Isaac was Abraham and Sarah’s only son, born when Abraham was one hundred years of age and Sarah ninety. Before Abraham died, he gave all that he had to Isaac (Genesis 25:5). Isaac had been an obedient son, and he became a great man (Genesis 26:13), but never sought place or fame. He was a man of peace, one who loved God, and one whom God loved and blessed.
QUESTIONS
- What prominent place did Isaac fill in God’s plan of salvation for mankind, as shown in Genesis 21:12 and emphasized in the New Testament in Romans 9:7 and Hebrews 11:18?
- What significant similarities do we find in the life of Isaac and the life of Jesus, as shown in the following accounts?
Abraham’s offering of Isaac – Genesis 22
Abraham’s servant’s seeking a bride for Isaac – Genesis 24 - When Rebekah and the servant returned, in what attitude did they find Isaac? See Genesis 24:63. How can this attitude be beneficial to a Christian?
- When Isaac heard the report from the servant concerning his meeting with Rebekah, what did he do? What was his attitude toward Rebekah?
- What statements can we make regarding Isaac’s prayer life, and how can we profit by the example? See Genesis 25:21; 26:24-25.
- One Bible commentator brings out that Abraham’s long residence in this part of the country had left its traces in many a valley by the wells he dug. After his death, the Philistines seemed to have hastened to obliterate the witnesses of their treaty with him. What spiritual lesson can we learn from the account of Isaac’s digging again the wells which the Philistines had stopped? See Genesis 26:18.
- What did Isaac do when there was strife between his herdsmen and those of the Philistines over the wells his servants had dug? What characteristic did this exemplify and why is this a commendable trait?
- As we read the account of Isaac’s life, what miracles or feats of valor and courage come to mind?
- What reward did the Lord give to Isaac for his obedience and integrity? See Genesis 26:3,12,24.
THEME THOUGHTS
Webster’s dictionary tells us that one meaning of the word profile is, “a short, vivid biography, briefly outlining the most outstanding characteristics of the subject.” It is not difficult to go through the Bible and compile an extensive list of individuals who displayed some “outstanding characteristics” and from whom we can learn valuable lessons. Would a lesson on the dangers of refusing to obey the commands of God be profitable? Where could we find a better example to illustrate that point than in the story of Jonah—a man who spent three days in the belly of the whale because he declined to follow the instruction of the Lord? Would you like to know the secret of leading a triumphant life anointed by the Holy Spirit? Learn a lesson from the prophet Elisha—a man who performed a greater number of miracles than any other prophet except Moses. Do you see among your associates a tendency toward becoming involved in the things of this world? Looking at what happened to Lot’s wife, because she couldn’t give up the entanglements of Sodom, could prove to be a very beneficial study. In this quarter, we have chosen twelve Bible characters from whom we can learn some valuable lessons. They are not all “heroes of the faith.” In fact, some are the exact opposites! But there is something that can be learned from each of them. The final lesson in this quarter will be an overview of the preceding weeks, summing up the importance of learning from the lives of those who live on in the pages of Bible history.