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Each month the Glen Park Gospel Church produce a one page newsletter called the Green Leaf. It's available from the chapel each Sunday. Anything that may be of mild interest will be published here.

The Middle Patriarch

The three patriarchs of Israel were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Their story is of creating the nation of Israel out of generations of almost nothing. I have generally thought less of Isaac than the other two of this family line because there is less written about him, he typically repeated the mistakes of his father Abraham and he never, so far as we know, left Canaan. Someone else also found him his wife, Rebekah. And he seemed to be easily conned.

So does Isaac have any redeeming traits? I typed that into Google and it gave me four positive answers. (These days an internet search like this first gives an AI response with the actual answers; not just links. Don't be afraid of AI, just maintain a healthy scepticism.)

Isaac was obedient and trusting of his father to the point of death in that test of faith. (Genesis 22:12) Unlike the others, he remained faithful to his one wife Rebekah. Isaac was a peacemaker in the face of territorial disputes, moving on and digging new wells when neibouring tribes were filling them in out of malice. Despite being shoved about by family and foe, he remained stable and resilient. And even when it was not his preference, he correctly bestowed the inheritance blessing on his younger son Jacob, leaving nothing for the favoured Esau. (Genesis 25:23,33; 27:37)

Isaac lived a simple life which likely led Abraham to wonder if God could really make a nation out of him. Isaac required Abraham to keep faith in God's promise. Isaac also demonstrated that even in our weakness, God can do miracles and great works, and that some of our weaknesses are actually His strengths.

Thought for the Month

"He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength... they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Isaiah 40:29,31

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9–10

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