18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. Hebrews 11.18-20
Approaching the subject of Isaac’s faith has for many years been a precarious undertaking. Whereas Abraham’s faith is so greatly spoken of in the word of God, we find that in many ways Isaac’s faith presents itself in a more subtle, almost obscure manner. While Abraham's faith is exhibited as a determined faith, Isaac’s faith is viewed as Devotional. We experience this devotional faith first, through Isaac’s unquestioning Confidence. This was not a confidence in himself, but rather in his father and therefore by proxy in God. In Genesis 22:6, it is Abraham’s faith which is so prevalently remarkable: “And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”. But we must not forget the confidence shown by Isaac. Not once is it recorded in the eternal ledger of God's Word settled in Heaven that Isaac questioned his father’s motives, means or mentality. He simply trusted in his father thus trusting in God. Abraham did not respond to his son's question with a convoluted, three-pointed reply, but rather with a simple one sentence statement: ”My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering...”. Beloved, this devotion is seen in the only (Genesis 22:12) blessed and begotten son of Abraham, exemplified by the acceptance of his father’s explanation at face value ... just as we are with the Lord. Isaac’s devotional faith is also experienced by way of his Character. Imagine a son laboring side by side with his father for hours constructing an altar after hiking up the side of a mountain. Once the altar had been built, several cords of wood were placed upon it in order for the fire, they set aside, to burn the offering after it had been sacrificed. Suddenly, you are told to stand still so that you may be bound and tethered with rope. Your own father then picks you up and lays you upon the wood on the freshly constructed altar. Imagine doing all of this compliantly without a moment of doubt, without a word of protest, without fighting and without arguing, simply surrendering your will to that of the father and willingly laying down upon the altar. This young man, Isaac, who was not a child by the way, reviled not, but his character was such that he trusted in his father’s decision in that whatever was about to take place was in his and everyone’s best interest. Isaac’s character was that of submission unto the will of the father, so that God may receive the glory. Lastly, this devotional faith is experienced in his Campaign. Isaac knew full well of the promise given to his father Abraham. He knew that God had promised his father that through him the entire world would be blessed and that by his seed, Israel, the great and chosen nation of God would come to exist. Yet Isaac only fathered two sons, Ja-cob and Esau, both of whom he bestowed his blessing upon, (concerning things to come), although only one would receive the promised blessing of becoming God’s chosen nation. One would have thought, as the years passed, that Isaac would have come to question the promise and would have grown to doubt the words of his deceased father. Here he was with only two sons, polar opposites of one another, wondering how from them the world would be blessed. Earthly speaking it would indeed have made no sense, but being Heavenly minded, Isaac trusted that God could do all things. Therefore, Isaac, in the elderly years of his life and blind in his old age, blessed Jacob as the son to be the chosen one. Despite being blind and incapable of fathering any more children, unsure of the ultimate outcome, he remained confident in the promise given to his father Abraham which was to be passed down to him. In many ways, Isaac can be seen as a picture of Jesus Christ. He was the son of Abraham and the bridegroom of Rebekah (picture of the church), was willing to be bound and laid upon the altar of sacrifice, submitting faithfully to his father’s will. Remaining silent, he opened not his mouth as he became the foreshadow of the One who would come to die for the sins of the world. Isaac confirmed to us on that day that if the Lord made a promise, He was powerful enough to fulfill it. Isaac learned that if the Lord calls us or commands us to do something, that He will also carry us through it. Friend, we can be encouraged today that no matter what our calling or command in life may be, if the Lord has brought us to it, He will also certainly bring us through it! Know that the Lord will provide for us to complete assigned tasks at hand. While I can not imply that He will do everything for us, I will say that He is good enough to call and command us and, in His love, good enough to continue us! “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob...”
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