And YHWH was seen by him on that night and said:
I am the God of Avraham your father.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you,
I will bless you and will make your seed many, for the sake of
Avraham my servant.
What, if anything, does this passage tell us about the nature of Yitzhak's relationship with/to God? How does God view Yitzhak? Feel free to refer to other passages as well in order to contextualize your answers.
Please post your response no later than Thursday, February 28, 4pm.
34 comments:
This passage tells us that Yitzhak was aware of God and knew Him. For Yitzhak was able to "see" God. In this passage and the few chapters of Genesis with Yitzhak I get the impression that Yitzhak did not know God quite as well as Avraham. There is less interaction presented to us in the text than with Avraham. Even in this passage God seems to be promising Yitzhak to be blessed on behalf of Avraham. Even as God blesses Yitzhak the focus is upon Avraham rather than Yitzhak. It is evident that God is with Yitzhak and working through him otherwise others would not be able to see this such as Avimelekh (Gen 26:28). As Yitzhak's personality goes I see him as a introspective introvert. That may just be because little is told about him within the biblical narrative.
I agree with Michelle in that Yitzhak seems to have much less interaction with God than Avraham, his father. I feel this is merely because we have seen so much of Avraham interacting with God- arguing with him, bargaining with God, randomly and unnecessarily sacrificing things for God...And Yitzhak has grown up with this person as a father. Taking this into account along with the nature of his family situation with Ishmael, and most importantly his binding and near death due to his sacrifice-happy father, it's easy to imagine that as a character most of his personality is trapped in his head and filtered through that traumatic experience, as we talked about in class. It's almost as if the authors of this text weren't sure of what Yitzhak could have possibly SAID after an incident like his near-death. Before that, we hadn't seen anything like it in the bible between any of its characters. It's very possible that later authors adding to the text just couldn't begin to touch what Yitzhak must have been like.
I struggle with this because yes he can see God but he has to make Yitzhak aware of who he is and to not be afraid. That makes me think that God has not been present in Yitzhak's life and that he does not really know who God is. Although maybe he is just reminding Yitzhak that he was his fathers God and to not be afraid because anyone who sees someone at night might be scared until they are made aware of who they are seeing.
Ok so I just sounded very confused and I kind of am by the whole meaning. I think that Yitzhak was told about God by his father at a younger age but now that he is on his own and a lot older, God suddenly appears again in his life. So God is reminding a semi absent minded (or so it seems) Yitzhak who he is and his significants to Avraham and his family. He tells him to not be afraid because Yitzhak was probably startled and God wanted him to know that he was not there for a bad reason.
I think God is ready to "collect" on his promise to Avraham. Avraham proved he was a good servant to God and in return, as promised, God is ready to make Yitzhak's seed many.
~Chelsea
It's been said that God has only children and no grandchildren, but Yitzhak seems about as close to a grandchild of God as any Genesis character we've seen so far. It was for Avraham's sake that God told Yitzhak he would be blessed.
Considering that we see no record of Yitzhak having had any voice in even choosing his own wife, I'm thinking maybe he was a passive individual who'd grown so accustomed to his strong-willed father making every decision for him that he really didn't know how to make decisions for himself. In chapter 24, Avraham commanded his servant that Yitzhak wasn't to be brought back to Avraham's homeland. Notice that the wording is "do not bring my son back there," instead of "do not allow my son to GO back there." Did Yitzhak possess any initiative?
In chapter 26 the times that Yitzhak is seen taking at least some initiative all concern food and/or water, and laughing-and-loving his wife. And of course following in his father's deceitful footsteps and saying that his wife was his sister. (Can this be the same Avimelech that Avraham lied to? How old would this guy have to be, anyway?) Even Yitzhak's last request of his sons in chapter 27 is for hunted-game to make for him "a delicacy, such as I love." The few details we're given to flesh out this character Yitzhak paint a picture of a sensual man who exhibits little or none of the initiative or religious fervor seen in his father Avraham. And I agree Amy Leigh, that the negative aspects of Avraham's religious practice may have prevented Yitzhak from having a desire to form his own relationship with God.
First of all, I think that perhaps the lack of narrative about Yitzhak may just be because he didn't do anything to stand out. If he didn't do anything particularly bad so as to need to write about it and make an example of him (or vice versa) why would they?
I actually tend to think that God and Yitzhak seemed to have an "understanding" of one another. It seems that both Yitzak and Rivka have prayed to God previous times and been given results. This to me shows that they did have a relationship with God.
In reference to other comments, I was somewhat surprised that the line "Do not be afraid..." was taken in reference to Yitzak being afraid of God. When I read it I thought that it was basically God encouraging him. Yitzak has just settled in a land and been digging wells and having to bicker with a bunch of people, but God is telling him that it's OK, that He will always help Yitzak. In other words...don't worry about all these people and the new land and so on. Then God goes on to reitterate that Yitzak will be blessed with many children. Again, it's as to say in common terms...Yitzak, I'm behind you as you're going through all these things. Everything will be alright.
I disagree with Michelle’s idea that Yitzhak knew God. He probably knew of God because of his father’s relationship with Him (as Chelsea agrees). I think this because of how God had to say, “I am …God.” I can definitely see why God then said, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you,” because maybe Yitzhak didn’t understand the alternate test God may have intended for Avraham and therefore would be scared of a God who almost had him killed. God then goes on to make Yitzhak the same promise he made his father but I wonder if that is as important to Yitzhak as it was to Avraham since his dad had to pick a wife for him. We can tell Yitzhak is also special because God appears to him but it is sad that He says it is for the sake of Avraham.
Daye's comment must have been written while I was writing, so I read it and just thought of something else...I had previously had the thought that Yitzak would probably have a really hard time with both his father and God after the traumatic event on the mountain top, but now, I'm sort of thinking that perhaps that event would have actually make Yitzak closer to God. If we assume that Yitzak did not know that he was going to be sacrificed while going up the mountain and then that he did not know that God had told Avraham to sacrifice him (in Avraham's mind it was supposed to be a sacrifice anyway) all Yitzak would have experienced would have been his FATHER getting ready to kill him, but GOD (God's messenger) stops this from happening. Yitzak must have been grateful that he was saved from his father by God so thus it would seem to me that he would be pretty loyal to God for the rest of his life. Does this make sense or is this something I thought up while momentarily totally forgetting some cruitial point in between?
to me this passage makes me think that there is no relationship or at least a very different type of relationship between yitzhak and god compared to what avraham had with god. if yitzhak didnt know who god was then i think its weird that avraham wouldnt teach yitzhak of god and who he is when he(avraham) had this beliefe and relationship with god that was very personal, it just seems weird. i also think michelle has a good point about god does bless yitzhak but only for avrahams sake. all in all i think that this passage just confused me alot and doesnt make that much sense to me
I think that Yitzhak did have a relationship with God. I think God said "do not be afraid, I am with you" maybe because he wanted to assure Yitzhak that He will fullfil His promises that He gave Yitzhak in Genesis 26:2-26:4. Yitzhak might not of known God as well as his Avraham or the authors might not have included other conversations that Yitzhak had with God (since there is not much of Yitzhak after Genesis 22).
This is a little off topic but, I do not understand why Yitzhak, just as his father, called his wife his sister. The reaction by the king is exactly the same as before. He could not believe that Yitzhak had done this. It just seems to me that there is no need to be afraid to tell the people of the land who your wife is. They are causing more harm by lying because the people do not want to be punished for taking another mans wife.
Stephen
First of all, I believe that God is treating Yitzhak just like he is treating Avraham after his "test". I believe that God has seen what Avraham can do, and now has trust in him and knows that he will continue to bless Avraham. Because of that, and because of Avrahams large amount of faith, he is going to bless his son Yitzhak in the same way. He knows what he has in store for him and he knows what type of man he is. Therefore, I believe that in the same what that he is going to contiue blessing Avraham, I believe that he will do the same throughtout Yitzhak's life.
In 24:20, it says that Yitzhak was forty years old when HE took Rivka...for himself as a wife. earlier the text seemed to imply that he didn't really have a choice in the matter. Maybe he did somehow? not that it really matters anyway, i just thought it was interesting.
Right after that it goes on to talk about how Yitzhak entreated YHWH on behalf of his wife, and YWHW granted his request basically. I think this shows at least there is some relationship between Yitzhak and God.
in 26:12, "thus did YHWH bless him" referring to Yitzhak. it seems like Yitzhak is more involved than some have presumed. just before that we see that Yitzhak did what God had just asked him to do. He seems really obedient.
i pretty much felt the same way Addie described about the whole thing. that God and Yitzhak had an understanding of one another maybe. and also with the reading of when God tells Yitzhak to not be afraid. when i read that i also felt like God was just comforting Yitzhak, like Addie said.
when Avraham took his son Yitzhak to sacrifice him, i felt like Yitzhak was obeying his father, even though he may not have known what was planned (i don't think he knew) But i think it is possible God comforted and assured Yitzhak during that time. Or even what addie said, that maybe it would make him even more greatful to God, that he saved his life...i think there are many ways to look at it, as there is with about anything.
also i agree with stephen, i do not understand the whole deal with them lying about their wives being their sisters...its weird, and it seems like they don't really have any reason to do that.
I feel that Yitzhak did know of God, but he did not know him for himself. If Yitzhak knew that it was God that told his father to "sacrifice" him, then I think that Yitzhak did not want to know God for himself. If I was in his shoes, I wouldn’t want to know a God that told my parents to “sacrifice” me. I would want to disassociate myself with him. I see where Chelsea is coming from when she says that God had to make Yitzhak aware of who he is. If Yitzhak did have a relationship with God, then I believe that he would have already known who God was. With that in mind, maybe God waited until now to reveal himself to Yitzhak because God knew that he was not ready to receive him and all of his blessings. I also agree with Daye when she commented about Yitzhak being the closest thing to a grandchild of God’s. I agree with this because it was only for Avraham’s sake that he blesses Yitzhak. I feel that if Yitzhak was any other guy on the street, God would not have bothered to appear to him and bless him, but, since he was the son of Avraham, he was keeping his promise he had made to him by blessing his seed, Yitzhak. I feel that God only sees Yitzhak as a passage to the next generation, and as a fulfillment to the promise he had with Avraham.
It seems to me like God almost takes pity on Issac for being so lost in the shadows of his father, especially after the binding/sacrifice. Issac's relationship with God seems to be one of trust. However, this passage makes it seem like God might only be "making his seed many" simply because he is the son of Abraham.
I agree that it is definitely a definitive point that Issac can actually "see" God. It's pivotal in the fact that no one has seen God, unless they have been some special, prominent person in the Bible.
I also find the contrast between Abraham's voice and Issac's lack of a voice very intriguing. This passage can kind of come across as God not really knowing what to make of Issac's silence and just blessing him on behalf of Abraham because of his genealogy.
I really like what Daye said about God not having grandchilren, only children, because the relatinship illustrated in this passage feels more like that of a grandparent-grandchild as she said. Just reading the passage, I felt like Yitzhak was slightly disconnected from a relationship with God, almost kind of like a "why me?" attitude. Also, the way God identifies himself as the "God of Avraham" seems kind of like a "know by association" attmept at communication. The text does hint of a promising future as he tells Yitzhak he is with him and that he will make his seed many. By establishing this, it would become possible for Yitzhak to have his own relationship with God independent of his father's, allowing for Yizhak to make his own way. Also referring back to what Daye said that it was for Avraham's sake that Yitzhak was to be blessed, this reminds me of how nowadays, children complain of their parents living through them and pushing them to do the same things they did when they were their age...kind of like the "stage mom" mentality. Is there any amount of pressure that Yitzhak is feeling to carry out these promises, especially considering who his father is? At this moment, it would be defeating for Yitzhak to compare what he has with God to what his father had with God. I think that it is important and interesting to remember while reading this passage that while they are certainly different relationships among Avraham, God and Yitzhak, they are also connected to eachother.
When I first read this, I notice, as many did, that YHWH 'introduces' himself to Yitzhak, as opposed to the first time Avraham is recorded to converse with God in the beginning of chapter 12. Was this due to Yitzhak not knowing God or Yitzhak not being close to God? Perhaps this is a reassurance, as Chelsea, Addie, and Stephen mentioned, that he is the "God of Avraham," and, as he did for Avraham, God will take care of him. In investigating this theory, I found it noteworthy that in 15:1, Avram is also told by YHWH, "Be not afraid, Avram, I am a delivering-shield to you, your reward is exceedingly great." Perhaps YHWH is, again, presenting himself as a "delivering shield." Also, in this passage we see YHWH's word coming to Avram in a vision, comprable to YHWH being seen by Yitzhak in the night. This is definitely something to consider in thought of "fear" being that of someone in the night. Also, in our comparison, we find in 12:7 that "YHWH was seen by Avram"
We see, Yitzhak experiencing all these things as Avraham did. There's definitely a relationship. But the question remains: how is his relationship? Much like his father, he has the same tendencies to lie, avoid conflict, play favorites between his sons, and alienate his wife. He seems to be rather concerned with himself, though this is manifested in different ways, such as not giving back to God as much in sacrifice, and in similar ways as fear of death on behalf of his beautiful wife. However, he does have more patience, and he does entreat YHWH "on behalf of his wife." That seems nice, but there's always room to read that his motives were selfish for an heir, etc.
I find Avraham and Yitzhak to be much more similar in their relationships with YHWH than I had initially seen them. And, although, Yitzhak does not give much in sacrifice, he does (as Katie mentioned) give more in his listening and obedience.
It was stated well from the beginning and has been repeated many times, but I also agree with Daye that Yitzhak seems to be a grandchild of God. A few people have mentioned that because YHWH was "seen" by Yitzhak, the two have a solid relationship. I'm not sure that I'm entirely convinced by this, although I do think that God loves Yitzhak dearly. Avraham is very vocal with God and God in return is very vocal as well, but Yitzhak, dealing with trauma, seems to shy away from trusting "father-like" figures, such as God or a grandparent. Because of this, God isn't able to get as close to Yitzhak as he was with his beloved, yet sometimes unruly and ungrateful child, Avraham.
I stopped reading people's posts at Daye because that post was about exactly what I am thinking. I really liked "It's been said that God has only children and no grandchildren, but Yitzhak seems about as close to a grandchild of God as any Genesis character we've seen so far. It was for Avraham's sake that God told Yitzhak he would be blessed."
This is very true. Yitzhak's life has been whatever his father wanted. Even his death was almost by his father's hand. It almost seems sad that he has to stay in his father's shadow. It seems like God wouldn't care about Yitzhak if it wasn't for Avraham being his father. But anyways, it's cool to see Yitty (a little nick name) interacting with God rather than his father interacting with God for him.
This passage showed me that
Yitzhak was a special character than any other Patriarchs.
I believe that Yitzhack had known God before God came to him and said "I am the God of Avraham your father."
Because, God is what Avraham believed in his whole life.
Avraham knew that beliving in YHWH is the greatest thing that
human could do in theif lives.
As a father,
Avraham must had told Yitzhack
that to belive in God will bring you lots of good things.
Just like his father,
Yitzhack went through
all the steps that his father
did before, even to lie to Avimelek
that his wife is his sister.
However,
I strongly believe that if Yitzhack
didn't have much initiative like
Daye said.
Because,
Avraham once tried to kill
Yitzhack for God's favor.
Couldn't Yitzhack believe in something else rather than
what his father believed??
It was God who tested one's life
to see if Avraham really trust
or not.
Couldn't he complain to God
when he said
"I will bless you and will make your seed many, for the sake of Avraham my servant."
It seems to me that
Yitzhack is living in
a same matrix what
Avraham planned for him.
For example, Avraham told his servant to marry a certain wife
for Yitzhack.
What if..
What if Yitzhack did not
believe in God?
Where is his OWN life...
It is odd that Yitzhak is somewhat overlooked in the Bible narratives since he is a "founding father". After thinking about it, I agree with Addie's first comment when she said that he may not have done anything to stand out. Up to this point we have mostly read about people eating forbidden fruit, a brother killing his brother, the earth being destroyed for its corruption, cities being destroyed for their corruption, and of course Avraham telling people his wife is his sister. The same kind of news can be seen when someone turns on the television or opens a paper. It seems like people only care about dirt, so maybe the authors knew this and chose not to focus their writings on little, introverted Yitzhak.
On another note, to say that Yitzhak did not have a relationship with God would go against God's covenant. Even though the promise was initially made with Avraham, it was Yitzhak not Yishmael that it was carried through with. In this section of Genesis God refers to Himself as the God of Avraham, but later He recognizes the other fathers by calling Himself the God of Avraham, Yitzhak, and Yaakov (Exodus 3:6).
I really agree with what Addie had to say. One of the first stories we hear of Yitzhak is the instance in which he copies what his father did by passing his wife off as his sister to avoid death and gain rewards. It would seem that anything he did before this was just average and maybe even decent as far as we know. After all, more often than not the bible appears as more of guide on what not to do. As for Yitzhak's relationship with God, it's difficult to say how strong it is. I believe in no way does it reach the relationship his father had with God but we really cannot tell simply by one passage where God introduces himself to Yitzhak. I completely agree that God may just be assuring Yitzhak that everything will be ok, his seed is safe and he will be a wealthy man. I believe this so strongly because many times God had to reassure Avraham that things were going to be ok. However, I do believe that God recognizes how acquiescent Yitzhak's character is and spares no expense in his encouragement.
I really like the way this passage is written and I believe it can be taken, was meant to be taken as more of a symbolic interaction. The “seen by him” really complements the theme of sight as understanding and acceptance throughout Scripture. Part of me believes that maybe this entire time (since the binding), Yitzhak has been lost, traumatized, disturbed, unstable, and maybe even mute towards accepting God and even other humans. Maybe, God decided Yitzhak had been lost long enough and realized that it would take an act of Divine Intervention to bring him back. God tells him to “not be afraid”, Yitzhak was probably scared of everything. I feel as though Yitzhak couldn’t really trust anyone, so he didn’t know what was going on in his life. It is comforting to know someone is with you, physically, and to know that they are with you –on your side-in regard to emotional and spiritual struggles.
I don’t really understand the last part about Avraham. Does this mean God is blessing Yitzhak because He feels he owes it to him for what Avraham almost did on the mountain? Or is Yitzhak blessed because he is related to Avraham and Avraham was a (faithful?) servant to God? The fact that all Yitzhak's blessings came after his father's death stood out for me, also. It really surprised me to read that Yishmael's inheritance fell, and it seemed to fall in somewhat of an embarassing way- in "the presence of all his brothers". Didn't God say "for a great nation will I make of him"(Gen. 21:18). I guess God didn't warrant a timespan for Yishmael.
I found it interesting that "Yitzhak settled by the Well of the Living-One Who-Sees-Me" (Gen.25:11).
This passage makes me feel that God and Yitzhak relationship is only due to the fact that Avraham is Yitzhak father. It makes it seem like Yitzhak really doesn't believe and God is not fully committed to the relationship either. The last part of the verse "for the sake of Avraham my servant" tells me that God has a wonderful relationship of Avraham.
While God may seem that he cares more about having Avraham seed be many Yitzhak never seems to be take the lead and try to establish a relationship either. I realize God doesn't talk with everyone just like Avraham he never really seems to care that much about Yitzhak. Look God acts like Yitzhak is dispendable look at the fact the he almost has Avarham kill him. Anyone would realize that would be traumatizing. I believe God just cares that his promise with Avraham is kept.
One of the promises that God made to Avraham was that he would make his seed many and they would be blessed through him. Although Yishmeal was born first Isaac was the one chosen to be the literal heir because he was the child of Avraham and Sarah. Genesis 26:12 was pointed out earlier and I think it makes an excellent point along with the following verse. "Yitshak sowed in that land, and reaped in that year a hundred measures; thus did YHWH bless him. The man became great, and went on, went on becoming greater, until he was exceedingly great..." Then is goes on to list all the things he was blessed with. I think this implies he had a relationship with God. Not to mention when he was on the countain about to be sacrificed he willingly submitted. Would you do that for a God that you did not believe in? I think the first part of Gen. 26:24 is implying that this is the first time that God had directly had interaction with Isaac as opposed to through his father Avraham. And immediately after verse 26 Yitzhak builds a slaughter-site and worships YHWH. Yet another way of showing he is also Yitzhaks God.
This verse is also again revealing the importance of the covenant made to Avraham that his descendants (and now Yitzhak's) would be many and they will be blessed inheriting the LAND. We will see this again through Yitshak's son Yaakov. This is an example of God following through with this covenant. As we see the continued repetition of God's covenant the importance of it in the overall story becomes more and more revealed to us. This is a trend we will continue to see.
One of Yitzhak’s earliest experiences of God involves a really traumatizing camping trip with his Dad and a certain sacrifice his Dad thought needed to be made. If Yitzhak was as old as 30 when this happened, he would have had to let his father bind him and lay him on the slaughtersite. To me, this has to be one of the first instances of Yitzhak trusting YHWH, and this type of choice has to mean there was some kind of relationship or understanding of YHWH by Yitzhak before this time because I don’t think he would lay his life down so easily for someone or something he doesn’t trust or hasn’t seen prove itself. Maybe it is easy for Yitzhak to be bound because he understands that he is the fulfillment of a promise YHWH made to his father, and that YHWH keeps his promises.
There are more hints at a relationship between YHWH and Yitzhak before this passage in Ch. 26. In Ch. 25, Yitzhak is interceding for his wife to YHWH because she is barren, and God granted his entreaty (v.21). In Ch.26, Yitzhak goes back to where his father lived to think about his current situation and it is here that God reassures Yitzhak that he is with him; I don’t believe this is a first meeting. Yitzhak builds a slaughtersite possibly because he is deeply moved by the experience. Also, if everyone’s relationship with God looked the same that would be boring. This is how Yitzhak’s relationship is playing out.
How God views Yitzhak is more difficult. He listens to Yitzhak, but what he says in verse 24 of Ch. 26 is confusing for me. God could be showing Yitzhak his reasoning for blessing him and that is because I made a promise to your father, “for the sake of your father.” All in all, I feel Yitzhak and YHWH have some understanding because of what God did in Avraham’s life. We don’t see a lot of stories about Yitzhak because there wasn’t a lot of mistrust. I keep thinking of the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Avraham might have just been one squeaky wheel.
Also can we refer to Yitzhak by Rob’s nickname for him from now on, Yitty? :D
I'm surprised by the number of posts concerning whether or not Isaac knows the Lord. I never really read into God's wordage when introducing himself to Isaac. It does seem Isaac is slighted in his recognition by God. Basically God is regarding Isaac as Abraham's Son... not for a person himself. Daye's comment spoke to this really well. However, I can't help but believe Isaac knew God.
Whether or not they had a moving living relationship like God had with Abraham, I don't know. But we will see God continually introduce himself in this manner. In Exodus 6:29, when God first is commissioning Moses to lead, he says, "I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you."
Maybe that's just God's way of introducing himself. If indeed Abraham's lesson was to test heavenly voices before acting, perhaps this is God's way of saying, 'This is me... I'm legit."
I see the relationship between Yitzhak and God as almost awkward. Here is Yitzhak, this quiet guy who kind of lets people do things for him--he has obviously been traumatized throughout his life, so it's understandable that he would be so "shy."
I think it's true what the others were saying about Yitzhak living in his father's shadow. Avraham had such an active relationship with God, and Yitzhak never fully understood what was going on or what it all meant. I'm not sure if it was because Yitzhak didn't understand the relationship his father had with God, or if he did understand it but was almost frustrated that he never got to be a part of it. Again, he has been traumatized several times in his life, so he was probably wondering why God never helped him through all of it.
So now, God has finally shown himself to Yitzhak, and I see it in my mind and a slightly awkward situation. However, God made sure to comfort Yitzhak and reassure him that He would be there with him.
I also find it interesting that there are many similarities between Yitzhak and Avraham. Yitzhak is so different from his father, but he is clearly his father's son. I don't think this is why God came to Yitzhak, though (only because he is the son of Avraham). I actually think God came to him because Yitzhak is special on his own. There is definitely a "grandfatherly" kind of feel to the relationship, as others have mentioned, but God cares for Yitzhak greatly, and for who he is.
Finally, as for whether Yitzhak "knew" God or not, I agree with Ian that he indeed knew God. Although I personally am not religious, there are things in the world that are so wondrous and splendid that I feel this deep-seated faith with the world. Though I may not call this "God," I am definitely familiar with that feeling of "knowing" and being connected with everything on a spiritual level. And that's how I feel about Yitzhak. Though he may not have had a name for it, he always knew God and had a connection with Him.
I am inclined to agree with Danielle in thinking Yitzhak only knew God because of his fathers relationship with God. I think if Avraham was not his father, he would not be in any way exceptionaly like the other patirachs.
What struck me the most however, was whether Yitzhak might well have been a exceptional person and patriach, but his relationship with God was skewed. Avraham told him that God would provide a lamb for the sacrifice, so perhaps he saw this as a betrayal by God by putting him in harms way (even if he wasnt sacrificed in the end). So even if Yitzhak still knows God and follows him, perhaps he doesnt love him as much as his father did.
God was seen by Yitzhak, and while sight is important, the reader is not sure if Yitzhak understood who he was talking to or the significance of it. It is strange that the passage says “I am the God of Avraham” rather than the Yitzhak’s God. God is blessing Yitzhak in the same way that he blessed Avraham, but he seems to be doing this merely because Avraham is his father. To me, it seems like God is stating that while he is not Yitzhak’s God, God will be with him on account of his father not because of Yitzhak. Perhaps God made Yitzhak see him in this passage and after this point God was the God of Yitzhak. It seems like networking to me; God is saying that Avraham, Yitzhak’s father, worked for him and now God is going to look out / work for Yitzhak simply because of connections. Form this one passage it seems like that have a you-work-for-me-I’ll-work-for-you type of relationship; descent but not very personally.
I feel that God did know Yitzhak. In the literature there was readings with God and Yitzhak interacting. I think more importantly God is seeing Yitzhak only as an offspring to Avraham and not as an individual.
Yitzhak’s relationship with God is so vague because since he was nearly slaughtered by his father, he has not committed any acts extreme enough to warrant pages in this text. In fact, perhaps out of personal anguish and mental turmoil, he has remained so removed and low profile that he has not even managed to find a wife on his own Yitzhak is not attempting to command attention from God, like his father did, but he does ask of God in 25:21 to aid Rivka in becoming pregnant because it appeared she was barren. Then God continues to speak with Rivka saying “two nations are in your body…”. So when God comes to Yitzhak in 26:24 and says “I am God of Avraham your father” it is obvious that he is not literally saying, “Hello, my name is God, what’s yours, pleased to meet you”. In many other ancient texts (as well as many not so ancient texts like the amazing Lord of the Rings) the greatness of man is measured by his lineage, so it was considered customary upon greeting to say, “I am Yitzhak, son of Avraham” out of respect as we see in the mythos of Greek heroes. By recognizing lineage you are making that character epic, more immortalized. Perhaps God here is simply recognizing Yitzhak’s significance by mentioning his connection to his father.
-Bet$y Robbins.
I felt like even though this is the first time we hear that YHWH was "seen" by Isaac, I do not feel like this is their first encounter. As many people have said, they may not have had significant conversations. With it being night, God could have easily been identifying himself through the darkness. I feel like the significance of "Do not be afraid" was actually a form of comfort. Approaching this verse, Isaac had been digging up wells and even quarreling over names for those wells. I feel like anyone in this position would feel overwhelmed. So maybe God said this in trying to calm Isaac and bring comfort. It was almost as if he was saying, "don't be afraid/worried Isaac, things are going to get better and I am here to help you through this."
Also, after discussing in class today the probability of Isaac being most likely in his thirties, I find Adam's comment to be even more true. Isaac's obedience was not blind, but had to entrusted in something he believed and had a relationship with.
I believe this passage tells us that Yitzhak did not have a very intimate relationship with God, or certainly not like the relationship that Avraham and God shared. Along with Chelsea’s comments, God didn’t need to introduce himself to Avraham, but he had to make it clear to Yitzhak who he was. As Daye and others have mentioned, Yitzhak probably had a perception with negative aspects toward a relationship with God. But knowing this, why would God distance himself from Yitzhak if he really cared about him? Maybe it is time for him to step back and let Yitzhak live his life. I would guess that because God created Yitzhak the same as he created Avraham, and I couldn’t identify anything particularly special about Avraham, the two men are of equal value in God’s eyes. He may have had to play a more direct role in Avraham’s life to make sure that the correct course of events happened, but now he can take a step back and let Yitzhak make his own decisions. I also believe that by God showing up to Yitzhak himself, and not sending a messenger, it was his way of saying “Hey Yitzhak, I have a plan. You may not understand it and you may be hurt from how things have played out, but I haven’t forgotten you and I promise I will follow through.”
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