By Teena Myers

Observations as I follow God through the Chronological Bible

Genesis 26:2-5, 24[1]

Isaac knew how his father left Ur of the Chaldees looking for a city built on foundations of justice and equality by God. His father taught him the only way to possess the city was by a son that God would multiply into a multitude too many to count. Isaac knew God would deliver this son from all his enemies and those who hate him. The nation the son becomes will serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness.

There is one thing Isaac did not know. There would never be a man in Abraham’s family that had claim to being the seed’s father. One son of Abraham would be the father of a daughter, Mary, whose eldest son would not have a human father.[2] The role of Abraham’s sons in producing the one seed who will inherit the earth would be minimal.

Aside from the trip to Mt. Moriah where God swore an oath, Isaac lived a fairly normal, uneventful life and repeated some of his father’s bad behavior. After his mother died, he married a barren woman. Twenty years of childlessness later, he petitioned God to give his wife a child. God spoke to Rebekah when she inquired about the struggle in her womb. She relayed the news to her husband about the twins who would become nations.

Aside from the tidbit of information Rebekah shared with Isaac about the future if their children, God did not speak to the man willing to die for his faith until a famine produced thoughts of moving to Egypt. According to the Chronological Bible, Isaac was 85 years old the first time God appeared to him with the same light burden and easy yoke[3] that rested on Abraham.

“Do not go down to Egypt. Live in the land I tell you to. Live in this land and I will be with you and will bless you for to you and to your seed I will give all these countries and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. I will make your seed to multiply as the stars of heaven and will give to your seed all these countries and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”[4]

Twenty-five years later, Isaac returned to Beersheba, where God appeared to him and repeated the same message. Isaac lived a blessed life because his father obeyed God’s commands. His willingness to sacrifice his life on Mt. Moriah gained nothing. Everything he had and would obtain in the future was the result of Abraham’s obedience, because to obey God is better than sacrifice.[5]

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[1] All scripture quotes are from the NIV Bible unless otherwise noted.

[2] Luke 1:34-35

[3] Matthew 11:29-30

[4] Genesis 26:2-5

[5] 1 Samuel 15:22