Isaac and Ishmael in Context
We first meet Isaac and Ishmael within the book of Genesis. The book of Genesis is all about beginnings. These beginnings are all rooted within relationships, for example God and the natural world, God and people and then a range of interwoven relationships involving individuals and family groupings are explored.
Within these relationships, God is shown to be the focus of the narrative. The text begins with the affirmation; “In the beginning, God” (Genesis 1:1). The term “God” appears 35 times within the opening chapter of Genesis and the way God is revealed shapes a monotheistic understanding of God which rules out developing pantheistic or polytheistic concepts. God is indeed shown to be sovereign and faithful as time begins to unfold, with the consequences of the fall (Genesis 3), judgement and redemption (Genesis 6, 7 and 8), the covenant with Noah (Genesis 9), the table of the Nations (Genesis 10) and the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11).
From Genesis 11:27 a new beginning is marked as we enter into ‘Patriarchal history’. Here history is shaped by the chosen family (Genesis 12-50). The chosen family includes the family of Abraham with a focus on covenant and promises, the family of Isaac with a focus on the testing of faith, the family of Jacob with a focus on the emergence of Israel, and the family of Joseph with a focus on ‘life in exile’ in Egypt. Throughout these events, the redemptive purposes of God begin to be established and the hope of what will one day be attained is glimpsed. This redemptive purpose is to bless all peoples through the blessing of Abraham (Genesis 12:3). Ultimately, Christians see the ‘fulfilment’ of this promised blessing in the person and work of Jesus Christ, He who is the Son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1). This ‘fulfilment’ occurs in such a way that it makes the book of Genesis the ‘book of beginnings’, fundamental to the correct understanding of the entire unfolding of Biblical revelation. Without a proper beginning, it is hard to complete the journey!