Day 7: Toldot/Genesis 25:19-28:9

Isaac’s life is not presented as being nearly as eventful as Abraham’s. In fact, Torah reveals much less about Isaac and his life’s work than of Abraham or most of the other major, Scriptural patriarchs. Similarly, Rebekah is found to be beautiful like her mother-in-law, Sarah; but, Torah leaves much to the imagination concerning her character and her personal relationship with Elohim. This lull in Torah is a rail to the posts to the narratives of Abraham and Yacov, both of whom Torah is quite replete with disclosure and revelation. The tales and trials of Yacov complete the exploits of Isaac. Later, Isaac would be buried by his sons, but his life culminated with the beginning excerpts of Yacov’s adventures.

All of this is not to say that Isaac’s existence was insignificant, nor was it immaterial to YHVH’s plan for Israel. Obviously, without Isaac, Yacov would not have been born and Israel would have developed in some other obscure way deemed by the Father. What is overlooked, though, is the compliance of Isaac in laying down his life before the hands of Abraham; his willingness to accept Rebeka as a match-maker’s choice for his bride; and Isaac inclination to settle peacefully, like Abraham, in and around Gerar, rather than battle the Philistines. As much information has been revealed about Abraham’s and Yacov’s character, Torah implicitly divulges Isaac’s character, too.

Through these patriarchs, a pattern does seemingly appear. As large as YHVH is, and in as many ways as He chooses to reveal Himself, there are specific characteristics that can be defined in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Yacov. Each of these men resembles YHVH in specific ways. Abraham most closely resembles YHVH, as One Who would give his own son, a second-born Adam, and his only son that would retain his name. Abraham matches Isaac with a wife, using discernment and wisdom while not accepting what the world had to offer to Isaac in his immediate surroundings—much how the Father finds us as His bride and helps us find our helpmates.

Isaac, due to his obedience, resembles Messiah. In as much as he was willing to give up his life at the request of his father, so Yeshua willingly gave up His life. At further inspection, Isaac never left the Promised Land, and neither did Yeshua. An interesting narrative presented in Torah is the digging of wells for living water. This foreshadows Yeshua, Who is the Living Water for which man searches.

Yacov should be likened to the Ruach haKodesh. He was sent out by Isaac to lands far from home but was regathered to the Promised Land with much more in his possession. The Ruach has been given to the believer for wisdom and knowledge, but also to reach out to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. In so doing, the nations are blessed to receive the Truth and bear witness to Yeshua’s Life in which they may live. By doing what seems obscure or out of the ordinary, Yacov represents the Ruach in his wanderings, queries to Elohim, and quest for the blessing that changed his identity to Israel.

None of this is to say that any of these patriarchs were YHVH, but they were seemingly filled with His Ruach and lived lives that would show others the character and actions that YHVH is and initiates. Moreover, the culmination of having both knowledge of YHVH and His instructions while taking heed to the Ruach’s presence and direction could be found in the life of Yacov. This should be comparable to the modern believer. Upon Yacov’s return to the land, he would encounter the Angel of YHVH with vigor. It is here that he would be forever changed from a mere man to a man with deeper insight into the Creator. No longer would Yacov fear man, but his fear was directed toward YHVH and would be a person who walked in His Truth and in the Ruach.

This is the likeness that each of us must learn and mirror. It is not enough to merely know of Torah—Torah has to be walked out. Similarly, it is not enough to simply know the name of Yeshua, He must be invited into our lives, while we consider our own lives to be forfeit to His Presence. The embodiment of both actions should be the manifestation and welcoming of the Ruach haKodesh into our lives. It is He Who illumines the darkness of our hearts, allowing for the spiritual grown that comes with life experiences. He is the same Ruach that writes the Word on the walls of our hearts so that we know and understand that Truth while exhorting us to keep the dark world at bay.

Without Abraham, there would not have been Isaac and so forth. Without YHVH, there would not be the Son or Ruach, nor would we exist. He is One even as all three revelations of Himself operate singularly, unified, they are nonetheless one and inseparable—echad.

Yacov learned of his need to have Truth and the Ruach by the time he reentered the land of Canaan. Our need is no different. As we strive to be like Yeshua, we need Him to stand in our place before the Father Who will judge us; but, we also need His Ruach to guide us, strengthen us, and to help us in all times and crises. Our need for Him should be so strong that we would be echad with Him and He with us.

In turn, this should cause us to be worshippers in both the Ruach and in Truth. Our zeal should be like Yacov’s where we cannot let go of Yeshua without a blessing and must have His presence and strength in us in order to go forward.

Dwell upon John 4:23-24, “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Ruach and Truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is Ruach, and those who worship Him must worship in Ruach and Truth.”