred in Abraham’s time, Isaac set out toward Gerar and toward King Abimelech of the Philistines.” [Genesis 26:1 CEB] If you recall Abraham’s life this was one of the two places he stumbled due to fear.

 

God specifically warns Isaac to NOT go to Egypt (see Genesis 26:2). It is at this point the LORD establishes the covenant with Abraham in Isaac’s life. God tells Isaac, “I will give you as many descendants as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all of these lands. All of the nations of the earth will be blessed because of your descendants.” [Genesis 26:4 CEB]

 

The key to the Abrahamic covenant (promise) is not just for his descendants. God’s design for the children of Abraham was the earth would be blessed because (or through) them. This foreshadows the church. The church does not exist for itself. The church is designed to be a blessing and to bless “all the nations of the earth.”

 

Why would God do this? I am so glad you asked. In Genesis 26:5 we read, “I will do this because Abraham obeyed me and kept my orders, my commandments, my statutes, and my instructions.” [CEB] This is directly at odds with a basic tenant of Protestant theology. We like to say we are saved through grace through faith. We also insist we stand solely on the merits of Jesus shed blood. Isaac inherits the Abrahamic covenant because of Abraham.

 

In some sense this is “grace.” Isaac did nothing to be counted “righteous.” We do not even know, at this point, if Isaac had any faith. We assume it from his prayer when he asked the LORD to give his wife children. But desperate people pray and will seek answers anywhere. The only act of faith we know of comes from the end of his life, “By faith Isaac also blessed Jacob and Esau concerning their future.” [Hebrews 11:20 CEB]

 

Isaac repeats Abraham’s lie. Rebekah, he says is his sister (see Genesis 26:7). He does this out of fear (see Genesis 26:9). It seems King Abimelek has learned from his encounter with Abraham. “But some time later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out his window and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah.” [Genesis 26:8 NLT] The translations are divided over using “caressing” or “laughing” because this is euphemism. What the king witnessed was an act of marital intimacy.

 

“Abimelech said, “What are you trying to do to us? Before long, one of the people would have slept with your wife; and you would have made us guilty.” [Genesis 26:10 CEB] This is the beginning of a souring relationship between Isaac and the Philistines. Things begin to spiral downward when Isaac planted crops and reaped a hundredfold (see Genesis 26:12). This lead to envy (see Genesis 26:14). Which then lead to a series of quarreled over water (see Genesis 26:20ff).

 

What I want you to notice is Isaac is a man of peace. At Abimelek’s request (see Genesis 26:16) Isaac begins to move away from conflict. We read Isaac moved in Genesis 26:17 and 22. We also see him abandoning three wells due to the disputes before he found a place to live in peace. God visits him and restates the covenant.

 

Isaac responds with worship. “So Isaac built an altar there and worshipped in the Lord’s name.” [Genesis 26:25a CEB] Isaac had the luxury to build on the foundation of Abraham’s faith. He didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. What he needed to do was live with integrity, be a man of peace, and worship God.

 

Not a bad pattern for us, eh?