ISAAC
HE TRUSTED GOD
FOR EVERYTHING

Compared to other Bible characters, Isaac’s life was quiet. His faith was real but t was not full of exciting events like Noah and Abraham. Even though his life was quiet, it still contained many lessons that would be helpful to us.

Just think of what it may have been like to be Abraham’s son. Imagine some of the great stories about God’s providing for and blessing him. Abraham probably shared some of his mistakes as well as adventures and Isaac must have learned much about how faith worked. He shared with him the many promises that God made and how God always kept them. It is important to remember that our faith always rests on God’s keeping His promises. The whole life of Abraham was about how faithful God was. We can be certain that Isaac believed that as well.

Back in those days there were no radios or televisions (or computers) to give us information so the family gathered and talked and shared life stories. It was the main source of education as well. Just think of what it is like to hear our parents talk about how good God is and how He always came through when they were in need. Abraham’s faith influenced Isaac as we will see as our story continues. Think about your parents telling what happened when you were little and growing up. They told you about something interesting that you did. That is what Isaac experienced as a child, hearing his father Abraham telling these wonderful stories that were true.
But hearing stories about someone else’s faith is not the same as seeing God work in your own life. Isaac had to come to the place where he had to have his own experience of faith.
We mentioned that altars were a reminder of God’s faithfulness to Abraham, now Isaac was going to have some altars of his own to remember. The next part of our lesson talks about an important altar that Isaac would later remember as the most important one in his life.

One day Isaac went with Abraham to a top of a mountain to offer to God a sacrifice. He helped his father gather wood and to build a stone altar. As he looked around a question came into his mind. “Father, look we have wood and an altar but where is the animal we are to place on the altar?” Isaac did not know that God had spoken to Abraham before and told him that he was to offer his son as a sacrifice. Abraham knew what was to happen but Isaac didn’t. Imagine his surprise when he saw his father carefully laying him on the stack of wood and tying him there. What do you think Isaac must have thought? Maybe he said “father why are you doing this to me”? Abraham at the same time must have been saying “why do I have to do this.” But Abraham obeyed God once again and remembered that God said that he would bless Abraham through his son Isaac.

How far was Abraham willing to obey God? Abraham comforted Isaac by saying that “God will provide a lamb”. Later the bible tell us that Abraham believed that if his son died, God would raise Isaac from the dead. Just as Abraham was about to kill Isaac, God called out and told Him not to do so, and being true to his promise provided a ram to take Isaac’s place. That was Isaac’s first altar experience and one that he would remember for the rest of his life. He had an experience of a ram taking his place on the altar just like Jesus did for us when He died for our sins on the cross.
This was a test of Isaac’s faith as well as Abraham’s. Isaac was willing to trust God even when he didn’t understand why. Sometimes we need to be like Isaac. God has given our parents to us and sometimes they ask us to do that which seems unreasonable. Remember what we said in our first lesson, that no one cares more about us than our parents and we must learn to obey them even when we don’t understand their instructions. Faith is believing in God when nothing makes sense. Someday they will if we are patient and willing for God to show us why in His time.

We will study about Isaac’s son Jacob in our next story. Isaac was different from Jacob and Abraham in that he had only one wife. Perhaps we can say that he learned from Abraham’s mistake as well as Abraham did.. He made an effort to make certain that Isaac married the right person and we can say he stayed happily married for the rest of his life with Rebekah. Isaac was a quiet person and he showed his faith in practical ways. He did not hastily try to find someone to marry but left the choice of his life’s mate to God. Sometimes we get in a hurry and want something right away and when we do that we make wrong choices. Someday you like Isaac may have to wait for the right time and the right person to come along. It is important to leave our need for marriage in God’s hands. Isaac’s wife was both beautiful and faithful Faithfulness should be a a character quality that everyone should seek.

For many years, Isaac and Rebekah could have no children. It was not easy for older people to be without children. If you didn’t have children in those days, people thought that you were strange. (As if it was your fault.) Once again God had promised that Isaac would have children so they waited for God to act. Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah and they did not have children until twenty years later. I know of married couples who for years could not have children. They decided to adopt and when they did they had three more children of their own. I’m sure that they learned a lesson on how God works. Isaac waited for God’s time and finally the day came when Rebekah gave birth to twin boys.

Isaac had his weaknesses. A similar experience happened to him like that of Abraham. Because there was famine in the land, Isaac headed to a place called Gerar, where there was food and water. Does this story sound familiar? He came before king Abimelech and told him that Rebekah was his sister. You would think that he would have learned from Abraham’s mistake, but we often learn the best lessons from our own mistakes. Once again God stepped in and kept Isaac from harm.

God blessed Isaac with great riches. Sometimes being rich isn’t that great because it often has many temptations that come with it. Isaac’s riches caused him to be generous, and did not leave him selfish. Five times he dug wells of water and each time someone came and took them away from Him. He never fought to get them back or blamed them for being mean. He just let them have it and moved on to dig another one. Isaac became an experienced well digger, but well digging was not the purpose God had in mind for him. Often, God uses our talents to be a blessing to others. Isaac was a good example to us of what it means to be unselfish. Isaac realized that what he had was from God . He had no problem with sharing them with others. When we take the attitude that God owns all that we have and it is His, giving it away becomes no problem.

People took advantage of Isaac’s generosity, like they do to everyone else. Even when he was old and could no longer see, his wife and son took advantage of him to get something for themselves. Isaac was big enough to accept the tricks that they played and forgave them later. Isaac and Rebekah waited 20 years to have their children. Isaac learned how to wait on God and God never failed to provide for His every need.

He will do that for you as well when you place your trust in Him. Proverbs 3: 5,6 is a good verse to memorize.

“Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and He shall direct your paths.”

Psalm 127:3-4
“Lo children are the heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward, as arrows are in the hands of a mighty man: so are children of the youth”(Psalm 127:3-4).
The cost of training God’s heritage is very high. But they are worth of the price. Besides, nothing worth having come cheap. To raise up children properly, we require the very best that we can give of our time, efforts, and resources. This is not a simple job at all. Yet, there is nothing as rewarding for a parent as watching the little child of yesterday begin to grow, learn, love and blossom to become a responsible, godly, man or woman. When a child is able to blend well, he becomes an asset, a praise to his family and a powerful weapon in the hands of both God and man. This is both rewarding here on earth and eternity. God testified of Abraham thus: ”For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him”(Genesis 18:19). My Christian parents and preachers, how about you? What is going to be the Lord’s testimony about you and your household?

1. GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN CHILD TRAINING
Romans 2:21; Proverbs 22:6; Isaiah 54:13.
Child training is the God’s appointed and only method which can be reckoned upon with certainty to develop godly men and women. If you prune, subdue, eradicate the evil, and develop, strengthen, and encourage, the good, inspiring him with the love of the truth, holiness and benevolence, he will grow up a good godly and benevolent person.
Training up a child in the way of the Lord involves, teaching, giving instruction and discipline. Which must be appropriate to the development stages of the child for it has the desire result.
Teaching a child the word of God is of more value than giving them good education and earthly inheritance.
The parents’ exemplary life for the children at home is very importance in child training. The time spends with them on daily quiet time and family devotion, Bible reading and Bible study, prayer life daily Christian living should be worthy of emulation. Most importantly, our practical Christian living must be pointing them daily to the saving Jesus more than our sermons. Hear what a preacher says, “if you want a garden of good fruits, get the trees young”. “Today’s unchurched child is tomorrow’s criminal”

2. DISCIPLING YOUR CHILDREN
Proverbs 13:24; 22:6

“He that spareth his rod hateth the son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes”(Proverbs 13:24).
Discipline must be viewed as having two functions; that of building up cherished habits in the child, and of modifying and changing habits.
Punishment may be necessary at any age, but if a parent or teacher must resort often to punishment, there is something wrong in his method of discipline. Reward and substitution are the two most effective means of securing desirable behaviour

3. TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE

(1) . Consider the differences in guidance and control

(2) Remember to commend the child for desirable behaviour.

(3) Be sure to explain instructions and demands properly to the child. Do not give vague information.

(4) When he flagrantly disobeys, discipline him.

(5) Give punishment commensurate to offence.

(6) Avoid anger in corporate punishment.

(7) Match discipline with the age of the child.

(8) Reassure the child of your love after punishment.

(9) Rewarding the child to stop him from misbehaviour is destructive to discipline.

(10) Avoid using false incentives,

(11) Treat all children equally.

(12) Optimism does wonders. Nothing helps as much as seing the bright side of life, therefore, hope for the better.

“The well mannered child is his parents’ best advertisement” say Meridoth Nicholson

“And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children” (Isaiah 54:13)

Akinbowale Isaac Adewumi
www.devinehome.blogspot.com

The tongue is such a tiny little organ. Yet, it can be one of the most powerful weapons
James 3 has a lot to say about the tongue…
I suggest that you read the entire chapter. (It’s very short)…
Anyway, verse 6 says; And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is a world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body…
Whew, those are some strong words…but, wait, that’s not all. Proverbs 18:21 tells us; Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it for death or life. It is scary to think that my mouth has that much power.

As Christian Mothers we have a great call on our lives to train our children up…Are we speaking life to them? If not, it is never too late with God. He makes all things new.
I know that in my own life…I do not always choose my words wisely. I get angry and say stupid things. Do you?
Proverbs 29:11 says; A self confident fool utters all of his anger, but a wise man holds it back and stills it. The original Hebrew word for “utters” is ruwach (roo’vakh). It means a violent exhalation, anger, unsubstantiability, blast, and whirlwind.
That means, when we lose our temper and spew out our anger…it’s like what a hurricane does when it hits land. It destroys everything in its path. I don’t know about you, but I can have some pretty nasty storms come out of my mouth at times…

Ephesians 4:26 says; When angry do not sin; do not let your wrath last until the sun goes down. This tells me that it’s OK to get angry…it’s normal. We don’t have to walk around holding everything in. We do however, have to express our anger without yelling, cursing, violence, name calling, etc. That is where the anger becomes sin. How do we accomplish getting angry without sinning?

Well, before we can learn that, we must explore the subject of anger more deeply.

There are two types of anger mentioned in the Bible; justifiable and unjustifiable. Here are some examples of both:

UNJUSTIFIABLE ANGER

Cain – in Genesis 4:5-6: His anger came from not getting praise and approval that he felt was deserved. He thought too highly of himself and, was filled with jealousy.

Jonah – in Jonah 4:1-9: His anger came from rebellion. First, he ran from doing what God told him to do. Then, when he finally did, he had distain and apathy towards the people that he was called to minister to. He thought too highly of himself and lacked pity.

The Sadducees – in Acts 5:17: They were filled with jealousy, indignation, and rage. Why? Because, the Apostles were held in high regard, for the signs and wonders God gave them the power to perform.

JUSTIFIABLE ANGER

Moses – in Exodus 32:19: Moses was up on the mountain pleading with God, not to destroy the Israelites. And, there down below building a golden calf to worship. When he came down and saw their disobedience, he got very angry…and burned it!

Samuel – in I Samuel 15:16-31: Samuel was angry with Saul because, he had disobeyed the Lord. He had become rebellious and stubborn. Samuel then told Saul that God had rejected him as king…high price for disobedience.

Jesus – in Mark 3:5: Jesus became angry with the Pharisees because, of the hardening of their hearts. He was going to heal a man on the Sabbath. They had a religious spirit.

When I looked at these examples, it became clear to me what sinful anger is…

Cain wanted praise for himself. Jonah was a snob. He looked down on others who didn’t perform the way he thought that they should. And, the Sadducees were jealous because they wanted to have the admiration and respect of the people.

What do they all have in common? They all had a selfish, self-centered anger.

On the other hand, Moses got angry at the lack of faith and the disobedience to God’s ways. Samuel was angry for the exact same thing. And, guess what? Jesus was too! They all had a righteous anger. Anger at sin and disobedience.

Now, we will look at a couple of examples of unjustifiable anger…. how it begins…and how to counteract it.
(I have left out justifiable anger, because, we just learned that justifiable anger has to do with a righteous indignation at sin. None of the examples are rage filled.)

Example One:

Your child spills a drink for the twentieth time, on the carpet that you just cleaned from the last spill. Grrrr. You explode. You begin a full verbal attack with questions the child is unable to answer, and comments that will leave them in tears. This is selfish anger. It is about you. Who cares about a rug, tablecloth, or broken dish? Are they going with you when you go to Heaven?

In this example you need to stop…bite your tongue…and leave the room. Take a deep breath, and think; “OK, this is my beloved child. God gave me this child to love and care for. I must show grace…after all, God has shown me more Grace than I could ever deserve. I love this child. I love my child. Thank you Lord, for this wonderful and precious child.”
I know what your thinking. “Yeah, right!” What you need to understand is that you must train yourself to do this…write it down, and keep it near by. Pull it out when you feel the anger building up inside. If you continue to do this over and over again, it will become your natural response…instead of an outburst of anger.

Example Two:

Your husband comes home from work and plops down in front of the television. He puts on some program that he enjoys
(or in my case plays Nintendo;). Grrrr. You begin to think: “Doesn’t he know how hard I work to keep this house clean and take care of his kids?” “I wish I could just plop down on the couch…but, noooo, I can’t even go to the bathroom without an audience!” You blow up. Look out…here comes Hurricane Mom!

As you can plainly see in this example, you have thought your way right into a melt down. Does any of this sound familiar? I’m sure you can think of some of your own examples. In a situation like this, it would be a good time to start thinking about how thankful you are to have a husband that goes out and works, so that you can stay home (if you’re a stay at home Mom)…or how you love his smile, laugh, whatever. ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE!

Any time that we feel rage, for any reason, we need to think about what we’re thinking about. The Word says in
Colossians 3:2 – …set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on the earth. In verse 13 of the same chapter it says; Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference, a grievance, or a complaint against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has freely forgiven you, so you must also forgive. I encourage you to read the whole chapter. It is very good.

“But, I cant do all this!” you say. Yes, you can! You have the Mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:16). “How” you ask. The Word tells us to renew our minds (Romans 12:2). You must get into the Word…and, study the Word. That is the only way that you can renew your mind.

Can you see how the mind affects the tongue? First, it becomes a thought. Then, we allow that thought to pour out of us, and…BOOM! The mind is the root of most of our fears, low self esteem, some forms of depression, doubt…it all starts in the mind…then we speak it into existence. Renew your mind!

Please, understand that if you truly want to gain victory in your life, and you begin to pursue it, the enemy WILL attack! When he does…you must go straight to the Word. Fill your mind with Truth. And, when you fail, don’t beat yourself up. Pick yourself up, and press on!

Here are some Weapons to get you started:

II Chronicles 7:14

Psalm 103

Psalm 139

Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 14:1

Proverbs 15:4

Proverbs 16:24

Proverbs 31:26

Isaiah 54:17

Mark 11:24

Romans 8:31-39

Philippians 4:13

I hope that these Scriptures are helpful to you in the battle of your mind and mouth. As you study the Word for yourself…you will find more. Write them down. Keep them with you. Memorize them. I know that you and I can overcome this battle!

If you need prayer, please feel free to contact me any time. I will stand in prayer with you. Simply fill out a prayer request at this address; http://www.momsoffaith.com/prayerrequests.html

God Bless You!

Note: All Scripture references were from the Amplified Translation

Lara Velez
Lara@momsoffaith.com

Copyright ©

About the Author: Lara Velez is a Christian Homeschooling Mother of two. She owns two websites. Moms of Faith – a community of Christian Moms who love the Lord, support each other, and pray for one another. Here you will find valuable resources for Homeschoolers, WAHM’s, New Moms, and much more! Visit today! http://www.momsoffaith.com
She also owns, The Recipe Finder – an Online cooking and recipe magazine. http://www.therecipefinder.com

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I grew up raising my sisters and brother since Mom left us with an alcoholic father. As a young girl, there were many times I’d pour water into Dad’s Vodka bottles in the attempt to keep him somewhat sober. I can also recall sneaking into Dad’s checkbook to pay the bills so the utilities wouldn’t be shut off.

It was the ultimate miracle when God took me from my world of utter darkness into His world of brilliant light! Through the midst of it all, I was led into salvation and accepted His love and forgiveness in my later teen years.

Spending most of my past as a child adult, I was oblivious to the world around me as I struggled just to get by one day at a time. So ignorant was I that I barely even knew that in order to attend college, a person had to PAY or makes some sort of financial arrangement. I assumed it was “free”, like going to high school.

God opened the door for me to attend a private Christian university by providing most of the funding through scholarships, grants, and work study.

It was my last semester in college when I discovered that I was pregnant. With the
stress of full-time college hours, work study, and poor eating habits (due to my background issues, I had developed full-blown bulemia), my health suffered tremendously as my body fought to nurture the child that I was carrying. I was
in such a state that my hair was falling out in clumps and my fingernails were coming out of their nailbeds!

Reluctantly, my husband and I made the choice for him to finish college, since he would be the breadwinner. Not only was I so ill but we were beyond poverty and my financial funding had run out yet his education was being compensated
by the military since he joined the Army National Guard to provide income and medical insurance for the delivery and care of our new baby.

When my oldest was eight, God called me to homeschool. The timing could not have been worse. I was working fifty plus hours per week, nine months pregnant, and physically, mentally, and financially, homeschooling would be impossible! Let’s not forget all the issues regarding homeschool versus public school. I didn’t want to be the controversial one. I didn’t want my kids to be in the middle of such scrutiny. I didn’t want to be different! Why couldn’t God just leave me alone and pick on someone else??

Feeling like Sarah in the Bible upon hearing that she would bear a son in her old age, I laughed at God and told Him of the 1001 things that would have to occur in order for me to homeschool.

Three years later, God not only fulfilled my dream of homeschooling but He provided a way for me to finish the last semester that I did not complete in college! Eight years later I was going back to get my degree!

This time, I did not attend a Christian university but a state college. I was
devastated when my childcare situation fell through. By now I had three children all
under the age of eight and we went from babysitter to babysitter. For one reason or another, I had no childcare.

Praying for a solution, I still struggled with the impossibility of the situation. There was no doubt that homeschooling was God’s will. Many thoughts jumbled in my head. Taking classes at night and homeschooling during the day was an option but many times, my husband worked into the evenings.

Just when I was about to give up the dream of completing my degree, God whispered to me, “Ask your professors if you can bring the children into class and they can do their homeschool while you finish your degree.”

REALLY feeling like Sarah in the Old Testament this time, I laughed at how absolutely impossible this would be. To HOMESCHOOL my kids in a PUBLIC school, a state-funded college. Talk about all the controversy, criticism, and maybe even investigations this will involve! I’ve read about all those homeschooling versus public schooling battles. I didn’t need any more issues in my life especially not legal issues! God must be out of his mind!

Well, now looking back at it all, I have to say in amazement that only God could have softened the hearts of the professors to let my children come to class. Only God could have taught my children as they worked so intently on their homeschool for two straight hours while I concentrated on my lessons. Only God could have babysat my one-year-old as she played quietly in her stroller. And only God could have calmed the battles of homeschooling versus public schooling.

There are some issues which are clear cut. You want your students to have a firm understanding of Biblical principles, math processes, and scientific fact.

There are also some issues that can be viewed in more than one way. Is fall better than spring? Should children always eat healthy foods, or is it okay to have the occasional less-healthy treat? In order to get the most from a study of these interesting issues, try this fun and thought-provoking project!

Use bulletin board paper for this project, or tape together smaller sheets of paper to make a larger piece. Cut a strip of paper ten inches by 48 inches. Fold it into an accordion. You will be able to open the book and turn the pages from either side without seeing the other side of the paper.

Begin at one side and make a title taking one side of the issue: “Children Should Receive Allowances,” perhaps. Write the title on the outside cover and add an illustration. Now gather as much evidence as possible for this side of the argument. Interview people, collect newspaper articles on the subject, find relevant Bible verses, and gather facts that support the claim.

As you collect evidence, you’re bound to find some counter-evidence as well. Turn the book over and make a cover for the other side of the story: “Children Should Not Receive Allowances.” As you find evidence for that point of view, fill the pages of that side of the book with support for that side of the argument.

Once the book is complete, compare the evidence for each side, and have your student decide which side of the argument was more convincing.

This project gives practice in following directions, writing, analyzing and synthesizing information, and critical thinking.

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Mimi Rothschild is the Founder of Learning By Grace, Inc. the nation’s leading provider of online PreK-12 online Christian educational programs for homeschoolers.