Isaac – The Fruit of God’s Faithfulness

Isaac – The Fruit of God's Faithfulness

>>> Read Genesis 21 and Galatians 4:22- 5:1>>>

 

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.              Gal. 5:1

 

In this chapter, we read about the birth of Sarah's son, Abraham's heir. As Isaac grew, Ishmael (the son who is not the heir) mocked him and Sarah said "Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son. . ."  The Word of God tells us that Abraham was distressed and the woman and her son were sent away. We could talk about how Abraham must have felt, since Ishmael had been part of his family for 15 years; or we could discuss God's compassion toward Hagar and her son. However, Scripture doesn't focus on these things, instead our attention is drawn to a sequence of events that sum up Abraham's life thus far and introduce us to the heir of promise.

 

While Abraham waited for the promised son, God trained him in two areas. One, Abraham learned what it means to live by the principle of faith; and two, he grew in the understanding of God's faithfulness.  Now we see this flow of events:

 

¨       The child of the flesh is cast out

¨       Isaac (the fruit of faith) is established as the true heir of God's promise

¨       Abraham is acknowledged as a man of faith

¨       Abraham establishes himself in the land for the first time

 

These events have significance for they speak of the believer's life on the earth. While it seems cruel for Ishmael to be 'cast out,' this picture is given so that we will understand God's mind regarding the works of the law. The works of the law are any fleshly efforts to become acceptable to God (such as 'doing our best' to do His will). The law is not compatible with the life of faith and will not be tolerated by God as a way to live. Children of the law will not inherit with children of faith. Self-effort is a bondage that cuts off the believer's ability to grow in the knowledge of the Fathers' heart and when we lose access to the Father, we lose the source of all blessing.

 

The life of religious self-effort mocks the life of faith as Ishmael mocked Isaac. In Paul's day, the religious Jew (bound by the law) persecuted and mocked the apostle as he preached the gospel of grace.  Paul is similar to Abraham – he spoke of learning to live by faith (Phil. 4:11) – how well he understood the difference between the bondwoman and the free woman!

 

As we move through the sequence of events in Genesis 21, we read of an encounter between Abimelech and Abraham. Abimelech recognized Abraham as a man of faith, a man who lived according to God's will. Abimelech let's us know what he sees in Abraham when he says, "God is with you in all you do."  Notice, Abimelech did not praise Abraham for his strength, influence or wisdom; he saw God's presence in Abraham's life. This is the purpose of the believer's life! We do not set out to become known as a person who demonstrates God's presence – we keep our minds and hearts set on knowing Him and pressing on through the school of faith.  We respond to God when He exposes our weakness and we depend upon Him to conform us to the likeness of His Son. Then people will see, as Abimelech did, that God is faithful.

 

Abimelech recognized Abraham as man of position and made a request of him. This situation portrays Abraham as a man to be reckoned with (because God is with him in all he does).  For the first time Abraham makes a claim on the land God has given him. He requests control over a well and he plants a grove. This is a picture of God – through Abraham – having a presence on the earth.

 

God has revealed Himself to a man who has responded in faith. The fruit of that relationship is a son – the son of promise – Isaac.  Isaac is the heir to the land, numerous descendants, nations and spiritual seed.  What a beautiful picture of the life of faith for every believer in this age – the age of grace. We do not gain land on the earth, but are promised a heavenly home. The fruit of our lives is not represented by earthly nations but by spiritual fruit as we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, in dependence upon God the Father.

 

The challenge we face as believers is to cast out the bondwoman, for we are children of the 'free woman.'  If we read the Bible to find principles for life or to find rules to live by we put ourselves in the position of depending on self in order to please God. God has given us this book so that we can draw near to Him through knowing His Son. It is only by knowing His Son intimately that we are able to live the life that pleases God. As we know Him and are conformed into His image, He will give us the ability to respond to the correction and child-training necessary to make us into people who will elicit this comment, "God is with you in all you do."         LJ 1/10