Isaac was a Jewish boy living in Russia, brought up to read the Old Testament and to know God's law and His commandments and judgments. He was taught by a learned Rabbi, and all went smoothly with him as far as his outward life was concerned.
But one thing troubled him greatly. He knew that he was a sinner, and he was constantly thinking about his sins and how he could rid himself of them. His teacher told him that his father would bear them for him until he was thirteen years old, and Isaac dreaded the thought of what would happen then.
When that unhappy day arrived, he went to his parent and said, "Father, won't you bear my sins a little longer, just a month more?" But his reply was, "no, my son you must bear them yourself now. I can do no more for you."
This was bad news to the sin-burdened boy. Hopelessly he went on reading the Old Testament, especially interested in Abraham's history. He read how God had called him to leave his country and kindred and go to a land which he would show him. The more Isaac thought over this, the more he felt sure that God was calling him in the same way. At last he made up his mind to leave home and go to Germany. His parents, seeing that his mind was made up, gave him their blessing and let him go.
He first went to Hamburg, and then crossed to England, finally settling in London. Here he met a German Jew, Rabbi Stern, who, noticing his sad expression, said to him kindly, "Are you a Jew, my brother?" This was so tenderly expressed that Isaac opened his heart to him, and told him his history, and how he was burdened with the weight of his sins, which he had had to carry since he was thirteen years old.
Mr. Stern had himself left home and country to find rest for his soul, so took the greatest interest in Isaac. He read to him the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, and explained to him that the Messiah, as foretold in this and other Scriptures, had come and had suffered for the sins of the Jews and for all those who put their trust in Him. Isaac listened intently as Mr. Stern read through this wonderful chapter containing the following passages: "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities... The Lord hath laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all... For the transgression of my people was He stricken. ... Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin... He [Jesus] shall bear their iniquities."
Many times in the chapter the words sin, transgressions, iniquities, occur, and in each case they were borne by the Messiah, Jesus, of whom it was said: "He shall save His people from their sins." Matt. 1:2121And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21).
Little by little the truth found its place in Isaac's heart. He believed the Scriptures and realized that Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, loved him, a lonely Jewish lad, and had given Himself for him. His heart was rested; the burden of his sins gone; and he wrote home to tell his father what had happened. He put it in this way:
I heard a sweet voice gently say,
"Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon My breast."
He did not want to write the verse as it really reads:
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Come unto Me and rest;"
for he knew how his father hated that precious name; but to give him first to understand what rest of heart was now his. Later on he told him the whole truth.
When Isaac's father read his son's first letter, he was afraid that he had come in touch with Christians. He wrote warning him to have nothing to do with such as Rabbi Stern; but Isaac was so convinced that he was right that he replied telling his father his convictions.
The New Testament which his friend gave him was the key which unlocked the Old Testament and explained many things which had puzzled him. So much so, that his next letter home was very definite: "The Messiah has come; I believe in Him," was his comment.
His parents were very angry when they found that their son had become a Christian. They disowned him as a relation, and refused to have anything to do with him. But Isaac was proving the goodness of God at every turn in his path, and now he learned the truth of a verse which he had read many times: "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up." Psa. 27:1010When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. (Psalm 27:10).
His faith and hope increased as the years went on, and he said to his friends, "Above all, why I believe in Jesus is because I feel He has silenced the yearnings of my soul." He meant that not only were his sins gone, but his heart was satisfied.
This is what God will do for everyone who believes in Jesus. He will forgive their sins and fill their hearts with peace and joy in believing. May God grant that no one reading this will miss such a blessing for time and eternity.