Who really was Yitzak?

Yitzak, beloved son of Abraham and Sarah, was not always alert to spiritual things. 

The question is, why? If his father Abraham saw and discerned truth in the midst of Ur of the Chaldees, heard God’s voice, obeyed without hesitation, argued with the Almighty when things did not seem fair– clearly a man of great discernment, then what happened to Yitzak that he often seems not so bright?

According to my closest research, Yitzak was around 35 to37 years old at the Akeida. So why did he not question this when his life was being offered? It seems from his later behavior that he wasn’t very astute, and that he fortunately, was blessed with a wife who was a bit more street smart! He had been sheltered, but she knew about deception and knew how to make it work for her and for the purpose that she was shown when she was pregnant. Why did G-d speak to her and not Yitzak? It is true that Yitzak prayed for her. But was he a humble “yes man”? I am seeing that at least he didn’t stick up for himself. He dug well after well and then moved on when conflict hit and dug another one. He didn’t fight for his rights.

We see YHVH instructing Yitzak not to go to Egypt. Why was that? Would he have made a regrettable mistake? Both Abraham and Yacov went to Egypt but somehow Yitzak was told not to. 

Then in the giving out the birthright, his discernment was so clouded that he let his appetite and admiration for Esav’s strength make him ready to give him the birthright, only to be reached by his good wife’s superior wisdom. 

It is easy to condemn both Rivka and Yacov for the deception. But why, without any suggested repentance on their part, was the Eternal ready to make a covenant with Yakov when he headed out to find a wife and to flee from Esav? Why, if this deception was an outright evil that they must confess?

And, to his credit, it seems Yitzak learned immediately, for he followed Rivkah’s advice to send him to her people to take a wife from there, for he immediately instructed their son Yacov in what to do. 

In Quest of Truth…

Ariella