Isaac: Our Patriarch of StrengthSýnishorn

Strength in Faithfulness

The story of Isaac in the Bible will, at times, seem very familiar, particularly if you have read the story of his father, Abraham.

Scripture seems to point us toward this connection, starting with the famine in the land of Canaan: “Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time” (Genesis 26:1). As this verse reminds us, both Abraham and Isaac experienced a harsh famine in the Promised Land. Isaac reacted just as his father did and began to head toward Egypt, where he could ride out the famine until it was over. However, in Isaac’s case, God commanded him: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live” (Genesis 26:2).

While Abraham found himself in Egypt and Isaac stayed in Canaan, they both faced an identical challenge. Abraham was concerned that the pharaoh might have him killed because of his beautiful wife, Sarah. Isaac was concerned that Abimelek, the King of Gerar, might have him killed in order to steal away the beautiful Rebekah. Both Abraham (Genesis 20:1-2) and Isaac (Genesis 26:7) solved their problem in the same way—by passing their wives off as their sisters.

And both patriarchs invested a significant amount of time digging wells, and both endured conflicts with the Philistines regarding ownership of the wells. Ultimately, both Abraham (Genesis 21:27) and Isaac (Genesis 26:26-29) formed peace treaties with Abimelek and formalized the agreement in the exact same place—Beersheba, “well of the oath.”

These parallels between the lives of both patriarchs are not by chance. They reveal Isaac’s patriarchal role and provide insight into his character.

In Genesis 25, we read, “This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac” (v. 19). Here, the Bible is teaching us two separate ideas using two similar terms.

The first reference, describing Isaac as Abraham’s son, introduces the subsequent verses talking about Isaac’s life. The second reference to Abraham being the father of Isaac is a description of Isaac himself.

First and foremost, Isaac was the son of Abraham, Yitzchak ben Avraham. Everything he did throughout his life was dictated by this identity. Isaac understood that his role was to continue and consolidate the work of his father. Abraham was the innovator, the trailblazer, and the dynamic teacher who introduced the idea of one God. But there was no way for Abraham to ensure that his message would continue after his death. Only Isaac, the critical link between the first patriarch and the third, could fulfill that mission.

As biblical scholar, Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut wrote in his book, The Torah: A Modern Commentary, “Of the three patriarchs, Isaac’s personality is the least clearly defined.” Rabbi Plaut calls Isaac “the bridge between Abraham and Jacob, the essential link in the chain of greatness.” Another example of Isaac’s inner strength? No doubt, he was tempted to make his own unique mark. Surely, it wasn’t easy always being in the shadow of his father. Isaac may have been tempted to create a following of his own. Yet, he held himself back because he understood that while Abraham was the initiator of the mission, Isaac was to be the sustainer, ensuring that God’s message through Abraham took root and would continue to blossom.