Isaac’s Example of Obedience

“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you; that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you, in the land which the Lord your God gives you” (Deut. 5:16).

Although it may be hard to understand this commandment and the blessings that result from obeying it, the story of Isaac makes it clear.

After many years of being unable to bear children, God blessed an aging Abraham and Sarah with a son, Isaac. As he grew, Abraham taught him the importance of keeping God’s spiritual laws.

One day, when Isaac was a young man, God decided to test Abraham. He commanded, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and get you into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of” (Gen. 22:2).

Abraham was stunned! For years, God had told him that He would produce a great nation through Isaac. Yet God had just commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac—end his life!

The Bible reveals that Abraham was a faithful servant of God. He believed God in every area of life and understood that he should never disobey Him—even at the request of the sacrifice of his son, Isaac.

When God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, Abraham did not argue, but “rose up early in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him” (Gen. 22:3).

For three days they traveled over difficult terrain. It must have been hard for Abraham to answer the questions of those traveling with him who were unaware of the purpose of the journey. Yet Isaac did not fight his father. He followed along, with complete trust in him.

Abraham and Isaac had an extraordinary relationship. In Antiquities of the Jews, Jewish historian Flavius Josephus writes that Abraham “greatly loved Isaac as being his only begotten and given to him in old age by the favor of God,” and that Isaac “also endeared himself to his parents still more, by the exercise of every virtue, and adhering to his duty to his parents, and being zealous in the worship of God.”

Even as a young man, Isaac demonstrated extraordinary obedience to his parents and to God.

Obedience and Faith

“Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, abide you here with the donkey; and I and the lad will go yonder [about another day’s ride] and worship, and come again to you” (Gen. 22:4-5). After leaving his servants, Abraham continued alone with Isaac until they reached the mountain.

(As the account continues, imagine the level of obedience and faith necessary for both father and son.)

“Abraham built an altar…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.”

In his obedience, Abraham would surely have killed his son, but “the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham…Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you anything unto him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me” (Gen. 22:9-12).

Reading the passage, we could easily assume Isaac was a small boy. After all, he did not put up so much as an argument in the face of death—why?

The diligent Bible student always pauses and searches for deeper understanding.

Surprisingly, Josephus reveals that at the time his father was commanded to kill him, Isaac was about 25 years old! As a strong young man, Isaac could have easily resisted his father. But he did not, teaching us an important lesson.

Consider the following about Isaac’s attitude: “Now Isaac was of such a generous disposition as became the son of such a father…[that he] said, ‘That he was not worthy to be born at first, if he should reject the determination of God and of his father, and should not resign himself up readily to both their pleasures; since it would have been unjust if he had not obeyed, even if his father alone had so resolved.’ So he went immediately to the altar to be sacrificed” (The Antiquities of the Jews).

No wonder God promised Abraham that his son Isaac “should live to a very great age” (ibid). Isaac sought to obey God and his earthly father, and as a result, was blessed with long life and prosperity.

Lessons from Isaac

What can you learn from this historic event?

First, obedience. Abraham had complete faith in God, believing that Isaac was the son of promise through whom would come many nations. Abraham obeyed God, knowing He could not lie and would keep His promise (Gen. 17:19).

Likewise, Isaac, raised by a righteous man, had faith in both his earthly father and his heavenly Father. Abraham must have explained to Isaac that he was the son of promise. Thus, he would have had the kind of faith required to submit to his father.

Second—and here is the main point—Isaac strove to always respect and obey his parents.

As a direct result of the faith and obedience evidenced in Abraham’s family, we enjoy the blessings promised by God long ago.

The apostle Paul plainly reminds us in Galatians 4:28, “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.”

You can be sure that if you obey God and your parents today, He will bless you with long life, and offer you the same promises that He does your parents.