Have you ever noticed that the name of Isaac is mentioned or alluded to just five times in Hebrews 11? First, we find his name mentioned as one of those pilgrims who sojourned with Abraham “in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise” (v. 9).
This mention of Isaac before we have the record of his birth (see v. 11) is suggestive. It may serve to bring to our minds the truth that He of whom Isaac is a type was not only “with God” (Jn. 1:2), but was also a Dweller with those of faith before that “fullness of time” in which He came as born of the Virgin.
Thus the Lord could say to the Jews, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it and was glad” (Jn. 8:56). He always dwelt with men and women of faith ever since the promise was given that the Seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head, and he should bruise His heel. In the wilderness, “They drank of that spiritual rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4). He was ever a sojourner with His wandering people. “He spread a light for a covering; and fire to give light in the night” (Ps. 105:39).
These and many more references in the Word point to Christ as the Eternal One. Whether before or after incarnation it is true, as someone has well said, “God has nothing but Christ for sinners, and nothing but Christ for saints.” In this way we may say, as well as in reference to His Person, that His days were from “everlasting to everlasting.” Truly, His beginning of days was not in the manger of Bethlehem. “The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was… Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him; rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and My delights were with the sons of men” (Prov. 8:22- 23, 30-31). This is none other than our blessed Lord Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate glory, “The glory that I had with Thee before the world was” (see Jn. 17:5, 24).
Isaac’s Birth
Next we read: “Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age” (v. 11). Does this not remind us of Galatians 4:4? “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.”
So, not according to nature, the promised Seed was born, but the power of God brought all to pass when the fullness of time was come. “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy Seed, which is Christ” (Gal. 3:16).
Thus we see the second mention of Isaac answers to the coming of our Lord into this world, as one poet has said: A “little baby thing that made a woman cry.”
What matchless and amazing grace! It is the bush burning, and it is not consumed. The ground we stand on is holy ground. He “[became] flesh and tabernacled among us, and we beheld His glory.”
On the Altar
We find the next mention of Isaac in verse 17. “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.” We cannot but think of Calvary as we read the melting story of the father and son going together in happy communion to the mount chosen by God, where we see the extreme act of obedience on Isaac’s part, reminding us of our Lord’s words in John 10:17, “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life.” Here He gave His Father a new cause for loving Him. In obedience to His Father’s will He laid down His spotless life, that He might take it again.
When Peter would have hindered Him, saying, “Pity Yourself, Lord,” (for that is what Peter’s words meant), how quickly the Lord rebukes him, “Get behind Me, Satan; for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but…of man.”
The Father and the Son go “both of them together,” and Jehovah-Jireh is fulfilled at last. God provides Himself a Lamb for a burnt offering. “Behold the Lamb of God,” our blessed (Isaac) Jesus, who hath done all things well.
In Resurrection
“Accounting that God was able to raise him [Isaac] up, even from the dead, from whence also he received him in a figure” (v. 19). But not in figure is the resurrection of our glorious Lord. No! “Thou wilt not leave My soul in hades, neither shalt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption” (Acts 2:27), was fulfilled to the letter of the word.
Neither Roman seal, nor Roman soldier, nor all the hosts of evil combined, could keep our victorious Lord in the tomb. When the appointed time came:
Up from the grave He arose,
With the mighty triumph o’er His foes;
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign,
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose.
Yes, indeed, well may poets sing of this. Let us sing also with them:
Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus, my Saviour;
Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus, my Lord.
Yes, Jesus, my Lord, it was He, “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it” (Acts 2:24). God was Master of the situation, and puny man, “whose breath is in his nostrils,” was set aside, “for wherein is he to be accounted of?” “He is not here, for He is risen; come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
The Blesser
The last time we find Isaac mentioned is in verse 20, “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” Thus it is we see the Lord of glory for the last time as He departs into heaven to go back to the Father: “And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen” (Lk. 24:50-53).
Lord of life! To death once subject,
Blesser, yet a curse once made;
Of the Father’s heart the object,
Yet in depths of anguish laid;
Thee we gaze on, Thee recall,
Bearing here our sorrows all.
Reader, whoever you are, king or peasant, rich or poor, educated or ignorant, Catholic or Protestant, Hindu or Buddhist, moralist or heathen, infidel or atheist, religious or profane, if ever you are blessed “concerning things to come” it is our risen Lord alone who can do that for you. Come to Him, and be blessed with sins forgiven–with eternal life–with a home in that city “whose Builder and Maker is God.”
Oh, what a home! The Son who knows–
He only–all His love;
And brings us as His well-beloved
To that bright rest above,
Dwells in His bosom–knowing all
That in that bosom lies,
And came to earth to make it known,
That we might share His joys.
So Isaac takes us from the past eternal ages on to those eternal ages yet to come. Come like Jacob, and get your name changed, from Lost to Saved–from a “child of wrath” to a child and heir of God. What a blessing the Blesser awaits to impart to you if you only come now, and just as you are.
Jesus died to set me free,
Jesus died on Calvary;
Not a blessing that I know,
But to Jesus Christ I owe.