Every story whispers His name – how the Isaac/Ishmael story points us to the gospel of Christ

Today I had a big challenge and a huge joy of teaching some international students from India, China, and South Korea at Mosaic Church. It was a cold, cold day (-2 degrees) in Northeast Ohio, but these internationals, many of whom are students at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University, showed up at services anyway.

I was asked by ministry leader, Tom Wright, who was on vacation in 77 degree weather in Florida today, to teach from Genesis 21 – the story of the birth of Isaac and the casting out of Ishmael. The challenge was to explain the story in a simple way to people who are unfamiliar with the redemptive history of the Bible. Then, I wanted to connect the dots to the story of Jesus.

I wanted to answer the question, "How does the story of Isaac and Ishmael point us to the story of Jesus?"

Many years ago I heard the statement, "Jesus is in the Old Testament concealed and in the New Testament revealed." I have the Jesus Storybook Bible that I purchased for my grandson. The book is subtitled "Every story whispers His name" - meaning, of course, that every Old Testament story teaches us something about the Person and work of Jesus. This approach reflects the message of the book Jesus on Every Page: 10 Simple Ways to Seek and Find Christ in the Old Testament, by David Murray. Today, I told the internationals that history is really His–story.

Below is my lesson plan. I tried to make it a dialogue and gave the internationals the opportunity to explore the text in small group settings and then to make their own discoveries. 

Finding joy by grace through faith: a study of Genesis 21:1-21

Lesson Plan for Mosaic – February 15, 2015

What ethnic/economic/political/religious tensions exist in your country of origin? What do you believe are the root causes of the conflicts?

What do you believe are the root causes of the conflict between the Jewish and Arab peoples? How concerned are the people in your country about the Arab/Israeli conflict?

Ishmael, 1st son of Abraham from his wife's servant Hagar, is the ancestor of several prominent Arab tribes and the forefather of Muhammad. Isaac, 2nd son of Abraham through his wife Sarah, is one of the Patriarchs, the physical and spiritual ancestors of the Jewish people, and is one of the forefathers of Jesus. Read Genesis 21:1-21. How do you think this history plays a part in the current Jewish–Arab conflict?

Suppose you are teaching Christianity to people who do not have a Christian background. How would you explain how the birth of Isaac fit into God’s overall redemptive plan?

How do you feel when someone makes or breaks a promise to you? (They replied with words like happy, secure, and that they could trust the promise-giver. I wrote their answers down on a large Post-it.) Christians believe that God is faithful, trustworthy – that He is a God who always keeps all His promises. For example, see Genesis 28:15, Numbers 23:19, Deuteronomy 7:9, I Kings 8:23, and Nehemiah 1:5. The story of the birth of Isaac is a display of our promise-keeping God. (Note: His timing and His ways are often confusing to us.) How might a person live if he/she is not confident that God is trustworthy? How might a person live if he/she truly believed that God is trustworthy? (I wanted to make the point that the gods in some religions are whimsical and non-trustworthy and that if some has a God like that, he/she should want to "trade" that god for the God of the Bible.)

Christians believe that Ishmael and Isaac are historical/allegorical illustrations of two approaches to God. Read Galatians 4:21-24, 28-31. Based on what you have read Genesis 21 and Galatians 4, make a list of some of the differences you see between Isaac and Ishmael. (I then gave each group 3-5 minutes to come up with a list. Their lists included several of the following differences listed below. I wrote their responses on a Post-it.)

Isaac                                                                                    Ishmael

son of the promise                                                             son of the flesh

born of the Spirit                                                                 born of the flesh

freedom                                                                                slavery

persecuted                                                                           persecuting

source of joy                                                                        source of sorrow

embraced                                                                             cast out

illustrates trusting God                                                       illustrates trusting self

teaches "by grace thru faith"                                            teaches "by (human) merit thru works

relationship - God reaches down to us                            religion - us reaching up to God

Christians sometimes talk about the difference between religion and relationship – between a religious approach to God and a relationship with God. (I drew the bridge to life illustration and pointed out that Jesus has made it possible for us to approach God the Isaac way. I wanted them to see that we all have to choose. Will we approach God the Ishmael way or the Isaac way?) How have you seen religion assist someone's relationship with God? How have you seen religion interfere with one's relationship with God?

Isaac's name means laughter. From an allegorical viewpoint, he represents an approach to God that produces great joy. In your country of origin, how has religion been a source of sorrow and/or a source of joy? (I wanted them to see that the Ishmael way to approach God leads to sorrow, but the Isaac way to approach God leads to joy.)

Question: How would you teach Genesis 21 to a group of internationals?