In the Bible Study Leader's Edition(BSLE), we add extra content and questions for exploration. We suggest points to pause and ponder what has been covered. Although designed for the leader of a small Bible study group, it may be used by an individual seeking a deeper study of the character. There are many questions throughout the book. Give your group the opportunity to answer, but be prepared to take it forward.
I firmly believe that every verse in the Bible has meaning for us today in the twenty-first century. If it did not, God would not have let it become part of the Bible. Every verse is there for a purpose, whether for encouragement, correction, guidance, or various reasons.
I love studying Biblical characters, so I started writing this series of books. I think every personality in the Bible is fascinating, simply because they have meaning for us today.
When I studied the character of Abraham, it was clear to me that the story of Abraham was likened to our spiritual walk and represented the steps and stages we would encounter in our lives. When I then turned to Isaac, I puzzled over him for a while, reading and re-reading the account of his life and wondering what the overall significance for us is today?
Then I felt God say to me, "Isaac is like the Church today. He is a great man but achieves little." When God speaks to me like that, it still comes as a shock, but then when I look at it, yes, it's right. The Church is a great organisation, but it is achieving little today.
Therefore, any burdened that the Church is achieving little need to study the character of Isaac and learn from him. This book seeks to recount the life of Isaac and look for deeper meaning related to us in the twenty-first century, but I must confess, I found this a difficult book to write, and I hope this does not detract from the content.
