Read:
Genesis 26
Reflection:
In the patriarchal age from Genesis, the 2nd chief is Isaac. Even though he lived 180 years old, his story is (so) short in the Bible-in Genesis 26. However, we get a big influence on our faithful life from him especially.Isaac was born by promise, that is from Spirit of God (Genesis 18:10-15) just like the birth of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:35). This is very meaningful to us, because Abraham could not wait God's promise, that He would give Abraham a son, he took Hagar, his slave and a maid of his wife Sarah, and bore to him a son named Ishmael when he was 86 years old. But God gave Isaac to Abraham when he was 100 years old, based on His promise to Abraham
But, 'God said to him, "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."'(Gen. 21:12)
Even though Abraham has two sons, it was only Isaac who was born of a promise from God that will become the true offspring of Abraham. What's significant to this verse is that there are two kinds of men.
In the book of Romans, 'that is those who are the children of flesh, these are not children of God's, but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.'(Rom.9:8) We should carefully meditate about this as a reason why God has His distinction.
As we know, Jesus Christ also divided the weeds from the wheat as He explained it to the Judge.(Matt. 13:24-30)
There are two men, one belongs to God and the other belongs to the world, one is of life and the other is of death, one is born by a promise from God and the other is born by flesh.
Actually man is not able to be born of a promise by himself- this only comes from God. Then how can we distinguish them from one another?
That is, either you believe in Jesus Christ who comes through a promise by God or not. Those that do not believe personally that Jesus is Christ , they are the ones who do not follow His way, rather they rely on the value of the world because they come from the flesh. If you are indeed following the way of Jesus Christ, you are surely born from a promise.
It doesn't mean that if we follow the Way by our own, we become born through the promise- this birth only happens definitely by the grace of God . Moreover, there is another teaching through the word of God that "The -Lord-Will-Provide"(Gen.22:14).
When Abraham was about to offer a burnt offering to God, his sacrifice was his only son Isaac, then that's the time that the Lord suddenly changed the sacrifice with a ram. Through the story of Isaac, the Bible teaches us that we should be dead in our sins and that it is because we are the promised man in Christ through faith, God gave another sacrifice, the one who has given His life for all people and that is Jesus Christ our Lord.
Photo by: Josh Willink
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