Isaac

The name Isaac means "God laughs." Isaac was named this with good reason. His father Abraham was 100 years old and his mother Sarah was 90 when he was born. Both were well past the childbearing years and they laughed when God told them they would have a child. The blessings that God gave to Abraham were given also to Isaac and his descendants. Isaac married Rebekah when he was 40 and they later had twin sons named Jacob and Esau. Isaac is called the child of promise in the New Testament and he and his mother Sarah are historical examples of those who are justified by faith in God's promises. He was the first descendant in fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.

Lessons from the life of Isaac:

• It's not good to play favorites with your children.
• God respects young people who obey their parents.
• It's imperative to let God lead in the choosing of a spouse.
• God's promises and plans are bigger than people.
  

Isaac's story is told in Genesis 17:15 through Genesis 35:29. He is also mentioned in Romans 9:7-10; Hebrews 11:17-20; and James 2:21.

REFERENCES
	Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary Ronald F. Youngblood, General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995, Nashville/Atlanta/London/Vancouver Who's Who in the Bible Joan Comay and Ronald Brownrigg, Wings Books, 1993, New York/Avenel/New Jersey Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1996, Wheaton, Illinois