Another Patriarch - Isaac

How many of you are a middle child? I am stuck between two girls. I was always one of those "Gordon's." Most people who knew of us either connected me by Uncle Delmar or by one of my older brothers, Russell or Tim. Have you ever lived in someone else's shadow?

This is something of the life of Isaac. As soon as we began the Patriarchal Period of Genesis we started with Terah and then moved to Abraham. We have Isaac from 25-28 with really only one chapter (27) dealing primarily with Isaac.

Notice that Isaac doesn't take center stage until after he is married. This is different from both Abraham and Jacob. Isaac is a very interesting but somewhat elusive character in the scripture.

Isaac 25:19-28 -

ISAAC -

Isaac whose name means "laughter" or "he laughs" or "he laughed," is the promised son of Abraham and the father of Jacob and Esau. He is often marginalized or overlooked by some OT scholarship, as insignificant, weak, or elusive. "He grew up in the shadow of a godly father and in the memory of his offering on Mount Moriah." Isaac however is shown in the Bible as the longest living of the Patriarchs of Israel, and is the hinge point for the covenantal promises of God to Abraham.

While there is not near as much information found in the Bible about Isaac as Abraham, and Jacob. Isaac still plays a very important role in the salvation of the world.

The name Isaac is found in only twenty-one biblical books, primarily in the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy.) There are nineteen references to Isaac in the New Testament.

The presences of Isaac is found between the promise of his birth in Gen. 17 and the report of his death (Gen. 35.) The major focus on his life is from Genesis 21-28. After this section of scripture, uses of his name usually refer to Isaac "as Jacob's father, to Abraham and Isaac as Jacob's forefathers or, climactically, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as recipients of the covenant. In the New Testament, roughly half of the references to Isaac except for genealogies echo this Old Testament usage. He appears in the New Testament as one of the three great patriarchs, in the genealogies of Jesus, as an example of faith, and his sacrifice by Abraham is mentioned twice. Paul in Galatians 4:28 reminds us that as believers, "we, brethren, as Isaac, are the children of promise."

Isaac was revered as one of the Israelite patriarchs. Amos uses the name Isaac as an expression for the nation of Israel in Amos 7:9,16.

Like his father Abraham, Isaac was forced to wait a long time for the birth of his heir, and became entangled with Abimelech in Gerar, passing off his wife as his sister.

Isaac was unlike his father, in that he never traveled more than a few miles from where he was born, he only had one wife, who only bore him two children. He was never in a battle. He became blind and nearly helpless and lived to the age of 180 while his father Abraham died at 175 years old.

It may not be so surprising that Isaac is so different and more of a background type individual when you take into consideration that he endured mocking from Ishmael his older brother, was almost sacrificed on Mount Moriah, was apparently very close to his mother, and seems to have grieved for her for several years

Some interesting things from Isaac's life, that set him apart from the other patriarchs.

His birth - The circumstances of his birth certainly leave no doubt about his name. They do lead one to laugh. A child born to a 90 year old lady and a 100 year old man. He was the first newborn male child circumcised according to God's covenant with Abraham. Isaac and Rebecca waited 20 years for their firstborn, who came only after a very sincere and earnest prayer. Isaac though not an only child, still seems to play favorites with his children. [1]

Barrenness Restored by Prayer 25:19-28

Isaac was 40 when he was married and is 60 when the twins are born - 20 years waiting for children. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for Isaac's birth. Infertility may have ran in the family, or this may have been a test of faith - whatever it was it was overcome by prayer. Rebekah Prays - 22-23 - We are not told how she enquires of the Lord. She could have gone to a prophet or a seer. But she receives this oracle from God.

Two children struggled - it was twins. Each child - represented a Nation (Israel and Edom) One of them being stronger than the other The elder shall serve the younger.

The firstborn - Esau was born red and hairy - like a garment. The second born - Jacob - took hold of Esau's heel

Esau a hunter Jacob a home body We are told in verse 28 -

Isaac loved Esau - because he did eat of his venison Rebeca loved Jacob

This is not about parenting and may not even cover Isaac and Rebecca's full parental treatment of Esau and Jacob. The "love" each parent shows for their favorite does not mean the other child is unloved. It means a preferential treatment. Surely Rebeca loves both of her children, but Jacob is the one she favors. (NIVAC)

A Sold Birthright 25:29-34

The birthright was the oldest son's share of the material estate of the family. In the ancient world the firstborn typically received a double share of the inheritance. If there were twelve sons, the inheritance was divided into thirteen shares, the oldest would receive 2/13ths The setting isn't given to us, but it is possible that this was at a shepherd's camp where Jacob has traveled to graze the flocks and herds. However it was Esau feels that he is going to die if he doesn't eat. Jacob seizes the opportunity to take the birthright. Jacob's actions are not condemed in this passage, but Esau is look at the verb usage here. He did:

eat drink rose up went on his way

All of these being read by a person during this time would have filled them with horror. He is showing that he despised or was burdened by the birthright. Perhaps the author is suggesting that it was just as routine for him to despise his birthright as it was to do the others. It is not that Esau trades the covenant blessing away (remember that the birthright relates to material inheritance), but rather he shows his attitude toward heritage. If he so lightly esteems his material birthright, what reason is there to believe that he will value a covenant birthright? This does not give us Esau's feelings about the birthright, but it does show us how little he valued it. He valued it so cheaply that he sold it for a bowl of stew.

Perhaps we can understand it a little better by looking at how we use the word "contempt" it can mean a sentiment or mood, but it also is used in the legal context of being held in "contempt of court." It means that one is not showing the judge and the legal process the respect they deserve. We see this acted out further at the end of chapter 26 with Esau's choice of wives and how they grieved both Isaac and Rebecca. One Author points out that Jacob's sin was threefold

Presumptive toward God in trying to hurry up the fulfillment of His purposes Unfilial toward Isaac in trying to take the birthright from his elder, favored son Untraternal toward Esau in trying to take advantage of his extremity. Esau's sin lay in that

He was sensual and materialistic; he sacrificed the future on the altar of the immediate He despised the birthright and was according to Hebrews 12:16 profane or godless (Everyman's Commentary)

A Trip To Gerar 26:1-11 Wealth & Wells 26:12-33

When Isaac left Gerar, evidently he did so reluctantly and remained in the general vicinity—in the Valley of Gerar. Because his large herds required a lot of water,

he cleared the wells that Abraham had dug and that the Philistines had stopped up. In the process his servants discovered a natural flowing well of fresh water—a great prize in that region. Because the well was dug in land under their jurisdiction, the Philistines claimed rights to it. As a result of the contention, Isaac named the well Esek (meaning “strife”). When Isaac dug a second well a little distance away, the Philistines sought to control that also; Isaac named it Sitnah (“opposition”). Moving farther yet from Gerar, Isaac dug a third well, which was uncontested because evidently it lay beyond Philistine territorial limits. Therefore Isaac named it Rehoboth (meaning “broad spaces”or “living room”); they now had room to expand.

Rehoboth has been identified with Ruheibeh, about nineteen miles southwest of Beersheba. For some reason Rehoboth proved unsatisfactory and Isaac returned to Beersheba; presumably the famine was over. (Everyman's Commentary) (26:25). This is the only reference to Isaac building an altar. A tough-minded reader might reason that Isaac had seen enough of altars at Moriah. Sadness and Family Feuds 26:34-35

---------------------------------- [M] Adapted from:A. B. Luter and S. L. KloudaT. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, ed., Dictionary of the Old Testament Pentateuch: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship, (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2003), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "ISAAC". A. R. MillardGeoffrey W. Bromiley, ed., International Standard BIble Encyclopedia, Revised Edition – Volume Two: E-J, (Chicago, IL: Howard-Severance Company, 1915; repr., Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1979), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 883. Vos, Howard F.. Genesis- Everyman's Bible Commentary (Everyman's Bible Commentaries) (Kindle Locations 1954-1960). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition. Daniel C. Browning, Jr.Trent C. Butler, ed., “ISAAC,” in Holman Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1991), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "ISAAC".