Concise Bible Dictionary:
As Isaac was the patriarch that stood between Abraham and Jacob, it may seem remarkable that so little is recorded of him, especially as the promise given to Abraham, of all nations being blessed through his seed, was confirmed to Isaac. He was “the son of promise,” born when Abraham was a hundred years old, and “the son of the freewoman,” in contrast to “the son of the bondwoman.” He became the heir, the son of the bondwoman being cast out (Gal. 4:22-30). Abraham’s faith was tried when told to offer up this son of promise, called his “only son,” as being a type of Christ. Abraham obeyed, and Isaac heard that beautiful utterance of faith, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb” He was raised as from the dead and restored to his father, and the covenant was confirmed as to the seed.
As Isaac thus became in principle a risen or heavenly man, he must not return for a wife to the country from whence he had been separated by death and resurrection, as also by the call of Abraham; a bride must be fetched for him from thence, and she must be one of the same “kindred:” a remarkable type of the heavenly Christ, and of those given to Him of the Father: they are heavenly as He is heavenly. God in a remarkable way blessed the mission of the servant (type of the Holy Spirit gathering a bride for Christ), and Rebekah, Isaac’s cousin, became his wife. He loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death. Abraham had several sons; but he gave all that he had to Isaac, in which Isaac is again a type of Christ, who will possess all things.
Rebekah was barren, but on Isaac beseeching the Lord, she conceived, and was told that she should be the mother of two nations, and the twin brothers Esau and Jacob were born, Esau being the firstborn. A famine being in the land, Isaac removed to Gerar, and there faithlessly said that Rebekah was his sister, and was rebuked by the king of the Philistines.
God confirmed the blessing promised to Abraham, both as to Isaac’s seed possessing all those countries, and also as to all the nations of the earth being blessed in his seed.
After the Philistines had had much contention with Isaac respecting some wells of water which they claimed, they bade him depart from them, for he had become too great to dwell so near. He submitted and removed to Beer-sheba. He was thus again in the truth of his calling within the limits of the land of promise: there the Lord again appeared to him, and told him not to fear, He would bless him for his father Abraham’s sake. Now the Philistines come to him, admitting that they saw that Jehovah was blessing him, and they desired a covenant with him that he would do them no hurt. Thus was he now in the true place of moral superiority, in the place of his calling, and as such having no disputes with the nations, but acknowledged as the blessed of the Lord—a word surely for world-borderers of today.
God does not hide the failings and weaknesses of His people, hence it is related how that Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his venison; and that when he was old he directed him to make savory meat such as he loved, that he might eat and bless him, his eldest son, before he died. God had said that the elder should serve the younger, but Rebekah, instead of leaving the matter in God’s hands, contrived by a deceitful stratagem to get the blessing for Jacob instead of Esau the firstborn. The deception was soon found out; but how was it that Isaac intended to bless the elder, thus disregarding the word of the Lord? It is to be feared that his love of the venison and savory meat led him astray. Notwithstanding this failure we read in Hebrews 11:20, “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” This doubtless refers to Isaac’s words when the deception was discovered. He said of Jacob “Yea, and he shall be blessed” (Gen. 27:33).
The days of Isaac were 180 years: when he died his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. God is constantly referred to as the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob: it was through them the blessings to Israel flowed, and through them came the Seed—Christ—in whom all nations of the earth are being blessed (Gen. 21-35).
Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:
he shall laugh : he will laugh (in mockery) (Ps. 105:9; Jer. 33:26; Amos 7:9,16)
Potts’ Bible Proper Names:
Laughter pleasure:―a patriarch; father of Jacob and Esau, Heb. 11:9. {Risus}