Isaac’s Faith Journey The Faith Series #8 12/17/17

Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. (NIV 84) Genesis 26:17-25 So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 18Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. 19Isaac's servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. 21Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. 22He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land." 23From there he went up to Beersheba. 24That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham." 25Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well. I. A little history is needed in order to understand the faith of Isaac. A. The first priority with Abraham when he came to a new land was to build an altar. B. Isaac had experienced an amazing experience with his father when he was a young man. C. Isaac’s first priority was to meet his physical needs when he came into a new land. V. 18,19,21 and 22 D. His first altar was built only after the second personal experience with God. V. 24-25 E. God blessed him out of respect for Abraham. V. 24 II. The writer of Hebrews mentions many acts of faith of Abraham but only one regarding Isaac. Hebrews 11:20 A. Isaac’s main act of faith was passing along the blessing to his kids. B. This continued the line of Abraham and established an heir and a king to the future kingdom that God had promised Abraham. This is known as the birthright and the blessing. III. What are some major life lessons from the life of Isaac? A. It is important that we seek God and not wait for Him to get our attention the hard way. B. We cannot rest on the faith of our parents to sustain us. God has no grandchildren! C. Pass along your faith to your children and even your grandchildren.