Isaac: Our Patriarch of StrengthSýnishorn

Strength in Perseverance

It’s easy to overlook Isaac’s story and his part in the foundation of Israel. Little is written about him in the Bible. He figures prominently in two of the major incidents of his life, the binding and the blessing of his sons, but he plays a subordinate role to the more dominant figures of his father, Abraham, and his son, Jacob.

Yet, Isaac’s unique character can serve as a model for us today. Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, like Sarah, was childless. But Isaac reacts in a very different way than Abraham and Sarah.

What did Isaac do? He prayed. In verse 21, we read, “Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless.” And in the very same verse, we read, “The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.” What's missing between the beginning and end of verse 21 is that 20 years passed from the time Isaac uttered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant. (See Genesis 25:20; 26.) Twenty years is a long time to wait for an answer to prayer, but not once did Isaac stray from the course. He trusted in God and, with extraordinary patience, waited upon Him.

Then, a famine struck the land. While Isaac intended to go to Egypt to wait out the famine, as Abraham had done, instead, he remained obedient to God, who told him to stay in the land of Gerar where “I will be with you and will bless you” (Genesis 26:3). And, indeed, while the rest of the country suffered, Isaac prospered.

Isaac’s actions provide us with an example of his strength, a model to follow. In the face of challenges, Isaac never gave up. He moved on and moved on again, tried and tried again until he was successful in achieving his goals. This required commitment, determination, willpower, and inner strength.

Like Isaac, we can also muster the inner strength to persevere when life is difficult. We can choose peace in the face of disappointment, perseverance in the face of opposition, patience in the face of obstacles. Isaac provides us with an example worthy of following, worthy of his role as patriarch to Israel and to all God’s children.