Sunday Review – Isaac – A Family Faith

14 Oct Sunday Review – Isaac – A Family Faith

 Yesterday, as we continued in our series of studies through Hebrews 11, we looked at and learned from the life of a man named Isaac. I have to be honest here concerning the life of this man. I found it very difficult to get excited or encouraged about his life. This is true for a couple of reasons. First, I don’t see where he and I have all that much in common. Second, there is not a ton of information concerning his life. Less is said about him than any other patriarch in the pages of the Old Testament. He is very much a very ordinary personality in the pages of our Scriptures. However, no matter how ordinary he may be, we can learn some extraordinary truths from his ordinary life.

Let’s take a glimpse at the life of Isaac, this hero who possessed a powerful “family faith.”

1. It Takes A Faithful Man to Build A Faithful Family.

Isaac was a devoted, godly, faithful family man. There is something dynamically powerful about a godly man in the home. He was a man of one wife, which is uniquely different from the other Old Testament patriarchs. Take note of his love towards his wife in Genesis 24:67, “Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent: and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her…” Men, if you want a lovely marriage, you must show your wife you love her. You are responsible in leading your family spiritually.

Let me put it plainly, your family will be just as faithful to God as you are! So today, make the commitment to be heaven’s hero in your own home.

Allow me to give a disclaimer here. If you are not careful you could become discouraged and disillusioned because,

2. A Faithful Family Isn’t A Flawless Family.

Every one of our family lineages have a checkered past. No matter how godly your family may be, God’s people still falter this side of heaven. There are two flaws made in the life and family of this hero. One was an internal flaw and the other was an external flaw. The internal flaw can be found in Genesis 26:1-5. Especially observe verse two, “Then the Lord appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land which I shall tell you.” Abraham, Isaac’s father struggled, stumbled and stammered in Egypt and the Lord is saying, “Do not go there. There is too much temptation for you down there in Egypt.” The external flaw can be found in Genesis 26:34-35, “When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.” Even thought Isaac and Rebekah lived a godly life before their boys, Esau rejected his father’s walk and wisdom and took for himself multiple wives. This, the Bible says, broke his parents’ hearts.

Dysfunctional, messed-up, flawed families – we all have them, but God is faithful. It doesn’t matter where or what your children have done God is still in control.

Lastly, let us see from the life of Isaac,

3. Your Family Can Face The Future Through Faith. (Read Genesis 27)

God has never said “oops,” taken a mulligan or had to resort to plan b. He is always in control. No matter what you face this week, never forget that the future is as history to God.

Remember: Fathers, you are going to be the spiritual thermostat that determines that spiritual temperature in your home.

Be an Isaac – embrace and exhibit a family faith!