Isaac -- Abraham and Sarah's Son

Lesson #7 Genesis 17 -- 35

     God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son, but He waited until they were very old to fulfill that promise. When God makes a promise, He keeps it. We must remember that.

     Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90 when the Lord blessed them with a son. Their son was named Isaac. He was the “apple of their eye.”

     As Isaac matured, he learned of his family’s faith in God. In time God spoke to Isaac, and He promised him the three promises that He had made to his father Abraham many years before. Isaac would be given a lot of land – large enough for a nation; he would be given many, many descendants; and Jesus would be one of his descendants and through Him the whole world would be blessed through the offering of salvation.

     When Isaac was 37, his mother Sarah died. Isaac was not yet married.

     Abraham instructed his most trusted servant to make an oath that he would go back to the country where Abraham’s kin people lived to choose a nice girl to be Isaac’s wife. Abraham did not approve of the young women who lived near him and Isaac. The servant was concerned that perhaps the young woman would not want to come and maybe Isaac should go there.

     Abraham said, “Beware that you do not take my son back there.” He told the servant if the young woman won’t follow, he would be free of the oath.

     The servant went on his way with ten camels, packed with supplies and gifts for the intended bride and her family. When he reached his destination, he stopped at a well to water his camels. The young women of the city came to draw water at the well.

     The servant prayed to God, “Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’ – let her be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac.”

     And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that Rebekah, a beautiful young unmarried woman came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the well, filled her pitcher, came up and said to the servant who had asked for a drink, “Drink, my Lord.” She gave him a drink and drew water for his ten camels.

     Rebekah agreed to follow the servant home and to be Isaac’s wife. She made Isaac happy. The scripture says that Isaac loved her. They had twin sons, Jacob and Esau.