Isaac & Jacob

ISAAC.

Isaac developed and grew to his late thirties, early forties and had not married. Even at this early stage in the development of the chosen people, it was understood that because of paganism and other wicked practices, marriage into certain families and genealogical lines denied the children, the blessings of the covenant of Abraham. This principle must have been taught somewhere but it is not recorded in the Bibles of today. We find this sort of thing often throughout Scripture. Where a principle is common everyday living, it is very rarely recorded in the volumes of Scripture or history. We only catch a glimpse of it as we attempt to read between the lines.

Abraham's family, and the large conglomeration of servants and souls who accepted him as their leader and patriarch, lived in a pagan country. As Isaac grew to manhood, there was no one nearby, who would be suitable for him to marry and keep the covenant promises of the Lord.

Because Isaac was the only heir, Abraham was very protective of him and would not let him journey very far. He therefore sent his chief servant, who managed all his possessions, to visit Abraham's kindred to select a wife for Isaac.

This was in keeping with the custom of the day. The parents or their agent organised and select a wife for the heir.

I think most people know about the romantic drama of the choosing of a wife for Isaac. It is badly recorded in Genesis Chapter 24. Her name was Rebekah.

Abraham received some great promises from the Lord which we can see being fulfilled from now on and some are even still being fulfilled today. Gen. 12: 2&3. 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:

3. And I wilt bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curse thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

(a) I will make of thee a great nation.

(b) I will bless thee.

(c) I will make thy name great.

(d) Thou shalt be a blessing.

(e) I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee.

(f) In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

In retrospect, it is easy to understand these blessings but it surely must have been confusing for those of Abraham's day to understand most of them. They required a lot of faith.

(a) The results of Abraham's righteous living, his descendants created the great nation of Israel .

(b) Abraham certainly was blessed with all that he had a need and more.

It was not always easy but he proved his faithfulness and was blessed in temporal things too. Gen. 13:2. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold.

(c) The name of Abraham is famous throughout all history.

(d) Millions upon millions of people, Christian and Arabs, are certainly blessed because of Abraham.

(e) Undeniably, everyone who lives worthy of the covenants made by and through Abraham will be blessed.

Those who reject all these things are those who would curse him or his descendants.

They will get their compensation for their rejection of these precious things in God's own good time.

(f) Because of Abraham and his faithfulness, all families can be together eternally and that is the greatest blessing any descendent family of Abraham can receive.

Chapter 13: 14 to 17. This is another promise of wonderful blessings for him. We, who accept Jesus Christ and are adopted into that covenant of Abraham, are numbered among his seed. [Romans 9:6-8. See also the Bible dictionary.]

•  All the land he could see would be given to him and his seed (descendants) forever.

•  His seed would be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth.

•  As we will see later, his seed (the Israelites) did for a brief period possess all that land.

•  If we were able to number all the descendants of Abraham today as well as those who have passed away and those still to arrive on this earth, it would fulfil this promise.

Gen. 15:4,5,13,14,18. And behold, the word of the LORD came unto him saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

5. and he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now towards heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

13. And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years.