By Faith...Isaac

There is very little about Isaac that I find interesting, encouraging or redeeming. I have in times past wondered why he, Lot, Jacob, and several others, are held out as models of faith or righteousness in scripture. If one is looking for role models there are certainly many others who did much better jobs of managing their lives. I suppose it could be said of some Biblical characters, as has already been said by one of our present day cynics, "Some people's lives serve only as a warning to others."

We don't know exactly how long Abraham, Sarah and Isaac lived in Beersheba. From the language in Genesis 21.34 and 22.1, we have an indication of many years from the time Isaac was born to the time of Abraham going up to the area to be known in time to come as Mt. Moriah. The assumption of Biblical scholars is that Isaac was probably a young adult. Given Abraham's age even at Isaac's birth, Abraham had to be considerably less able bodied at this point in his life than was Isaac. That Isaac submitted to this process of coming to be presented on the altar as a sacrifice is quite remarkable.

Faith in his father, obedience to his father, respectful acquiescence to an old man's exercise of religious practices, all of these things stand in marked contrast to the willful, entitled, ambitious and arrogant ways in which the majority of youth and young adults of our time come up against the elderly. 

How do we teach dignity, honor and respect? How do we model these qualities? We have assumed that the need is esteem (self or social) without addressing the very essential ingredients by which value is given or measured. Without dignity, honor and respect, there will not be a valuing of the elderly or the accomplished or the gentle.

Without ignoring or diminishing the character flaws in Isaac, we can credit him with the remarkable attribute of respect and the apparent understanding of the role honor and blessing play in the affairs of mankind, present and future. Indeed, the writer of Hebrews 11 states that "By faith, Isaac" blessed his sons. This act of blessing would continue to be modeled through his son, Jacob, to an extent that would set tribes and peoples in relational patterns for generations and hundreds of years to come. What an impact this simple act of "blessing" would have to nations as well as individuals. By faith, Isaac blessed...

What an example for us. "Can, from the same mouth, come blessing and cursing?" Do you light a lamp or curse the darkness? Do you lament the actions of youth or do you bless the youth to great accomplishments? Do you fear what your children may become or do you bless your children into being? We are frequently too wrapped up in our kids doing rather than helping them as humans being. We inadvertently curse by not intentionally blessing.

Take a step of faith...BLESS! God bless you.