16 August 2008

Commemoration of Isaac

Today we commemorate St. Isaac. From our Synod's website:

Isaac, the long promised and awaited son of Abraham and Sarah, was born when his father was 100 and his mother 91. The announcement of his birth brought both joy and laughter to his aged parents (so the name “Isaac,” which means “laughter”). As a young man, Isaac accompanied his father to Mount Moriah, where Abraham, in obedience to God's command, prepared to sacrifice him as a burnt offering. But God intervened, sparing Isaac's life and providing a ram as a substitute offering (Gen. 22:1–14), and thus pointing to the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ for the sins of the world. Isaac was given in marriage to Rebekah (24:15), and they had twin sons, Esau and Jacob (25:19–26). In his old age Isaac, blind and feeble, wanted to give his blessing and chief inheritance to his favorite—and eldest—son, Esau. But through deception Rebekah had Jacob receive them instead, resulting in years of family enmity. Isaac died at the age of 180 and was buried by his sons, who by then had become reconciled, in the family burial cave of Machpelah (35:28–29).

3 comments:

Rev. James Leistico said...

twin sons.... funny. about like when my wife pointed out that us three year types heard from Colossions 1 "and our brother, Timothy" 2 Sundays before my kids' brother Timothy was born

Anonymous said...

William, From whence cometh the tradition of commemorating OT figures in the Christian calendar?

BPW

William Weedon said...

Bryce,

A borrowing of a salutary practice that was more common in the East, though it does appear that there are some OT commemorations on the 1731 Almanac of the Lutheran Church up on the Lex Orandi website.