Topical Bible: Miracles: Catalogue of The Conception of Isaac

◄ Miracles: Catalogue of The Conception of Isaac ►

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The conception of Isaac stands as a pivotal miracle in the biblical narrative, showcasing God's sovereign power and faithfulness to His promises. This event is chronicled primarily in the Book of Genesis and is foundational to the Abrahamic covenant, highlighting themes of divine intervention, faith, and the fulfillment of God's promises.

Background and Promise

The account begins with God's call to Abram (later Abraham) in Genesis 12, where God promises to make him a great nation. Despite this promise, Abraham and his wife Sarah remain childless for many years. In Genesis 15:4-5 , God reassures Abraham, saying, "This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir." God then takes Abraham outside and says, "Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able. Then He told him, 'So shall your offspring be.'"

The Miracle of Conception

The miraculous nature of Isaac's conception is underscored by the advanced age of his parents. Genesis 17:17 records Abraham's incredulity: "Will a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?" Despite their old age, God reiterates His promise in Genesis 18:10 , saying, "I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son."

Sarah's initial reaction is one of disbelief, as she laughs at the prospect of bearing a child in her old age. However, the Lord responds in Genesis 18:14 , "Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son."

Fulfillment of the Promise

The fulfillment of this promise is recorded in Genesis 21:1-2 : "Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him." The birth of Isaac is a testament to God's faithfulness and the miraculous power that transcends natural limitations.

Significance in the Biblical Narrative

Isaac's birth is not only a personal blessing to Abraham and Sarah but also a critical event in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. Isaac is the child of promise through whom the covenantal blessings would continue. The Apostle Paul reflects on this in Romans 9:7-9 , emphasizing that it is through Isaac that Abraham's offspring will be reckoned, highlighting the miraculous nature of his birth as a work of divine election and promise.

Theological Implications

The conception of Isaac serves as a profound example of faith and divine intervention. It illustrates the principle that God's promises are fulfilled in His timing and according to His power, often beyond human understanding or capability. This miracle reinforces the belief in God's omnipotence and His ability to bring life and hope where there seems to be none.

In summary, the conception of Isaac is a testament to God's miraculous intervention in human history, fulfilling His promises and establishing a lineage through which the ultimate promise of redemption would come.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 17:17
Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born to him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
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Genesis 18:12
Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
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Genesis 21:2
For Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
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Library

Extracts No. viii.
... revelation of which I can have any conception, unless it ... and confirmed their mission
by similar miracles to those ... Paul, Romans 16:14, in a catalogue of Roman ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no viii.htm

The Church History of Eusebius. Index of Subjects.
... Beryllus, bishop of Bostra in Asia, [472]268; error of, [473]277; his conception
of Christ, [474]277; brought back to orthodoxy by Origen, [475]277. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/the church history of eusebius.htm

Answer to Eunomius' Second Book .
... of the Son of God not by the miracles alone which He ... that it is outside the range
of every conception of the ... to God, and furnish a sort of catalogue and muster ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/answer to eunomius second book.htm

[Endnotes]
... and withdraw Himself from the multitudes drawn together by the fame of His miracles. ...
may have perceptive powers of which we can form no conception, and may ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/endnotes.htm