Isaac was born on the very time as the almighty Lord had promised. Hundred years old Abraham, and Sarah also passed the age of childbearing – it was obviously a great blessing for them in the power of God. Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”(Genesis 21:6-7) Then we read further Abraham listened to Sarah and acted on the voice of her. It was not Almighty God who commanded this – but Sarah. This is where the heart of Abraham was revealed. God was not first but Isaac.
The reason behind all these was Isaac. Yes, it was a blessing from Almighty God – but it still was a creation of God – not God himself.
Isaac, meaning laughter, signifies the joy of the new birth and the new life in Christ, which is the spiritual consciousness of relationship to God the Father. Man rejoices greatly in his privilege of expressing as the son of God.
Isaac had begun to replace God in Abraham’s heart. God will not share His glory with anyone. Yet the world is full of hearts just like this. Isaac had begun to replace God in Abraham’s heart. God will not share His glory with anyone. Yet the world is full of hearts just like this.
Matthew 12:43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
Why does Scripture say the house was empty? Because the human heart was never meant to remain vacant. Only one can dwell there—either Christ or the enemy, but never both. It does not matter how clean or well-ordered the house appears; if Christ is not living there, the devil will surely find a way in.
Let me illustrate it this way: no matter how clean a house may be, or how perfectly everything is arranged, if no living person dwells inside, it is not truly a home. In the same way, the human heart must be inhabited—either by God or by something else. There is no neutral ground.
Abraham was exceedingly wealthy, loving, and wise toward his family and people. Yet when God blessed him with Isaac, that blessing slowly began to occupy his heart in place of God. So the Lord tested Abraham and commanded him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham obeyed.
Often, a believer’s greatest spiritual danger comes in two seasons: times of abundance or moments of deepest poverty. These are the moments that truly reveal the condition of the heart.
It’s an example for all of us. Isaac in our heart is still Isaac, and idol until we act to sacrifice it. God is always working to show us these kinds of things. Our Isaac could be our house, job, business, car, bank balance, even husband or wife or parents or Children. God is smart enough to see it in our heart.
Many times people say – Spirit of God commanded me to offer this and I did this. But, it becomes hard for them to confess that it was Isaac for them. While it comes obeying God’s commands, another side of it always reveals Isaac in our heart. We boast, I did it. Still, many of us fall short—we obey outwardly, yet hesitate to confess our Isaac and come before God in true repentance.
In parable of rich young ruler – we read in Mark 10:17-22 – that rich young ruler when comes to Jesus asking about how he can inherit eternal life, Jesus said to him, “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”. The young man replies, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then a profound thing we read Jesus says to that young man in verse 21, “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”.
It says, “Jesus looked at him, loved him….”. That rich young man was living those commandments, still Jesus pitied him. The reason was that the rich young man was taken up with his earthly wealth – modern Isaac. We read later, after he heard Jesus said to sell all that he had and give to the poor – he became sad – and went away. But it doesn’t say, he repent. It could be a radical truth in many of us.
Let’s examine our hearts together. Ask God to show us our Isaac so that we give that up, and together, most importantly repent of it. God loves you a lot!!