And the LORD appeared to him [Isaac] and said. “…I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Genesis 26:2-5 ESV
Genesis 26 begins with the LORD blessing Isaac and promising that all the nations would be blessed through his offspring. Jesus’ family tree traces back to Isaac, and He was the true fulfillment of God’s words; through Him all the nations of the world are truly blessed. God kept His promise to Isaac, and rewarded Isaac for his faith and trust in Him. God’s blessing on Isaac was clear to the people around him.
When Abimelech went to him [Isaac] from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army… They said “We see plainly that the LORD has been with you. So we said let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you…You are now the blessed of the LORD.” Genesis 26: 26, 28-29 ESV
Abimelech saw the LORD blessing and hand upon Isaac and decided to make a treaty with him. Abimelech knew it was foolish to stand against the LORD’s blessed, so he treated Isaac with respect and honor, asking for peace. Isaac and Abimelech make a treaty, and went their ways in peace.
Jesus, the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham and Isaac, tells the disciples what is going to happen to him on earth.
…“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” Mark 10: 33-34 ESV
Jesus tells His disciples of the ultimate sacrifice He is going to make to save His people from their sins. He is going to suffer at the hands of the Gentiles and die on the cross. Jesus told his disciples this so when He rose again they would remember His words and believe in Him.
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saws it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the king of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them laying his hands on them. Mark 10: 13-16 ESV
Dear God, thank you for sending your Son to suffer and die for our sins so we can be made pure like Him. Please help me receive you kingdom like a child and follow with without falter. In You Holy Name, Amen.
Nathanael (nborger2017)
Sixty-six books in a year 