‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’
Genesis 21 vs 12
Context
On the day her only son, Isaac, was weaned, Sarah noticed that Ishmael, whom Hagar had born for Abraham, was mocking both her and her son. This upset Sarah and she insisted that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away. Abraham was greatly distressed by this, for he loved both Isaac and Ishmael. But the Lord told Abraham to listen to Sarah and do as she had requested. The Lord made Ishmael a great nation. Furthermore, the Lord told Abraham that it is through Isaac that his offspring will be reckoned.
My first year at prep school was a little eventful, to say the least. I was mischievous, stubborn, and constantly getting into trouble. Fortunately for me, and in truth I probably took great advantage of this, I had two older brothers who were disciplined, well behaved, and greatly respected by all. They had been at the school for a few years before I started there, and the older one was the Head of School. At the end of my first term, he informed me that I had caused him a great deal of embarrassment, as the focus of all prefect meetings (chaired by the headmaster) was ‘the little Akande’ – me. Apparently, the question at the start of every single prefect meeting was – ‘What are we to do about the little Akande?’
But due to the impeccable reputations of my two older brothers, the headmaster never allowed anyone to punish me harshly. In other words, I was judged not by my actions but by the character and behaviour of my two older siblings.
And guess what! As a result of the love and protection I received, I soon developed a profound desire to be better. Indeed, a few years later, I too was a school prefect; not quite the model student, but close enough.
Isaac is a mirror of what Jesus would later do for us; particularly with regards to God testing Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac as an act of worship and obedience. Furthermore, Isaac is a direct ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this light, we can see that our good God had already laid the foundation for how you and I are to be judged / reckoned with. We are judged not by our actions, thoughts, words or deeds, but by what Jesus has already done for us. We are reckoned with not according to who we are, what we have, or what we can do, but through Jesus Christ – who He is and what He has already done.
God reckons with you through his son Jesus Christ. Hold on to this unshakeable truth.
Does God love Jesus? Yes. Therefore, he loves you.
Is God ever angry with Jesus? No. Therefore, he is never angry with you.
Does Jesus deserve God’s blessings of love, joy, peace and prosperity? Yes. Therefore, so do you.
Is Jesus good enough for God’s love? Yes. Therefore, so are you.