George Ruheni, PhD.

Isaac’s deathbed request to Esau In Genesis 25:23 God had declared that the older shall serve the younger. Jacob, was chosen for the covenant blessing, even though he was the younger son. Esau’s despised spiritual things, his birthright, and married pagan Canaanite women.   Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. 4 And make me [a]savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.” (Genesis 27:3-4). Isaac preferred and favored Esau for the wrong reasons, because he ate of his game [Genesis 25:28]. Isaac’s thinking was man-centered rather than God-centered.   Rebekah advises Jacob to deceive his father Isaac Rebekah knew God’s promise, but she did not trust His timing or His methods. Rebekah believed the promise that the older shall serve the younger, instead of waiting for God to bring it to pass in His way, she took matters into her own ha...

Isaac repeats Abraham’s mistakes Although Isaac lived in the Promised Land, this did not translate to mean an easy life, free from hardship. God’s promises are true, but they do not eliminate difficulties, but assure God’s presence and guidance through challenges. Just as Abraham experienced a famine early in his journey of faith [Genesis 12:10], Isaac also encountered a famine in his own time. There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar (Genesis 26:1). Hardships can affect even those who are walking in God’s will. Famine was a serious crisis in the ancient world, crops failed, livestock died, and families faced hunger. Naturally, Isaac began to move south, likely seeking better conditions, just as his father had. However, unlike Abraham, who went all the way to Egypt in his famine, God intervened in Isaac’s situation. As he journeyed toward Gerar, and God warned him not t...

 Isaac had to plead with the LORD. After Sarah’s death, Abraham married Keturah [Genesis 25:1]. Through her, he had six more sons. Then there was Isaac (born to Sarah) and Ishmael (born to Hagar). Therefore, Abraham fathered eight sons. However, only Isaac was the child of the covenant promise. This is why Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. Isaac became the legal heir of Abraham’s possessions, his wealth, flocks, and authority, so that, the covenant blessing would continue through Isaac [Genesis 17:19–21]. Therefore, Isaac received, the covenant promises of God, the blessing of the land of Canaan, and the lineage through which the Messiah would come. And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. 6 But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east (Genesis 25:5-6). Nonetheless, Abraham still cared for His other sons, he gave them gifts and sent them eastwa...

  A Bride for Isaac God had promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan, and Isaac, the “son of promise”, was the one through whom this covenant would continue. Because of this, Abraham insisted that Isaac must remain in Canaan. Isaac’s wife could come from Abraham’s relatives, but Isaac himself must not leave the land God had promised. So when Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, he said firmly: “Do not take my son back there.”  Abraham did not want Isaac returning to Mesopotamia (Ur of the Chaldeans or Haran), even though Abraham’s relatives lived there. God had brought Abraham out of that land and promised Canaan instead. Returning would symbolically reverse God’s calling. Abraham believed God Himself would guide the servant, even sending an angel to ensure the right woman was found. But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there. 7 The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land ...

God tests the faith of Abraham This was not a test designed to produce faith but to reveal faith. God had spent years shaping Abraham into a man who trusted Him completely. From the initial call to leave his homeland, to waiting decades for the promised son, to witnessing God’s faithfulness again and again, Abraham’s life had been a slow, divine apprenticeship in faith. Now came the moment of revelation. When God asked Abraham to offer Isaac, his beloved son, the very embodiment of God’s promise. Abraham obeyed. He did not argue or delay. His obedience demonstrated that his trust in God had matured beyond human reasoning or emotion. He believed that even if Isaac died, “ God was able to raise him up, even from the dead ” [Hebrews 11:19] Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”  (Genesis 22:2). Abraham’s faith was no longer about unde...

  The birth of Isaac. God’s fulfillment of His promise to give Abraham a son was not based on Abraham’s perfection or flawless obedience, but on God’s faithfulness to His Word. And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him (Genesis 21:1-2). God is faithful even when we are imperfect. Though some of God’s promises are conditional, requiring our obedience or faith as a response. Others are unconditional, fulfilled solely because of God’s character and sovereignty. In Abraham’s story, the birth of Isaac demonstrated that God’s purposes prevail, not because of human merit, but because God keeps His word.   Abraham puts out Hagar and Ishmael Abraham’s act of sending Hagar and Ishmael away symbolizes more than a family separation, it is a spiritual illustration of separating law and grace, flesh and Spirit. Just as Hagar (a ...

  Abraham and Abimelech Humans are frail and flawed; without the empowerment and reliance on the Holy Spirit, even the faithful can falter. Abraham’s repeated deception about Sarah, first in Egypt in [Genesis 12:10–13], and later in Gerar in [Genesis 20:1-7] illustrates how old sins can resurface when we fail to walk closely with God.   But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” (Genesis 20:3). Age and experience do not produce holiness; only continual dependence on God’s Spirit does. Abraham repeated the same deception he used decades earlier. This shows that unconfessed or unchecked weaknesses can follow us through life. Even spiritual maturity does not erase the flesh; it must be crucified daily [Galatians 5:24].   Nonetheless, God, full of mercy, intervened [Genesis 20:3–7], through appearing to Abimelech, not with judgment, but to prevent sin...

  The two angels come to Sodom The progression of compromise in Lot’s life is a powerful lesson on how gradual moral and spiritual decline can occur subtly over time. 1. He looked toward Sodom – [Genesis 13:10]: Lot lifted his eyes and saw that the plain of Jordan was well-watered and attractive. His decision was based on physical appeal and prosperity, not spiritual discernment. Sin often begins with attraction and desire toward what seems prosperous or pleasurable. 2. He pitched his tent toward Sodom – [Genesis 13:12]: Lot moved his tents near Sodom, drawing closer to its influence. Moving closer to sin makes compromise easier and dulls spiritual sensitivity. 3. He lived in Sodom – [Genesis 14:12]: Lot was now dwelling in Sodom. What started as a nearby tent became a permanent residence. When believers settle in ungodly environments, it becomes harder to maintain moral distinction. 4. He became part of Sodom’s leadership – [Genesis 19:1]: Sitting in the gate signified t...

  Abraham welcomes important visitors The encounter of Abraham and the three men represents a theophany; a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ in human form. Abraham sees three men standing near him, one of whom is identified as the Lord. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground (Genesis 18:2). Abraham’s response of reverence and hospitality indicates his recognition of divine presence. Among the three visitors, the one he addressed as “my Lord” (Hebrew: Adonai ) is understood to be the pre-incarnate Christ, while the other two are identified later as angels (Genesis 19:1). This scene thus reveals Jesus Christ’s manifestation in human form before His incarnation, affirming His eternal existence and active participation in God’s redemptive dealings with humanity.   Sarah and Abraham prepare a meal for their visitors It is noteworth...

God appears to Abram at age 99 In Genesis 17, God deepens His covenant with Abram by first revealing His identity as El Shaddai , the Almighty God, and the All-Sufficient One . Revelation precedes expectation. Abram is not first asked to be blameless; instead, he is reminded of who God is, overflowing in sufficiency, blessing, and faithfulness. Then follows the transformation: Abram becomes Abraham, signifying a new identity rooted in God’s promise rather than his own limitations. His new name carries destiny, father of many nations, before he even holds the child of promise. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you (Genesis 17:5,6). This communicates the principle: Revelation precedes responsibility. God shows us who He is before showing us what He requires. God renames before He fulfills, aligning...