Handbook:Isaac

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Isaac

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Article Sources:	ISBE (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

Isaac was the son God promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:4). He was born to his parents, Abraham and Sarah, in their old age as fulfillment of God's promise to them (Genesis 18:1-15 and Genesis 21:1-7). God told Abraham that he would have many descendants through Isaac (Genesis 15:4-5).

Isaac was the recipient of the promises and the blessings that God gave to his father Abraham.

When Isaac was a youth, God asked his father Abraham to sacrifice him on an altar. This was a test to see whether Abraham would obey God in everything. God rescued Isaac by providing a lamb in his place (Genesis 22). This is a picture of Jesus as the lamb who died in the place of sinners.

When it came time for Isaac to marry, Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for him among the family of Abraham's brother Nahor, who was living in Haran. Eliezer brought Rebekah back to be Isaac's wife.

Isaac and Rebekah had twin sons, Jacob and Esau. (See the articles on them for their stories.) Isaac's favorite was Esau, who was the firstborn and an outdoorsman, while Rebekah's favorite was Jacob, who liked to do things around home. God had chosen Jacob to be the heir of the promises and blessings, so it worked out that Isaac gave his blessing to Jacob, even though he was not the firstborn, who normally would have received them (Romans 9:10-13).

Many times in the Bible, God refers to Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.