Make no mistake about it: every person who lives or did live on the earth is important to the God of heaven. There are no exceptions to that truth. He values each person and loves each one unconditionally.
In the Scriptures, though, it is undeniable that some individuals have a lot more said about them than others. Some were part of the chosen seed line of the Christ, while the great majority were not.
When the Jewish people spoke of their “fathers,” they often had reference to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Out of those three, the one about whom the least is written in the Scriptures is Isaac. Yet, the picture of his life that we see in the Bible shows a man who was blessed.
Isaac’s life was not without its trials. Isaac once brought troubles on himself by telling a king that Rebekah was his sister. In truth, she was Isaac’s wife, not his sister. Later in his life, Isaac endured the pain of seeing deception and hatred sour the relationship between his sons. He also endured the pain of having a son (Jacob) gone from home for twenty years. Yes, Isaac was acquainted with unpleasant experiences in life. Still, he was a blessed man.
Isaac was blessed to have parents who walked by faith. His parents were more than religious people. They chose to be servants of and live for the Most High God. What a blessing for Isaac to have a dad and mom who walked by faith. His father, Abraham, is identified as “the father of all those who believe” (Romans 4:11), and his mother, Sarah, trusted in God (1 Peter 3:5,6), counted the Almighty as faithful, and died in faith (Hebrews 11:11,13). If you and I have been blessed to have family members who showed us God-pleasing faith, we need to be thankful for them.
Isaac was blessed to be exposed to what it means to worship Jehovah. Do you recall the question which Isaac asked Abraham when they were en route to the place where Isaac was to be offered as a sacrifice? He asked his daddy, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7). Isaac’s question made it clear that he understood that worshipping the Lord involved animal sacrifices. Someone had taught him that, either by word, or action, or both. If someone taught us about how to worship the God of heaven according to His will, we are greatly blessed, too. Do not take it for granted: not everyone has such knowledge.
Isaac was blessed to have his mother in his life for thirty-seven years and his father for seventy-five years. Some kids never have a biological parent in their lives. Some have only one parent of any type. Whatever period of time you had or continue to have with your parents, be grateful for it. We are in debt to them and so blessed by them in many ways.
Isaac was blessed to have a beautiful wife (Genesis 26:7). Every husband should “rejoice with the wife” of his life (Proverbs 5:18), and he needs to think of her as the most beautiful person in the world. And, he needs to recognize that the inward, spiritual beauty of her heart is of greater importance than outward beauty (1 Peter 3:4).
Isaac was blessed to have children. Not all married couples desire to have children, and some who long to have them are unable to produce them. In Isaac’s case, he and Rebekah were the parents of two sons, Esau and Jacob. The Bible says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD. The fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3). Yes, kids are a blessing. We should thank our good God for them.
Isaac was blessed to have many material possessions. One year when Isaac sowed seed, it produced “a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous,” possessing flocks, herds, and servants (Genesis 26:12-14). Let us never forget that our Creator is the Source of our blessings (Acts 17:24,25). Whether our material things are few or many, we need to express our thanks to our heavenly Father.
Isaac was blessed to learn how to make choices by faith. In general, his life was lived by faith. He recognized that he was a stranger and pilgrim on the earth, and he died in faith (Hebrews 11:9,13). If you have matured to the point that you walk by faith like Isaac did (2 Corinthians 5:7), you are truly blessed.
Isaac was blessed to be an heir of God’s promises. Just as the Lord had promised Isaac’s father and later Isaac’s son after him, so He promised Isaac to give his offspring the land of Canaan. He also promised that the Seed would come through him. With the eye of faith, Isaac embraced those promises and saw the fulfilment of those promises after his death (Hebrews 11:9,13). Christians are heirs of a great promise, too, the promise of eternal life (Titus 1:2).
Isaac was blessed to have God prepare a city for him (Hebrews 11:9,16). What about God’s children under the new covenant? We have a heavenly inheritance waiting for us, one that is incorruptible, undefiled, and does not fade away (1 Peter 1:3,4).
Isaac truly was a blessed man. Each of us also is a blessed person. Are we truly thankful for our blessings, and are we using them for God’s glory?
— Roger D. Campbell
