10 of 35 Isaac Born – Story of Adam to Jesus

After witnessing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, do you think that Abraham and Sarah were still laughing at God’s promise of a baby?

The LORD … did for [Sarah] as he had promised. Gen 21:1

Sarah … bore Abraham a son … at the set time that God had stated. Gen 21:2

Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Gen 21:5

Let’s talk about Sarah for a minute.

Barren all her life; Sarah finally had a baby at age ninety. She never understood the value of her long, painful, wait; but it was important. Not only did it give Abraham’s faith in God time to grow for twenty-five years, it was also important in preparing the world for you and me.

Because, centuries later, a certain little virgin girl in Nazareth had to BELIEVE what an angel told her. It is hard to believe that you will give birth while still a virgin. But, it is easier to believe in virgin birth when you know Sarah’s story and hear an angel say …

… behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; Luke 1:36

God sometimes has us live experiences NOT for our benefit, but for the benefit of other people. Like the many people today who would be wonderful parents, but cannot have children. They help us, who do have children, to cherish our babies.

See # 489

Back to Abraham. Abraham’s faith developed and grew all his life. And all his life Abraham lived among people who were killing their new born babies in mistaken attempts to please the false gods they had made up.

As a final stage in the purification of his faith, Abraham, … [was] asked to sacrifice the son God had given him. # 2572

… God said: “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, … offer him up as a holocaust …” Gen 22:1

Abraham’s faith [did] not weaken # 2572

[Abraham] reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, … Hebrews 11:19

So …

… Abraham … tied up his son Isaac, and put him on top of the wood on the altar. Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the LORD’S messenger called to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. “Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger. “Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” Gen 22:9-12

Hoping against hope, [Abraham] believed, and thus became the father of many nations. # 1819

When I read this story I also like to think about who else was there. Isaac, laying on the wood, watching the knife in his father’s hand. What did Isaac learn that Isaac could then teach his children? Isaac learned that God wants our love, our prayer, our friendship; not blood and guts and fire and smoke.

# 2100