Isaac (î'zak), laughter, sporting. The heir of promise, son of Abraham by his wife Sarah, born when his father was 100 years old. His name, given before his birth. Genesis 17:19, was significant. Abraham had smiled incredulously when the promise was renewed to him and Sarah designated as the mother of the promised seed, and Sarah laughed derisively afterwards when she heard the reiterated word. Genesis 17:17 to Genesis 18:12. The son by his name, therefore, was to warn the parents against unbelief, and expressed the joy with which they received at last the fulfilment of the promise. Genesis 21:6. Isaac's life was far less stirring than that of his father Abraham, or that of his son Jacob. He was a man of mild contemplative character, suffering more than acting, easily persuaded, yet upon occasion firm. Isaac stands forth the model of that loving submission which those who become sons and heirs of God ought to pay to their heavenly parent, as inheritors of his father Abraham's faith. We best love to contemplate Isaac as bearing the wood with his father up the slopes of Moriah. Gentle, pious, conciliating as he was through the rest of his days, he never rose higher in after life; he hardly fulfilled this promise of his youth. Yet Isaac was a man of faith and prayer; and God was not ashamed to be called his God. Hebrews 11:16. His history conveys many instructive lessons.