“Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.” ….. {Laban spoke} The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.”
Genesis 31:42, 53 NKJV
“But Jacob swore [only] by [the one true God] the Fear of his father Isaac.”
Genesis 31:53 AMP
Many different names have been used to describe the character of the One, True G-d, and today, I learned a new one: the Fear of Isaac.
Used twice in the Bible – both times were in this chapter- I’ve been meditating all day on this new name for G-d.
While studying several commentaries, I learned that there were many who practiced idolatry in Jacob’s lineage- Terah, Abraham, Nahor, and Leban. However, there was one who did not – his father, Isaac.
At this point in Jacob’s story, he knew G-d – but he didn’t know G-d personally, and even though he only knew OF and ABOUT Him, Jacob feared G-d. There was something about growing up as Isaac’s son, something that Isaac did, said, or lived out before Jacob that was enough for Jacob to know and to fear G-d. Jacob knew that his father, Isaac, truly feared the True G-d and even though Jacob didn’t fully understand it all, he feared G-d too and swore and oath in His name alone.
This thought process has led me to wondering about our influence on the lives of our children, specifically in the area of walking with G-d. Am I living my faith in such a way that it clearly points to the One True G-d as Isaac did? Does my love point to Him? Do my choices and words exalt Him? Am I making Him – The One, True, Eternal G-d- obvious to my children through words, deeds, and actions or are my words, deeds, and actions blinding them to Him?
Everything we do and everything we say either exalts G-d or it exalts Satan. We either praise and magnify G-d or we praise and magnify the Enemy. There’s no middle ground, no gray area. How I respond to my children and how I live my faith before them does impact them. At the end of the day, they must choose on their own to walk with Him or walk apart from Him, and as they make their own journey, may they see the type of reflection of G-d in and through me that draws them to Him rather than repel them.
Father – forgive me for where and how I’ve misrepresented You. You’re a perfect and good Father. Help me to live in integrity before You so that they may see You in and through my life. Amen.