4. It was a call to be the father of a son.  In 17:16 God promised him a son, Isaac, in whom his seed should be called (21:12).  Out of him was to come a blessing to all nations.  This promise was fulfilled in Christ, through whom all the nations of the earth have been blessed.  Just as in Isaac Abraham became the head of a great earthly seed that should be as the sand of the sea, so in Jesus he should be the head of a great spiritual seed that should be as the stars of the heaven for numbers.

God often repeats his covenant and promises with Abraham, Gen. 12:1-7; 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 17:1-8; 18:18; 22:16-18.  He often renews it in the generations to come as to Isaac, Gen. 26:1-5, and to Jacob, Gen. 28:10-15.

The Character of Abraham.  How great is the name of Abraham today!  He is revered by Jews, Mohammedans and Christians (ch. 12:2).  In all history there is not a nobler character.  The story of his life shows him to have been shrewd in business, of good temper, of warm domestic affections and possessed of much calm wisdom.  He was generous in his dealings with others, looking well after their interests.  He often made sacrifices for the well-being of others.  The most significant thing about him, however, was his attitude toward God.  His chief desire was to obey God.  Wherever he went he erected an altar to God and in everything he manifested reverence, confidence, love and submission toward God.  This is the chief element of his greatness.

The Character and Career of Isaac.  The life of Isaac has but little in it that is of special interest.  He probably spent most of his life in a quiet home near, or in Hebron.  This has been taken to suggest that he was of a quiet and retiring disposition.  He was not a man of energy and force of character such as Abraham, his father, but he had all his father’s reverence for God.  His faith in God was rewarded with a renewal of the promises which Abraham had received.

Among the incidents of his life that should be noted are the following:  (1) His experience on Mount Moriah, when his father in obedience to God prepared to sacrifice him in worship.  Such sacrifice was common in Babylonia, Phoenicia and Canaan.  The submission to his father’s will and evident obedience to the divine will indicated would seem to point to his faith in God.  While he does not mention the matter himself and it is not referred to again in this section, the experience must have had much influence on his whole career. (2) The second notable event of his life was his marriage.  In this story there is preserved the ancient customs of his father’s provision for the marriage of the son.  The story also shows the overruling influence of deity in his marriage.  The whole experience was calculated to show his sincere relation to God who was leading. (3) The birth of his twin sons Esau and Jacob.  They were so different in type that their descendants for centuries showed a like difference