从创世记二十一到二十八章，我们读到以撒生平的记载，我们看见了生命经历的那一面？按照创世记，我们看见以撒如何出生，娶妻，生了两个儿子，然而，很难说我们在他的记载里找着甚么生命的经历。以撒生平的记载，含示恩典的经历。以撒所经历的是承受神的恩典。神的恩典在旧约里不像在新约里那样完满的启示出来，因为恩典实际上是藉着耶稣基督来的（约一17）。基督来了，恩典才完满透彻的启示出来，新约里也一再使用“恩典”这辞。新约甚至结束于恩典：“愿主耶稣的恩与众圣徒同在。阿们。”（启二二21）。圣经在旧约中开始于“起初神创造诸天与地，”在新约中结束于“愿主耶稣的恩与众圣徒同在。”虽然创世记中关于以撒的记载没有恩典这辞，但这样的东西却含示在其中。这是许多人不容易明白圣经的原因。
按照新约的启示，就生命的经历而言，亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各不该看作三个分开的个人，应当看作一个完整人生命经历的各方面。亚伯拉罕代表蒙召，凭相信神而活、活在与神交通里的一面。以撒代表承受恩典，享受恩典产业的一面。雅各代表蒙拣选，受神对付，变化成为神王子的一面。在生命的经历上，有享受－享受恩典－的一面。
从恩典而生
亚伯拉罕天然的力量和自我的努力受神对付之后，以撒就出生了。这含示以撒是从撒拉所代表的恩典生的（加四24-28，31）。创世记的记载说，这事发生在“生命的时候。”（创十八10，14，直译）。当天然生命的努力停止的时候，那就是生命的时候。在生命的时候，有个东西在恩典里出生了。恩典联于生命，生命随着恩典。
在恩典里养大
以撒在恩典里被养大（创二一8）。藉他的历史我们看见，他没有作甚么。他生出来，他被养大。我不说他长大，而说他被养大。就像农夫在果园中栽种苹果，神也在祂的果园中栽种以撒。以撒是在恩典里被神养大的。
彼后三章十八节告诉我们，“在恩典…上长大。”这指明长大乃是彼得在彼前二章二节，并保罗在林前三章二节、六节所启示的餧养和浇灌。在恩典上长大，就是享受基督之于我们的一切，作我们的灵粮和活水而长大。基督之于我们的一切丰富，乃是叫我们在生命里长大。我们越享受基督的丰富（弗三8），我们就越在生命里长大（弗四15）。
每日一问：我们属灵生命的成长，是靠自己的努力，还是靠享受基督的供应？
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Isaac’s Experience — Receiving Grace (1) — Eph. 1:2
From Genesis chapters 21 through 28, we read the record of Isaac’s life. What aspect of life experience do we see? According to Genesis, we see how Isaac was born, married and had two sons — yet it is difficult to say we find much life experience in his record. The record of Isaac’s life implies the experience of grace. What Isaac experienced was the inheritance of God’s grace. God’s grace was not as fully revealed in the Old Testament as in the New Testament, because grace actually came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). When Christ came, grace was fully and thoroughly revealed, and the New Testament uses the word “grace” repeatedly. The New Testament even ends with grace: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.” (Rev. 22:21). The Bible begins in the Old Testament with “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and ends in the New Testament with “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.” Although the word “grace” does not appear in Genesis’ record concerning Isaac, such a reality is implied within it. This is one reason many people find the Bible difficult to understand.
According to the New Testament revelation, in terms of life experience, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob should not be seen as three separate individuals, but as the various aspects of one complete person’s life experience. Abraham represents the aspect of being called, living by faith in God, and living in fellowship with God. Isaac represents the aspect of inheriting grace and enjoying the inheritance of grace. Jacob represents the aspect of being chosen, dealt with by God, and transformed into a prince of God. In life experience, there is the aspect of enjoyment — the enjoyment of grace.
Born of Grace — After Abraham’s natural strength and self-effort were dealt with by God, Isaac was born. This implies that Isaac was born of grace, represented by Sarah (Gal. 4:24-28, 31). The record in Genesis says this happened “at the appointed time” (Gen. 18:10, 14, lit.). When the effort of natural life ceases, that is the appointed time of life. At that appointed time, something is born in grace. Grace is joined to life, and life follows grace.
Nurtured in Grace – Isaac was nurtured in grace (Gen. 21:8). Through his history we see that he did nothing. He was born; he was nurtured. I do not say he grew up, but that he was nurtured. Just as a farmer plants an apple tree in his orchard, God planted Isaac in His orchard. Isaac was nurtured by God in grace.
2 Peter 3:18 tells us to “grow in grace.” This indicates that growing is the nourishing and watering that Peter reveals in 1 Peter 2:2 and Paul reveals in 1 Corinthians 3:2 and 6. To grow in grace is to grow by enjoying Christ as everything to us — as our spiritual food and living water. All the riches of Christ to us are what cause us to grow in life. The more we enjoy the riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8), the more we grow in life (Eph. 4:15).
Daily Question: Does the growth of our spiritual life depend on our own effort, or on enjoying the supply of Christ?