Isaac was a miracle child, born to parents far beyond their child-bearing years. Dad was one hundred. Mom was ninety. What a miracle!
Does this miracle remind you of a birth recorded in the Gospels? It should. Jesus was the New Testament’s Miracle Child. Mary was probably in her early teens and still a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus. That’s a miracle!
Maybe we see it as a simple coincidence. I think we should look closely to see God’s sovereign and omnipotent hand directing the affairs of His creation. Indeed, the birth of Isaac foreshadows the birth of Jesus.
Isaac and Jesus were born as the result of God’s promise. God promised Abraham, “I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her” (Genesis 17:16). God also promised the birth of Jesus. “The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14) and “a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
God directed the naming of both miracle boys. God told Abraham, “Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac” (Genesis 17:19). Faithfully and obediently, “Abraham named his son who was born to him—the one Sarah bore to him—Isaac” (Genesis 21:3). Centuries later, “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins’ ” (Matthew 1:20–21). Faithfully and obediently, “he named him Jesus” (Matthew 1:25).
There is one more stunning similarity in these stories, and it may be the most important. Here we see the Divine plan and purpose.
Messengers from Heaven announced the coming of both miraculous births. To Sarah, God said, “is anything impossible for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14). To Mary, the angel proclaimed, “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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