_A.M. 2132. B.C. 1872._ We have here, (1,) _ The strange command which God gave to Abraham, Genesis 22:1._ (2,) _ Abraham's strange obedience to this command, Genesis 22:3._ (3,) The strange issue of this trial. 1, The sacrificing of Isaac was countermanded, Genesis 22:11; Genesis 22:2, Another s... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is the trial of Abraham's grace, and especially of his 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... [ 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 thy house. _Thine only son_ Thine only son by Sarah. Ishmael was lately cast out, to the grief of Abraham, and now Isaac... [ Continue Reading ]
The several steps of this obedience all help to magnify it, and to show that he was guided by prudence, and governed by faith, in the whole transaction. 1st, _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 de... [ 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, 1st, A _trying_ question to Abraham; how could he endure to think that Isaac is himself the lamb? 2d, It is a _teaching_ question to us all, that when we are going to worship God, we should seriously consider whether we have every thin... [ Continue Reading ]
_My son, God will provide himself a lamb_ This was the language either, 1st, Of his obedience; we must offer the lamb which God has appointed now to be offered; thus giving Isaac this general rule of submission to the divine will, to prepare him for the application of it to himself: or, 2d, Of his f... [ Continue Reading ]
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 he built; _lays the wood in order_ for Isaac's funeral pile; and now tells him the amazing news. Isaac, for aught that appears, is as... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lay not thy hand upon the lad_ God's time to help his people is, when they are brought to the greatest extremity: the more imminent the danger is, and the “nearer to be put in execution,” the more wonderful and the more welcome is the deliverance. _Now I know that thou fearest God_ God knew it befo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold a ram_ Though 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,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abraham called the place Jehovah-jireh_ That is, _The Lord will provide_, alluding, it seems, 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 and provide;_ will always hav... [ Continue Reading ]
This is recorded here, 1st, To show that though 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. 2d, To make way for the following story of the marriage o... [ Continue Reading ]