Bible History OverviewBible History Overview

Prepared by

Kelly Boyd

Welcome to Week 5 ofWelcome to Week 5 ofBible History OverviewBible History Overview

Genesis 24-26Isaac: Man of Peace and Contentment

Isaac: Man of PeaceIsaac: Man of Peace

Abraham’s Covenant Passed to Isaac◦God’s plan for the redemption of mankind had

begun with His eternal covenant with Abraham. ◦Because of Abraham’s faith and obedience,

God would confirm and fulfill His covenant with him throughout history.

◦The first step in the fulfillment of this covenant, then, was to pass down this covenant from Abraham to his “son of promise”, Isaac.

Isaac: Man of PeaceIsaac: Man of Peace

God’s Promises to Isaac◦Compare the following with God’s promises to

Abraham: 1 I will be with you. 26:3, 24 2 …and will bless you. 26:3, 24 3 To you and your descendants I will give this

land. 26:3, 4, 24 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the

stars in the sky. 26:4 5 Through your offspring all nations will be

blessed. 26:4

Why did God make these promises to Isaac? 26:5

Isaac: Man of PeaceIsaac: Man of Peace

Seeing Isaac as a Man of Peace◦Isaac, like his father Abraham, was a man that

believed that God was “all sufficient”. In many incidents recorded in the life of Isaac, he gave up what we may think were his proper “rights”.

◦Our society teaches us that each person has “rights”. We call this “humanism”.

◦Many churches, whether they realize it or not, are adopting humanist ways. Members are just as likely as unbelievers to demand their rights.

◦Let’s see if the life of Isaac can help get us out of this trap.

Isaac: Man of PeaceIsaac: Man of Peace

Isaac’s Early Life – Before Abraham’s Death◦Isaac’s age when his father almost sacrificed

him is unclear, but he was undoubtedly a young man with the strength to resist if he chose. Abraham was well over 100 years old!

◦When it is time for him to marry, once again we see a man of peace who was content to accept the woman provided for him. He could have refused, but that was not his nature.

Isaac: Man of PeaceIsaac: Man of Peace

Isaac’s Later Life – After Abraham’s Death◦Abraham had dug many wells during his

lifetime, but because the Philistines were so jealous of Isaac, they filled them with dirt. Abimilech, their king, told Isaac “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us”.

◦Rather than assert his rights, he chose the way of peace, and moved away. For him, it was better to dig another well than cause strife and bloodshed.

Isaac: Man of PeaceIsaac: Man of Peace

Isaac’s Later Life – After Abraham’s Death◦Isaac settled in the valley of Gerar, and his

servants dug another well, but the herdsmen of Gerar claimed that it was their water. So Isaac dug another well, with the same result. Finally, after digging a third well, there was no dispute.

◦Isaac said “Now the Lord has given us room in the land, and we will flourish”. What he could have taken by force, he received from God in peace, because of his reliance on Him.

What About Me?What About Me?

Look up these verses and write down how they relate to Isaac and to yourself.◦Romans 12:1,2◦Matthew 5:9◦Philippians 4:11-13◦Romans 8:28◦Romans 12:14, 17-19

From these passages, what “rights” do we really have as Christians?

Seeing Christ in This PassageSeeing Christ in This Passage

It is through Christ that “all nations on earth will be blessed” Genesis 26:4; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:6-9

Next WeekNext Week

Next week we’ll study the life of Jacob. Be reading Genesis 25:19-34; 27:1-35:29, especially 28:10-22; 32:9-12 and 35:1-15.

Pay close attention to the development of Jacob’s faith.

Review BeeP SLoWLy, JaKe CaRRieS CoCoa and the Flow of Bible History chart.