Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
Matthew 1:2 KJV
Today I came across three more characters in the royal line to Jesus. Isaac, named after his parent’s laughter, Jacob, the heel catcher and Judah, the son upon whom would be much praise.
Isaac may have received his name from his parent’s laughter yet he would ultimately shadow the sacrifice of Jesus as the Son of God. Abraham and Sarah could not believe that there could be a son from the union of an elderly couple and the birth of Ishmael resulted. The LORD was faithful regardless of their incredulous thoughts and Isaac was born.
It is not until Isaac is a young man – perhaps in his thirties – that we see the shadow of our LORD to come. God tells Abraham to go forth to make a sacrifice to Him – the sacrifice of Isaac – the promised son (Genesis 22). Abraham obeys trusting the LORD to be good to His Word.
And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
Genesis 22:8-10 KJV (emphasis mine)
And God did indeed offer a substitution: a ram stuck in a thicket. He also would offer up Himself on our behalf.
There is so much to be said of Jacob and Judah, but that will need to wait until another day. In the meantime, the Lord continues to reveal his plan one person at a time. God Bless!
