Cecelia and I were in our late twenties when we were blessed with the news that we would have our first child. A few months later the doctor told us to expect a son. Again, we were delighted but faced the question of what to name him. We concluded that we would name him “Cos,” my given name and that of my father and his father before him. Cos is a very unusual name and can lead to mispronunciations and teasing by insensitive children and some adults. He would need another name.
We searched for a strong second name with which he could identify. We choose Nathan, meaning “gift from God.” That name clearly stated our conviction that God had given him to us. God had blessed us with a son. But we are not finished with names, God will bless us again.
A little more than two years later we are given a “princess.” We are delighted to add a daughter to our family! Again we faced the question of a name for this child. For weeks we searched for names and came down to two from which we would decide. Again, the determining factor was our faith in Jesus and the desire to honor Him with her name. We named her Kristen, “follower of Christ.” To that beautiful name, we added Leigh; she would be called Kristen Leigh.
Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 when God blessed them with a son. But unlike most of us, they do not have to decide what to name the boy. Why is that? Because God told them what to name him. God said to Abraham, “You shall call his name Isaac, and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.” Genesis 17:19
Isaac means “he laughs” or “laughter.” Why does God choose this name for the promised child? Here is the back story. The Lord appeared to Abraham and said,
“‘I will surely return to you this time next year, and behold Sarah your wife shall have a son.'” And Sarah was listening at the tent door which was behind him.’ Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” Genesis 18:10-12 There you have it, Sarah laughs at God’s promise.
This is an insult to God and God takes it up with Abraham.
“A the Lord said to Abraham, ‘ Why did Sarah laugh, saying shall I indeed bear a child when I am so old? Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.'” Genesis 18:13-14.
Genesis 21:1 tells us,
“The Lord took note of Sarah as He had said and the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised…And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.” Genesis 21: 1,3.
God has a plan to redeem us and Abraham and Isaac are major pieces in the “puzzle” God is putting together. The plan moves ahead but God has a test for Abraham. Will he trust God or will he waver as in the past?
This amazing story picks up in Genesis 22. Several years have passed and Isaac is a young boy when God tests Abraham’s faith in Him and the promise to make him the father of a great nation. The test is to take the promised son to a mountain in the land of Moriah and sacrifice him as a burnt offering to the Lord.
Abraham takes Isaac and the wood needed for the offering and travels three days to the designated place. Isaac raises an important question, “We have the wood and fire for the offering, but where is the lamb? “ Genesis 22:7. Abraham responds to his son,” God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Genesis 22:8
Abraham has grown to where he completely trusts God to keep His promise. He ties Isaac, lays him on the altar, and raises his hand to kill him and God intervenes, ” Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me.” Genesis 22:12.
Abraham turns to see a ram caught in a thicket and sacrifices it to the Lord. As a testament to God’s faithfulness, he calls the place, “The Lord Will provide.” Genesis 22:14 Indeed, the Lord keeps His promises.
Isaac lives to an old age and has two sons, Jacob and Esau. The plan and promise will continue despite the trickery and deception of the people God chooses for His plan. We will see how the promise continues in the next segment on God’s promises. If you want to see how Isaac connects to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise, see the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1: 1-2.
Here are a few observations about God we can take from this post:
- God is bigger than any problem or circumstance we face.
- His grace is greater than our sin.
- He finishes what He starts.
- He has a plan to save us.
- He makes promises about His plan.
- He keeps His promises.
Doesn’t all this make you want to thank the Lord for how good He is to you?