God's People: Isaac

Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, while he was still living, and he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.
This is the length of Abraham’s life, one hundred seventy-five years. Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with his wife Sarah. After the death of Abraham God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.
These are the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s slave-girl, bore to Abraham. These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes. (This is the length of the life of Ishmael, one hundred thirty-seven years; he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria; he settled down alongside ofall his people. ~ Genesis 25:1-18

Bet most of us didn't know Abraham had more sons than Isaac and Ishmael! In the end, he was rather prolific in fathering more sons. But none of them ended up with anything significant. Just some gifts, and then heading into obscurity.

And really, even Isaac, upon whom all Abraham's hopes and dreams fell, doesn't get quite as much fanfare in the Old Testament Story as his father or his son Jacob. 

What we know about him up until this point was that he was nearly sacrificed and that Abraham had a marriage arranged for him with a relation from back where he had come from. Isaac was not allowed to go himself to find his bride and was dependent on Rebekah being willing to come to him. She was and from then on, what we know of Isaac next involves his sons Jacob and Esau and the conflict over their inheritance.

He does get a little more story in scripture, but for the most part, he is a bridge between the great patriarch Abraham and Jacob - who will become Israel and give his name to the very nation of God's people.

And isn't that they way? Sometimes it is the ones who are least noticed that have such an impact on the bigger picture?

Sometimes we have a bigger impact on the lives of others even when we don't realize it.

God can make the most of anyone. Abraham, a man past his prime.

Isaac, a second, pampered son.

And as scripture goes forward, more and more characters who will seem the least likely heroes.

So what can God do with you?

Prayer: God, let me not discount the impact everyone of us has on Your Story. Help me to be a part of it always! Amen




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