Sublime

If you find that you are like Isaac, born according to the promise, remember that your name means “laughter,” for that is the interpretation of the Hebrew name Isaac. Take care that you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

In the third year of King Hoshea son of Elah of Israel, Hezekiah son of King Ahaz of Judah began to reign. 2He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi daughter of Zechariah. 3He did what was right in the sight of the LORD just as his ancestor David had done. 4He removed

34 Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel. 35The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

Mount Zion,

Esau marries two Hittite women. Not only does he marry two women (this is descriptive, not prescriptive), but both women are outside God’s family.

For reflection Genesis 22:1–19

Manasseh will become a people, but Ephraim will become a multitude.

Abraham must show that every portion of his life is open to God but not on the promise of blessing and not on the threat of punishment. Both of those are missing in Genesis 22. He must show it simply on the unqualified need of his Friend. God said, "I need Isaac." Abraham said, "He's yours."

In desperation Sarah gives Abraham her handmaid Hagar as wife, an established custom in patriarchal times. Hagar has a child, Ishmael. Now at last Abraham has a son. Yet God tells him that Ishmael is not the one. He too will be blessed and will become a great nation. But he is not the child of the covenant.