1. God did tempt Abraham--not incite to sin (James
1:13), but try, prove--give occasion for the development of his faith (1 Peter
1:7). and he said, . . . Here I am--ready at a moment's warning for
God's service.
2. Take now thy son, &c.--Every circumstance mentioned was
calculated to give a deeper stab to the parental bosom. To lose his only son,
and by an act of his own hand, too!--what a host of conflicting feelings must
the order have raised! But he heard and obeyed without a murmur (Galatians
1:16, Luke
14:26).
3. Abraham rose . . . early, &c.--That there might be no
appearance of delay or reluctance on his part, he made every preparation for the
sacrifice before setting out--the materials, the knife, and the servants to
convey them. From Beer-sheba to Moriah, a journey of two days, he had the
painful secret pent up in his bosom. So distant a place must have been chosen
for some important reason. It is generally thought that this was one the hills
of Jerusalem, on which the Great Sacrifice was afterwards offered.
4. on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, &c.--Leaving the
servants at the foot [Genesis
22:5], the father and son ascended the hill, the one bearing the knife, and
the other the wood for consuming the sacrifice [Genesis
22:6]. But there was no victim; and to the question so naturally put by
Isaac [Genesis
22:7], Abraham contented himself by replying, "My son, God will provide
himself a lamb for a burnt offering." It has been supposed that the design
of this extraordinary transaction was to show him, by action instead of words,
the way in which all the families of the earth should be blessed; and that in
his answer to Isaac, he anticipated some substitution. It is more likely that
his words were spoken evasively to his son in ignorance of the issue, yet in
unbounded confidence that that son, though sacrificed, would, in some miraculous
way, be restored (Hebrews
11:19).
9. Abraham built an altar, &c.--Had not the patriarch been
sustained by the full consciousness of acting in obedience to God's will, the
effort would have been too great for human endurance; and had not Isaac, then
upwards of twenty years of age displayed equal faith in submitting, this great
trial could not have gone through.
11, 12. the angel . . . called, &c.--The sacrifice was
virtually offered--the intention, the purpose to do it, was shown in all
sincerity and fulness. The Omniscient witness likewise declared His acceptance
in the highest terms of approval; and the apostle speaks of it as actually made
(Hebrews
11:17, 2:21).
13-19. Abraham lifted up his eyes . . . and behold . . .
a ram, &c.--No method was more admirably calculated to give the
patriarch a distinct idea of the purpose of grace than this scenic
representation: and hence our Lord's allusion to it (John
8:56).
Genesis 22 Bible Commentary
Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown
Genesis 22:1-19. OFFERING ISAAC.
1. God did tempt Abraham--not incite to sin (James 1:13), but try, prove--give occasion for the development of his faith (1 Peter 1:7).
and he said, . . . Here I am--ready at a moment's warning for God's service.
2. Take now thy son, &c.--Every circumstance mentioned was calculated to give a deeper stab to the parental bosom. To lose his only son, and by an act of his own hand, too!--what a host of conflicting feelings must the order have raised! But he heard and obeyed without a murmur (Galatians 1:16, Luke 14:26).
3. Abraham rose . . . early, &c.--That there might be no appearance of delay or reluctance on his part, he made every preparation for the sacrifice before setting out--the materials, the knife, and the servants to convey them. From Beer-sheba to Moriah, a journey of two days, he had the painful secret pent up in his bosom. So distant a place must have been chosen for some important reason. It is generally thought that this was one the hills of Jerusalem, on which the Great Sacrifice was afterwards offered.
4. on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, &c.--Leaving the servants at the foot [Genesis 22:5], the father and son ascended the hill, the one bearing the knife, and the other the wood for consuming the sacrifice [Genesis 22:6]. But there was no victim; and to the question so naturally put by Isaac [Genesis 22:7], Abraham contented himself by replying, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." It has been supposed that the design of this extraordinary transaction was to show him, by action instead of words, the way in which all the families of the earth should be blessed; and that in his answer to Isaac, he anticipated some substitution. It is more likely that his words were spoken evasively to his son in ignorance of the issue, yet in unbounded confidence that that son, though sacrificed, would, in some miraculous way, be restored (Hebrews 11:19).
9. Abraham built an altar, &c.--Had not the patriarch been sustained by the full consciousness of acting in obedience to God's will, the effort would have been too great for human endurance; and had not Isaac, then upwards of twenty years of age displayed equal faith in submitting, this great trial could not have gone through.
11, 12. the angel . . . called, &c.--The sacrifice was virtually offered--the intention, the purpose to do it, was shown in all sincerity and fulness. The Omniscient witness likewise declared His acceptance in the highest terms of approval; and the apostle speaks of it as actually made (Hebrews 11:17, 2:21).
13-19. Abraham lifted up his eyes . . . and behold . . . a ram, &c.--No method was more admirably calculated to give the patriarch a distinct idea of the purpose of grace than this scenic representation: and hence our Lord's allusion to it (John 8:56).