Here is the trial of Abraham's faith, whether it continued so strong, so vigorous, so victorious, after a long settlement in communion with God, as it was at first, when by it he left his country: then it appeared that he loved God better than his father; now, that he loved him better than his son.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, take thy son — Not thy bullocks and thy lambs; how willingly would Abraham have parted with them by thousands to redeem Isaac! Not thy servant, no, not the steward of thine house. Thine only son — Thine only son by Sarah. Ishmael was lately cast out, to the grief of Abraham, and now Isa... [ Continue Reading ]
The several steps of this obedience, all help to magnify it, and to shew that he was guided by prudence, and governed by faith, in the whole transaction. He rises early — Probably the command was given in the visions of the night, and early the next morning he sets himself about it, did not delay, d... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaac's carrying the wood was a type of Christ, who carried his own cross, while Abraham, with a steady and undaunted resolution, carried the fatal knife and fire.... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb? — This is, A trying question to Abraham; how could he endure to think that Isaac is himself the lamb? 'Tis a teaching question to us all, that when we are going to worship God, we should seriously consider whether we have every thing ready, especi... [ Continue Reading ]
My son, God will provide himself a lamb — This was the language either, Of his obedience; we must offer the lamb which God has appointed now to be offered; thus giving him this general rule of submission to the divine will to prepare him for the application of it to himself. Or, Of his faith; whethe... [ Continue Reading ]
With the same resolution and composedness of mind, he applies himself to the compleating of this sacrifice. After many a weary step, and with a heavy heart, he arrives at length at the fatal place; builds the altar, an altar of earth, we may suppose, the saddest that ever be built; lays the wood in... [ Continue Reading ]
The Angel of the Lord — That is, God himself, the eternal Word, the Angel of the covenant, who was to be the great Redeemer and Comforter.... [ Continue Reading ]
Lay not thine hand upon the lad — God's time to help his people is, when they are brought to the greatest extremity: the more eminent the danger is, and the nearer to be put in execution, the more wonderful and the more welcome is the deliverance. Now know I that thou fearest God — God knew it befor... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold a ram — Tho' that blessed Seed was now typified by Isaac, yet the offering of him up was suspended 'till the latter end of the world, and in the mean time the sacrifice of beasts was accepted, as a pledge of that expiation which should be made by that great sacrifice. And it is observable, th... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abraham called the place Jehovah — jireh — The Lord will provide. Probably alluding to what he had said, Genesis 22:8. God will provide himself a lamb — This was purely the Lord's doing: let it be recorded for the generations to come; that the Lord will see; he will always have his eyes upon his... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Angel — Christ. Called unto Abraham — Probably while the ram was yet burning. Very high expressions are here of God's favour to Abraham, above any he had yet been blessed with.... [ Continue Reading ]
Because thou hast done this thing, and hast not with — held thy son, thine only son — He lays a mighty emphasis upon that, and Genesis 22:18, praises it as an act of obedience, in it thou hast obeyed my voice. By myself have I sworn — For he could swear by no greater.... [ Continue Reading ]
Multiplying I will multiply thee — Those that part with any thing for God, shall have it made up to them with unspeakable advantage. Abraham has but one son, and is willing to part with that one in obedience to God; well, saith God, thou shalt be recompensed with thousands and millions. Here is a pr... [ Continue Reading ]
This is recorded here, To show that tho' Abraham saw his own family highly dignified with peculiar privileges, yet he did not look with contempt upon his relations, but was glad to hear of the increase and prosperity of their families. To make way for the following story of the marriage of Isaac to... [ Continue Reading ]