Start each day by reading the passages listed above. Then use the summary and reflection provided here to guide discussion around the daily reading.
Isaac was the first child of the promised nation through Abraham—the initial fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham to give him a son and an heir. The Lord’s provision didn’t stop with Isaac’s birth. From his wife, Rebekah, to the ram given in his place, the Lord provided for Isaac.
Where do you see God active and present in Isaac’s story?
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62 thoughts on "Isaac, Who Needed a Substitute"
Hallelujah to the Lord!
Thank you for this insight!❤️
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after Issac was good to God, God in return gave him the wife he asked for so he didn’t have to grieve about his mothers loss so harshly and had another women to be by his side while he was going through these emotions
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Though i have read these passages alot of times before, today is the first time it hit me that Abraham told his servant to wait there and in a while”we will return” he obeyed Good and prepared to sacrifice Isaac… however he knew in his heart that God would make another way in view of the fact that God had promised him to make his descendants as numerous as the stats on the sky… and it would not be done through Ishmael since Isaac was the son of promise. What faith! God is not a man that He should lie.
He didn’t trust God to protect himself and Sarai/Sarah.
His fault was dissembling his relation to Sarai, equivocating concerning it, and teaching his wife, and probably all his attendants, to do so too. What he said was, in a sense, true (ch. 20:12), but with a purpose to deceive; he so concealed a further truth as in effect to deny it, and to expose thereby both his wife and the Egyptians to sin.
2. That which was at the bottom of it was a jealous timorous fancy he had that some of the Egyptians would be so charmed with the beauty of Sarai (Egypt producing few such beauties) that, if they should know he was her husband, they would find some way or other to take him off, that they might marry her. He presumes they would rather be guilty of murder than adultery, such a heinous crime was it then accounted and such a sacred regard was paid to the marriage bond; hence he infers, without any good reason, They will kill me. Note, The fear of man brings a snare, and many are driven to sin by the dread of death, Lu. 12:4, 5. The grace Abram was most eminent for was faith; and yet he thus fell through unbelief and distrust of the divine Providence, even after God had appeared to him twice. Alas! what will become of the willows, when the cedars are thus shaken?
In Genesis 26:24, God tells Isaac he will bless him and multiply his offspring because of His servant Abraham. Not because of what Isaac had done, but because of Abraham’s faith. It made me think of the legacy I leave for my daughter. What am I modeling for her in how I live out my faith? What will be passed down to her? There are more obvious things like taking her to church and praying with her. But I want her to see me trusting God, loving others, and not valuing the things of this world more than the things of God. I hope she can see those things in my life.
I just got huge chills from Genesis 22:7-8…
7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.” And he replied, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.
Abraham didn’t know how or when, but he trusted God would provide the lamb for the burnt offering. I also saw this as a major foreshadowing of Jesus… God provided THE Ultimate Lamb so that we could be set free from sin! ❤️ So thankful that God provides….
Thank you ladies for also sharing that Isaac carried the wood, just like Jesus carried the cross… and that Abraham had so much faith that he said “we” will come back down.
…he could have been lying—both to comfort his son and to keep the servants from attempting to restrain him. He lied in the past: Gen. 12:10–20; 20:1–18
Thank you ladies for the birthday wishes! ❤️❤️❤️
I’ve been doing another devotional from Hosanna Wong in the Bible app with my family at this time… I will try to catch up though. Miss you ladies and your reflections. Life has been busy! God is so good. ❤️ Have a blessed weekend ❤️❤️
Abraham trusted God to provide. He said we will return to the servant. God was with Issac in his father’s faith and trust of God to provide. He was with him when he provided the sacrifice for him instead. This is just what Christ did for us. He provided the sacrifice needed for our sins
@ Searching. I too have heard that Isaac was a type of Christ. Where I saw that most poignantly was when Abraham places the wood for the sacrifice on Isaac’s back. Issac carried the material needed for his own sacrificial death even as Christ carried his in the form of the cross.
@ Searching. I too have heard that Isaac was a type of Christ. Where I saw that most poignantly was when Abraham places the wood for the sacrifice on Isaac’s back. Issac carried the of his own sacrificial death to
I read about the oath in the study Bible I bought from Ligoneer Ministry. Putting your hand under the thigh verse was explained like this: The loins were viewed as a source of vital and procreative power(Deuteronomy. 33:11; Job 40:16; Heb.7:10). Such an oath is inviolable, even after the death of the one whom it was sworn.(47:29-31.)
Very interesting!
Faith, non-typical faith from Abraham and Isaac. We see God show up and provide. Praise God!
I have always love to look for the Trinity language throughout the Bible. When Issac and Abraham go up the mountain Abraham answers to God in C.22:1 “Here I am”, to his son C.22:8 “Here I am, my son”, and then to God again C.22:11 “Here I am”. I know from studying some texts in the Hebrew Bible that any text written more than twice is to trigger the mind of the reader to remember that this is important.
Yes, me too. I love seeing this!
I have not listened to the podcast yet I always forget about it. I will have to check it out. I work in as a special education teacher in a collaborative World History I class. The rock that Abraham laid Isaac for sacrifice is sacred in 3 religions. Muslims, Jews and Christians. Jews and Christians because it is where Isaac was asked to be sacrificed and Muslims because they believe the same rock is the same place where Muhammad ascended into heaven. It’s a little bit of religion. We actually get to teach in school. 
I have not listened to the podcast yet I always forget about it. I will have to check it out. I work in as a special education teacher in a collaborative World History I class. The rock that Abraham laid Isaac for sacrifice is sacred in 3 religions. Muslims, Jews and Christians
Isaac’s story has always been a conflict of emotions for me. Especially since we are taught by our parents, teachers, and society to not blindly follow anything without question. But Abraham had more courage to follow God in his request to sacrifice Abraham’s only legitimate heir. The long awaited heir promised and given to him by our Lord. It shows you how much trust and loyalty Abraham had that he was prepared to sacrifice his son. I find it interesting the miracle of Isaac’s birth, the loyalty and trust Abraham showed in dedication to the Lord, and Isaac’s wife Rebekah being chosen by God. His hand was in everything. Our Lord was always preparing the way and reminding us of the covenant we have with Him.
I had to go back and re-read these passages after listening to Week 2 of the podcast because I wanted to look for the themes they mention: place, inheritance, legacy. In looking at God speaking to Abraham in Genesis 22 and God speaking to Isaac in Genesis 26 the idea of place is different: God tells Abraham to go to the place God tells him about (also applies to Abraham’s initial start) vs God tells Isaac do not go to Egypt, live in the land God tells him about and to stay. But when looking at inheritance, the message is the same: numerous offspring and there is promised land for the offspring and offspring will possess the city gates of the enemies (also seen in the blessing for Rebekah). The message of legacy is the same too: all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because Abraham was obedient. It just feels like in all the conversations with God this legacy part – of blessing others – gets lost in the battles for inheritance but the legacy of blessing others was part of the package deal with God. This stood out to me in re-reading the passages, we don’t see many people asking why God isn’t blessing others through them, just where is their own personal blessing.
I see God all over Isaac’s story, God had been blessing him throughout his entire life.
Today’s readings left me ponder on some points:
1. I was reminded of this minor detail, whenever someone put their hand under someone else’s thigh, it is to make a covenant with that person (Genesis 24:2), isn’t that culturally interesting?
2. The servant of Abraham was really wise asking God for further clarity through prayer to seek out the right girl. The Lord cares who we enter into marriage covenant with. But again, if he didn’t ask, I wonder how he would go about this. How wise… just so I know it’s her Lord, when she offers me a drink, let her offer my camels also. God gladly shows him. May we remember this example when we need to search out someone, may the Lord shine the light on the person in our circumstances, so we don’t run into a counterfeit.
3. The title of this devotional has a subliminal message for me. Isaac, who needs a substitute. I can easily put my name in there (sobbing), who needs a substitute. Praise God for the substitute, His one and only son. He called off for Abraham’s, but God went forth with his. Glory to Him who gives a sacrifice in our place.
@KATHY STANSELL: lifting everyone in prayer. May proper training and safety protocols be provided with these power tools.
@KRISTEN: praying for hardships to be lifted and delivered.
@LEHUA: happy birthday!!!
@CEE GEE: praying for your teaching and lovely memories at VBS.
@MICHELLE: for your car fix to be thorough and well.
@RHONDA: for confidence for your tomorrow’s teaching. Yay for you!
@MOLLY: congrats on the closing! God works fast. Saying goodbye to a generational home is hard. You remind me of myself longing for the good old days, and that got me into depression before. But then there is this verse I come back often to snap myself out of such false reality, Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise (Ecclesiastes 7:10). The Lord will do a new thing. He will put new wine into a new wineskin. He will give new substance, new memories, new joy, new traditions for His new glories. Praying for your emotional state in this transition.
Be blessed dear sisters.
I am always struck by Abraham when he told his servant that he and Isaac will go up on the mountain, and that WE will return. Abraham had faith that even if God required him to sacrifice his son, God would provide for Isaac to be able to come back down the mountain. Such amazing faith!
Isaac was blessed not just because of his faithfulness but because of Abraham’s faithfulness. What a wonderful reminder that our actions and obedience to God affects our children deeply.
God is so present to answer Abraham’s servant in precisely the way the servant would know for sure God’s hand was in the answer. The servant had no doubt when he observed Rebekah’s actions. Glory to God!!
I’m praying KATHY STANSELL. What an amazing opportunity. May the Lord be glorified.
Happy Birthday Lehua!
I agree THEBESTISYETTOCOME. Even when we have doubts we need to trust and speak with faith that God has a plan.
Isaac saw God’s faithfulness throughout his life. From his promised birth, salvation from sacrifice, marriage, and children…God promised to be with him and prosper him and God did it!
God is faithful to His promises! He provided for Isaac even when Isaac tried to do things his way. God protected him.
@Laura … i just retired from the school system as well – you voiced my prayer perfectly ! Congratulations and praying for you!
The parallels are many and the whisper is really more of a shout. The life of Isaac points to Jesus, our Glorious Saviour.
The thing that stood out to me was the amount of trust seen in all the characters in this story. Abraham trusted that God would provide a lamb for the sacrifice. Isaac trusted what his father, Abraham had taught him about God. He willingly laid down to be sacrificed trusting that God had a plan.
Rebekah trusted. Genesis 24:58 says, “They called Rebekah and said to her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ She replied, ‘I will go.'” What compelled Rebekah to leave everything and go with someone she didn’t know, to a place she didn’t know? Would I be willing to leave everything in the belief that God has a bigger story for me?
Then, in Genesis 26 we are told that there is a famine. Conventional wisdom was to go to Egypt during a famine, but in this case, God told Isaac, “Do not go down to Egypt. Live in the land that I tell you about.” (v. 2) God then goes on to reiterate His promise to Isaac in verse 4, “I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky. I will give your offspring all these lands, and all the nations will be blessed by your offspring.”
I have this note written next to these verses. “Do not do the conventional. If I’m willing to step out of normal and listen to what God wants me to do, what kind of upside-down-kingdom-thing could happen that would usher more of the kingdom of God into the world right now?”
I have a huge prayer request. My husband is the youth pastor at our church. We are leaving on Saturday with 20 high schoolers and 6 adults to go to Westfield, IN on a mission trip. We will be working on the homes of low-income, the elderly, and single parents. The best way to describe it is that we go to the home of someone we don’t know, with 4 to 5 high school students we don’t know to do a job we usually don’t know how to do! And, it is one of the most incredible weeks ever. Please pray for safety as we travel and safety while we’re there (think teenagers and power tools!) Even more, pray that God will be glorified, lives will be changed, and we leave that place as different people.
Thank you for the prayers.
I am reminded this morning that the faithful God of Abraham is my faithful God, and that I am part of a larger story that is unfolding on behalf of the WHOLE family of God. My faith will affect the generations coming up behind me.
Isaac lived centuries ago, but the lessons from his life are still relevant today. He had great faith, got back up when he stumbled, and trusted in God’s promises. Every Christian can look at Isaac as an example of a simple man whose life was important because of how God used him
Known for: Isaac is God’s promised son born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. He is one of Israel’s great founding fathers.
Bible References: Isaac’s story is told in Genesis chapters 17, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, and 35. Throughout the rest of the Bible, God is often referred to as “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Accomplishments: Isaac obeyed God and followed the Lord’s commands. He was a loyal husband to Rebekah. He became a patriarch of the Jewish nation, fathering Jacob and Esau. Jacob’s 12 sons would go on to lead the 12 tribes of Israel.
Occupation: Successful farmer, cattle, and sheep owner.
Hometown: Isaac was from the Negev, in southern Palestine, in the area of Kadesh and Shur.
Family Tree:
Father – Abraham
Mother – Sarah
Wife – Rebekah
Sons – Esau, Jacob
Half-Brother – Ishmael
67 And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah to be his wife. Isaac loved her, and he was comforted after his mother’s death.
I know I’ve read this before, but this stood out to me as another example of God’s goodness and kindness. A lot of people are mourning or hav recently lost someone, May they feel the amazing comfort of the Lord! A man I went to high school with was recently killed in a car crash leaving 4 daughters behind. The youngest is 7, and her mom passed earlier this year. Please pray for that family if you would. Also my mom’s friends, Linda, her granddaughter, and another woman named Jan are in need of healing and prayers too! I’m not sure if all are saved! Thank you, Shes.
Strengths
Although Isaac was less prominent in the patriarchal narratives than his father Abraham and his son Jacob, his faithfulness to God was evident and remarkable. He never forgot how God saved him from death and provided a ram to be sacrificed in his place. He watched and learned from his father Abraham, one of the most faithful men of the Bible.
In an era when polygamy was accepted, Isaac took only one wife, Rebekah. He loved her deeply all his life.
Weaknesses
To avoid death by the Philistines, Isaac lied and said Rebekah was his sister instead of his wife. His father had said the same thing about Sarah to the Egyptians.
As a father, Isaac favored Esau over Jacob. This unfairness caused a serious split in their family.
Life Lessons
God answers prayer. He heard Isaac’s prayer for Rebekah and allowed her to conceive. God hears our prayers too and gives us what is best for us.
Trusting God is wiser than lying. We are often tempted to lie to protect ourselves, but it almost always results in bad consequences. God is worthy of our trust.
Parents should not favor one child over another. The division and hurt this causes can result in irreparable harm. Every child has unique gifts that should be encouraged
Happy Birthday Lehua! Have a blessed day! ❤️
I love how Abraham told his servant “we will return“. Abraham knew that God was going to come through in a miraculous way, in HIS own unique way. Even though Abraham didn’t know how God would work, he trusted the Lord and verbalized it. With words God spoke the world into existence. This is a wonderful reminder to speak with faith and to believe in the Lord, even while I’m going through a period of darkness, as I am now. I know the Lord is going to fulfill a specific promise He has given to my heart, but having faith while I can’t see HIM moving is difficult, but that is what HE has called us to do. Thank you for all the encouragement to walk through this darkness with faith!
I accidentally posted this on Friday’s comments cause I was catching up on some reading:
Good Morning!
Today is the day….CLOSING DAY FOR MY PARENTS HOUSE!
Instead of getting into redesigning a new drain field for the septic we agreed to drop the price, and that was enough for the buyers!
Yesterday my husband and I went to the house for one last load. That made me the last person in our family, stretching back 80+ years, of ever setting foot in that house, seeing the lake from the deck. It was a harder day than I thought it would be, but reminded me that in each person’s life their is a place in a family, a generation, a legacy that can be used to grieve God’s heart, or accomplish His redemptive plan. I am thankful for a family that, despite many mistakes and sinfulness, pursued God and His plan. And also thankful for a home full of memories that helped shape me, but a reminder that it is God who goes with us and He will use any place/home for His glory.
Have a great Monday (now Tuesday)! And thank you for being my Sisters in Christ, Shes!
Thank you for sharing. I’ve always thought he was a young child too.
Happy Birthday Lehuah! Wishing you a beautiful day! You are loved!
@Lynn…my heart is heavy for you. Praying that God will provide a way for what is needed for you and Jack!
Good Morning, thankful for the wisdom and insight to my sister She’s here each morning! It is amazing how we can grow and learn so much each study! I am so blessed to have found this morning routine over 9 years ago! It was hard for me to read the bible on my own and to make sense of so much of the old testament. It was also hard for me to make sense of the term having a “relationship” with God. How do you have a relationship with someone you can’t see, speak with or hear? You have to read the word, pray, meditate, keep your eyes open, be in turn with the Holy Spirit in your daily walk…THEN you WiLL hear, see, and speak with our Heavenly Father just like Abraham and Isaac! Thank you Lord for the gift of your PRESENCE and always being there for us. Let us Trust and Obey…And SEE YOU every day!
@Sharon, Jersey Girl- you are preaching straight to my heart!! That is something I felt while reading. What Abraham did made no sense, yet he kept speaking in faith to both his servant and his son while on this journey to sacrifice. I almost wish I could see inside his mind and hear the wrestling of doubt and truth. Thank you for sharing!
@Searching – thank you for your prayers! I’m going to drop my car off today to get fixed. We’ll see what happens!
Man. I’m so encouraged by this chapter. Like you all said, there is just so much evidence of God moving through this story. My favorite part was the servant’s prayer before meeting Rebekah. She fit the bill and literally walks on the scene before he even finishes praying to “the Lord God of his master Abraham” — the timing of it all!! So encouraged.
God bless you, Shes! May the Lord continue to be an encouragement — especially to @Lynne as you faithfully care for Jack. May you find His strength in you during this season.
@Lehua- Happy birthday!!!!
Amen
This story is so comforting to me and a good reminder that God is active and moving in my life and I just need to be obedient and do the next right thing that He asks me to do. I am in a season of asking and waiting – newly retired from teaching, husband is in a transitional period in his career, what do you want us to do next, God? I am trying to practice waiting on the Lord, being quiet and listening, being obedient and faithful. I so want to be used by God in this next stage of my life (and I pray the same for my husband) and I don’t want to be anxious that I won’t know what that is and I don’t want to be impatient (the hardest thing of all!)
MERCY, SEARCHING, and SHARON, JERSEY GIRL – Love your comments! Amen, SEARCHING on the leader comment! Yes, VBS is next week! Thanks so much for remembering and praying!!! How did things turn out for your friend with the health scare?
Sorry for the 2nd comment, but yours came in while I was reading/typing and I forgot to look back at comments before responding.
LEHUA K – HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! ❤
Isaac is the child of a covenantal promise and was raised in the faith of his father, Abraham, and taking the faith as his own. He must have been aware of Abraham’s conversation of promise.
I am reminded of the parallel – Jesus, a child of a promise, teaching in the synagogue at the age of 12. He knew Who He was and what His identity fulfilled.
Praying God’s blessing for each of you.
God is active and present all throughout Isaac’s story. He gave Isaac peace to trust Him when Abraham told him God Himself would provide a lamb. Isaac not only trusted God, he trusted his own earthly father – enough to obey him even though it meant giving his life. God intervened – He had a plan for Isaac. It was through God’s providence that He provided a wife for him. God appeared to Isaac just as He had to Abraham. When we trust God and obey Him – He blesses us. What we must understand is that God may ask us to do the impossible, or to do something that makes absolutely no sense to us. Our part is to trust our Father because He has a plan, He knows whats best. It’s easy to trust when we can see everything, the hard part is to trust God “in the dark”. We must remember that whatever God asks us to do – He will be right there with us and He will provide the way. “Trust and obey for there’s no other way – to be happy in Jesus is to trust and obey.”
Where do you see God active and present in Isaac’s story?
All over! I’ve read or heard preached at some point that Isaac was a type of Christ or similar language, and I see that in today’s scriptures – your only son, whom you love; 3rd day and likely more nuggets that someone more learned can see. Abraham’s faith is again highlighted with his speedy obedience and telling his servants that “we” (he & Isaac) would be back. And Isaac’s strength of faith is also shown – following his father, allowing the binding & the firewood to be placed and seeing the knife.
To me, one of the most important pieces in this story is Abraham listening for God’s voice and hearing the angel of the LORD (Yahweh). Am I listening? Is God speaking to me, guiding me toward a right choice or decision, pricking my conscience about my consideration of a wrong move of some sort? Through His word, the Holy Spirit, Christians I know or encounter, my godly sisters here?
Again, God’s hand is seen in Rebekah being at the well as an exact answer to the scenario the servant was praying about, her willingness to leave right away rather than wait a few days as her family wanted.
And God’s continued confirmation of His promise to and plan for Abraham’s descendants.
LEHUA K – Happy Birthday!
LYNNE FROM AL – praying for you, sister, and for Jack. You are heavy on my heart and mind this morning. ❤️
CEE GEE – thankful for safety in the storm! ❤️ And your comment re spiritual leader – praying more men step up to lead with God’s guidance – my husband doesn’t really lead and I saw same with my dad. Leading with God’s guidance is the key as I have seen what leadership in His name but without His guidance looks like – not good. And I think VBS is coming up next week? Praying!
GRAMSIESUE- like you, there were those seasons where I turned away. There are no words to express my thankfulness for His protection even during those times, and for His open arms when I came to my senses.
MICHELLE PATIRE ❤️ God’s timing is indeed a mystery so many times. Trusting in His perfect plan.
MARIA BAER – I had the same thought about the servant’s faith
E – congrats and praying for your and baby’s health
HEIDI – praying
Praying for requests- THERESA, KATIE L, FOSTER MAMA, RHONDA J, AZ WALKER, MELANIE and others.
I like Maria’s comment below, about how Abraham’s servant prayed for a sign even though he may not have been a follower himself. Abraham’s faith had clearly rubbed off on this head servant. He had probably seen Abraham praying countless times for all manner of things- healing, harvest, wisdom. Our visible faith can have an impact on those around us. You never know who is watching and how our actions and reactions can impact their own belief.
What faith! And how Abraham and then Isaac’s faith inspired faith in those around them. Lord, reward my faith and forgive my doubt. In Jesus name, Amen
God’s hand is all throughout this story. One thing that stood out to me was how the servant prayed to God to have a successful mission for his master. Interestingly, I do not get the feeling that he, the servant, is necessarily a believer. Yet, he puts his faith in the God of his master, and sees him in action.
God answers in His time not ours
When I was younger and read this story, I had the impression that when Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac, that he was a young child. Then later I read a commentary that indicated that Isaac was a young man and could have easily overpowered his elderly father. To me that changed everything because that meant not only did he trust his earthly father, but also his heavenly father.
Isaac, from a child, knew how to worship God. He was obedient to God’s direction in the midst of the famine and was blessed. He came into agreement with the covenant his father had with God.
LEHUA K – Happy Birthday
God’s fingerprints are all over their story. You can see those who took part would prayerfully ask God to show them clearly what they should do. We can’t expect to receive answers as quickly as Issacs servant did. He prayed and asked God to bring the woman to him that was to be for his master. We can’t expect that to always be what happens. Although, it is neat to see how the Bible gives us examples of quick responses from God, and also responses that require us to be patient. Let us be ready for whatever response God has us! ❤️