They gained the knowledge that life was hard, and fairness had never been a promise.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Hickory Jack)
“Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”
–Genesis 18:14 (ESV)
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Thirty-two times we see the following in the Bible, “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” We know them as the Patriarchs of Israel. However, in my life I have heard or read very little of Isaac. Who was this man? Why is he included in the same breath as his father Abraham or his son Jacob? Does he just fit in or is there more to the story?
“And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him–whom Sarah bore to him–Isaac.”
–Genesis 21-1-3 (NKJV)
Here Isaac finally makes his appearance. He is the child of promise. There is some contention before his birth between Abraham and God as there is some mockery on the part of Sarah. You know the story; it begins when Abraham, then Abram, told God, “But Abram said, ‘Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?'” (Genesis 15:2, NKJV) Since he has no son he is making the preparations for his eldest servant to receive the inheritance. A noble gesture, but it was not in God’s plan. God speaks plainly to Abram, “And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ‘This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.'” (Genesis 15:4, NKJV).
Impatience, anxiety, or was it unbelief? Either way, Abram and Sarah took it upon themselves to aid the Lord in His promise. Oh, don’t we get into trouble to try to do the work of the Lord our way. (statement not a question) They decided that Sarah’s maidservant, Hagar, would be the one to bear the promised child. One thing we see here, besides the unfaithfulness of Abram and Sarah, is the faithful servant Hagar. Using a surrogate may have been culturally accepted, but when Hagar became pregnant Sarah paid an emotional and mental price. Ishmael became a comfort to Abraham for fourteen years, but we have to wonder when we read of the bitterness of Hagar. Being rejected, trying to flee, almost dying, being hated by Sarah, would she not have passed on that bitterness to Ishmael who would in turn take it out on his half-brother Isaac?
Take time to read the story of how God protected Hagar and her son. Then go on to read of Sarah and Abraham and the birth of the promise–Isaac. Isaac for sure was born into strife and trouble. It was not his fault that he was to be bullied by his older brother and that he was the one who would receive the inheritance. Yet, he had to face the circumstances. He was the result of the promise of God–the result of a miraculous birth, and more than that he symbolized the birth of the One who is to come in the future. “This miracle son who symbolizes the Christ must not come from the desire of impulse of man, but entirely as a result of the plans, purposes and direct intervention of God Almighty.” (Michael Bell).
Note the lessons: First, nothing is impossible with God. Laugh like Sarah but God did and still does the impossible. Read what the angel told Mary. Second, there is an appointed time for His miracles to come to pass. It is not in our time, nor should we try to make it so as did Abraham and Sarah. It is solely up to God. And third, we see that faith is tested, and patience is learned. We see the words of James clearly in the life of Abraham, “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:3-4, NKJV)
When we read of this we have the tendency to think of Abraham and Sarah as fools. We see that much of the trouble in the world today is the result of trying to do the will of God, man’s way. There is still strife between the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac. But, stop, think of your life. Would we have done things differently? We have the record in front of us and we scoff at Abraham and his impatience, but are we any better. Do we wait upon God? Do we take His promises seriously, and maybe more important do we act upon them according to His will? Do not mock or ridicule the promises of God. Do not become impatient when His promises do not come out the way you desire.
————————————-
Thirty-two times we see the following in the Bible, “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” We know them as the Patriarchs of Israel. However, in my life I have heard or read very little of Isaac. Who was this man? Why is he included in the same breath as his father Abraham or his son Jacob? Does he just fit in or is there more to the story?
“And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him–whom Sarah bore to him–Isaac.”
–Genesis 21-1-3 (NKJV)
Here Isaac finally makes his appearance. He is the child of promise. There is some contention before his birth between Abraham and God as there is some mockery on the part of Sarah. You know the story; it begins when Abraham, then Abram, told God, “But Abram said, ‘Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?'” (Genesis 15:2, NKJV) Since he has no son he is making the preparations for his eldest servant to receive the inheritance. A noble gesture, but it was not in God’s plan. God speaks plainly to Abram, “And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ‘This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.'” (Genesis 15:4, NKJV).
Impatience, anxiety, or was it unbelief? Either way, Abram and Sarah took it upon themselves to aid the Lord in His promise. Oh, don’t we get into trouble to try to do the work of the Lord our way. (statement not a question) They decided that Sarah’s maidservant, Hagar, would be the one to bear the promised child. One thing we see here, besides the unfaithfulness of Abram and Sarah, is the faithful servant Hagar. Using a surrogate may have been culturally accepted, but when Hagar became pregnant Sarah paid an emotional and mental price. Ishmael became a comfort to Abraham for fourteen years, but we have to wonder when we read of the bitterness of Hagar. Being rejected, trying to flee, almost dying, being hated by Sarah, would she not have passed on that bitterness to Ishmael who would in turn take it out on his half-brother Isaac?
Take time to read the story of how God protected Hagar and her son. Then go on to read of Sarah and Abraham and the birth of the promise–Isaac. Isaac for sure was born into strife and trouble. It was not his fault that he was to be bullied by his older brother and that he was the one who would receive the inheritance. Yet, he had to face the circumstances. He was the result of the promise of God–the result of a miraculous birth, and more than that he symbolized the birth of the One who is to come in the future. “This miracle son who symbolizes the Christ must not come from the desire of impulse of man, but entirely as a result of the plans, purposes and direct intervention of God Almighty.” (Michael Bell).
Note the lessons: First, nothing is impossible with God. Laugh like Sarah but God did and still does the impossible. Read what the angel told Mary. Second, there is an appointed time for His miracles to come to pass. It is not in our time, nor should we try to make it so as did Abraham and Sarah. It is solely up to God. And third, we see that faith is tested, and patience is learned. We see the words of James clearly in the life of Abraham, “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:3-4, NKJV)
When we read of this we have the tendency to think of Abraham and Sarah as fools. We see that much of the trouble in the world today is the result of trying to do the will of God, man’s way. There is still strife between the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac. But, stop, think of your life. Would we have done things differently? We have the record in front of us and we scoff at Abraham and his impatience, but are we any better. Do we wait upon God? Do we take His promises seriously, and maybe more important do we act upon them according to His will? Do not mock or ridicule the promises of God. Do not become impatient when His promises do not come out the way you desire.