God's Touchpoints - An Old Testament JourneySample

ISAAC – WINGING FAITH Isaac is “winging it” on the faith and blessings of his father. No additional spectacular demonstrations in his faith are evident. While he does carry the legacy to some extent, we do see numbness to God taking over and complacency setting in. It appears to be more of the faith of others than himself that is carrying him through. He is: • Born by (his father’s) faith – Not only does he gain life through faith, he regains it through “fire”, literally, as his father places him on the altar. His implicit trust in his father is commendable. • Blessed by (his father’s) faith – As the sole inheritor of Abraham’s blessings regarding God’s chosen nation, o He prays for a son when his wife is barren (as his father did) (Gen 25:21) o God blesses him because of His servant Abraham (Gen 26:5). o He has his father’s generosity i.e. conceding in well disputes, as his father did with Lot. (Gen 26:17-22) o In a spirit of gratitude he builds an altar acknowledging God. (Gen 26:25) o God prospers him (Gen 26:17-32). o He maintains peaceful relations with neighbors (Gen 26:28-30). • Bonded by (his servant’s) faith – Yes, it is Abraham’s servant whose faith and determination to seek God’s leading enables him to get his bride Rebecca, from his own people. Predictably, Isaac also makes the same mistakes of his father. (Gen 26:7-10). The rewards of godliness (and sin) extend beyond an individual to his family to generations. In spite of the rich legacy, he is struck with: • Double blindness – Not only is he physically, but also spiritually blind in his latter years. Though God tells Rebekah that Jacob will rule Esau (Gen 25:23), he plans to give the prime blessing to Esau based on physical appetite. Notably it is Rebeccah and not Isaac that God communicates his plan to, Jacob, not Isaac who is Israel. • Double reversal of his children’s blessings – God in his mercy overrules and The blessing he thinks he is giving Esau is given to Jacob, God’s choice. The church today is blinded and numbed with complacency after generations since the advent of the gospel. We have received much, to what level are we prepared to obey and give? We are only stewards and not owners of God’s blessings. We are here to invest on God’s behalf not exploit them for our benefit.