(1) These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begot Isaac (Gen. 25:9). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: Grandchildren are the crown of their elders, And the glory of children is their parents.(Prov. 17:6). The righteous are saved by their grandchildren, and their children are saved by their fathers. How do we know this? We know it because Abraham was saved for Jacob’s sake. After Nimrod caused Abraham to be hurled into the fiery furnace, the Holy One, blessed be He, descended to rescue him. The ministering angels thereupon exclaimed: "Master of the Universe, why do You trouble to save him, since so many wicked men will descend from him?" The Holy One, blessed be He, replied: "I shall save him for the sake of his grandson Jacob, who will descend from him." From where do we know this? R. Berekhiah said: It is written: Assuredly, thus said the LORD to the House of Jacob, Who redeemed Abraham (Isa. 29:22); that is, He redeemed him from the furnace for the sake of Jacob. Hence, fathers are saved for the sake of their descendants.

(6) Grandchildren are the crown of their elders, And the glory of children is their parents.

(22) Assuredly, thus said the LORD to the House of Jacob, Who redeemed Abraham:

No more shall Jacob be shamed. No longer his face grow pale.

Thereupon Terach seized him and delivered him to Nimrod. "Let us worship fire," Nimrod said. "Let us rather worship water which quenches fire," Avraham said. "Let us worship water," Nimrod said. "Let us rather worship the clouds which bear the water," Avraham said. "Let us then worship the clouds," Nimros said. "Let us worship the wind which disperses the clouds," Avraham said. "Let us worship the wind," Nimrod said. "Let us worship human beings which can stand up to the wind," Avraham said. "You are just bandying words, and we will worship nothing but the fire. Behold, I will cast you into it, and let your God whom you adore come and save you from it!" Nimrod said.

(2) How do we know that children are saved because of their fathers? At the time that Jacob fled from Laban and was being pursued by him, the Holy One, blessed be He, appeared before Laban on the road and said: Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad (Gen. 31:24). When Laban and Jacob met, they began to rebuke each other. Jacob said to Laban: Had not the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, been with me, you would have sent me away empty-handed. Hence, it was only Abraham’s merit that saved Jacob. So Isaac was saved because of Abraham, and Abraham was saved because of Jacob.

(29) I have it in my power to do you harm; but the God of your father said to me last night, ‘Beware of attempting anything with Jacob, good or bad.’

(42) Had not the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, been with me, you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God took notice of my plight and the toil of my hands, and He gave judgment last night.