In the Old Testament, Isaac is the only son of Abraham by his wife Sarah; father of Jacob [Israel]. God promised to make Abraham's descendants a great nation that would become God's Chosen People. But the promised son was a long time in coming. Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah [Sarai] was 90 years old. - Gen. 17:17, 21:5 - Both Abraham and Sarah laughed when they heard they would have a son in their old age. - Gen. 17:17-19, 18:9-15 - This explains why they named their son Isaac, which means "to laugh."

After eighth day after Isaac birth, Isaac was circumcised. - Gen. 21:4 - As he grew, his presence as Abraham's rightful heir brought Isaac into conflict with Ishmael, Abraham's son, Ishmael by Sarah's handmaid [maid servant] Hagar. The strained relationship caused Sarah to send away Hagar and Ishmael.

The child, Isaac, grew and was weaned, and Abraham gave a great banquet on the day Isaac was weaned. Now Sarah watched the son, Ismael, that Hagar the Egyptian has borne to Abraham, playing with her son, Isaac. 'Drive away the slave-girl [Hagar] and her son [Ishmael]' Sarah said to Abraham; 'this slave-girl's son is not to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac.' This greatly distressed Abraham because of his son, Ishmael, but God said to Abraham, 'Do not distress yourself on account of the boy, Ishmael and slave-girl. Grant Sarah all she asks of you, for it is through Isaac that your name will be carried on.

But the slave-girl's [Hagar] son [Ishmael] I will also make into a nation, for he is your child too.' Rising early next morning Abraham took some bread and a skin of water and, giving them to Hagar, he put the child on her shoulder and sent her away.

Hagar wandered off into the wilderness of Beersheba. When the skin of water was finished she abandoned the child under a bush. Then she went and sat down at a distance, about a bow-shot away, saying to herself, 'I cannot see the child die.' So she sat at a distance; and the child wailed and wept.

But God heard the boy wailing, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. 'What is wrong, Hagar?' he asked. 'Do not be afraid, for God has heard the boy's cry where he lies. Come, pick up the boy and hold him safe, for I will make him into a great nation.' Then God opened Hagar's eyes and she saw a well, so she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

God was with the boy. He grew up and his home in the wilderness, and he became a bowman. He made his home in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother chose him a wife from the land of Egypt. - Gen. 21:8-21 -

The first son, Ishmael of Abraham, by his wife's Egyptian maid servant, Hagar. Although God had promised Abraham an heir, - Gen. 15:4 - Abraham's wife Sarah, had been unable to bear a child. When Abraham was 85 years old, Sarah offered her maid to him in order to help fulfill God's promise. - Gen. 16:1-2 -

After Hagar learned that she was pregnant, she grew proud and began to despise Sarah. Sarah complained to Abraham, who allowed Sarah to disciplined Hagar. Sarah's harsh treatment of Hagar caused her to flee into the wilderness. There she met the angel of God, who told her to return to Sarah and submit to Sarah authority. As an encouragement, the angel promised Hagar that her son, who would be named Ishmael, would have uncounted descendants. Hagar then returned to Abraham and Sarah and bore her son. - Gen. 16:4-15 -

When Ishmael was 13 years old, God appeared to Abraham to tell him that Ishmael was not the promised heir. God made a covenant with Abraham that was to be passed down to the descendants of Isaac - a son who would be conceived by Sarah the following year. Because Abraham loved Ishmael, God promised to bless Ishmael and make him a great nation. - Gen. 17:19-20 -

At the customary feast to celebrate Isaac's weaning, Sarah saw 16 years old Ishmael making fun of Isaac. She was furious and demanded that Abraham disown Ishmael and his mother, Hagar. - Gen. 21:8-13 -

Isaac's birthright was an important part of his life. The blessings which God gave to Abraham were also given to his descendants. Therefore, to inherit this covenant with God was of far greater value than to inherit property or material goods.

Isaac's life gave evidence of God's favor. Isaac circumcision was a sign of the covenant with God. God favor toward Isaac was also evident in Ishmael's disinheritance. The dismissal of the sons of Abraham's concubines to the "country of the east" is associated with the statement that Isaac inherited all that Abraham had, including God's blessing. Isaac was in a unique position historically because Isaac would carry on the covenant.

When Isaac was.......

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Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless. 

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Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -