Genesis and Matthew 36: A Word for Isaac

We saw clearly that the Lord was with you.

For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

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Isaac seems to be quite a different personality, from his father, Abraham. There's the sense that, while Abraham was bold and visionary, prone to great gestures of faith and power; Isaac was more of a soft-spoken, but strong, man. 

People didn't take Isaac on directly. He was too nice of a guy. He stayed out of other people's way. He did not want to offend. But he worked hard, and steadily. He was a tiller, a gardener, like Cain. But unlike Cain, he had a pure heart and warm tendency towards others. He grew and prospered. People enjoyed working for him, and making deals with him, because he was so likable. 

He was like my Dad. 

Isaac was not considered a threat to others. But the jealous types - and there are always plenty of those - did not like seeing his easy prosperity. It seemed to come so naturally to Isaac, as if he had some special secret, or magic. But there was no secret about it. He worked hard, lived modestly, and saved. His wealth may have come more from lack of spending, than from skill in increasing one's riches. 

He appeared to be a commoner that came into money. He did not appear to be as successful as he was. 

So, when they wanted to hurt him, they did it like cowards, sneaking around at night, and plugging up his wells. 

But you'd never catch him actually saying something hurtful about, or towards, someone else. This, too, frustrated his would-be enemies. He never gave them much to work with, in building any case against him, (sound familiar?)

Do not look at the externals for whether or not to respect, or like, another person. But listen to them. What do they say? What do they intend? And what is the result of their words? 

Do they divide, or do they heal? Do they lord it over others, or serve them? Do they draw attention to themselves, or deflect it upon others? Do they listen? Do they listen to other viewpoints?

Do they love dialogue and the gathering of different viewpoints?

We need more real people, good people, like Isaac, and less degreed and self-important people like the Pharisees in the time of Christ. They were all talk, and their talk was destructive. 

Be like Isaac.