AND the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By Myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore;... and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice.” vv. 15-18.
God’s compassion spared Abraham from the dread task of slaying his son. Yet the act of faith had shown his obedient heart and God could say: “Now I know that thou fearest God.” The promises renewed again pointed to a future blessing for God’s heavenly people “as the stars of the heaven,” as well as the future earthly people “as the sand which is upon the seashore.”
The question might arise: Did not God know the heart of Abraham without putting him to so severe a test? And the answer must be, Yes, He well knew every thought and purpose, just as He knows the heart of everyone. Yet the demonstration of that faith was pleasing to God and its action was for the lasting good of Abraham as well as for Isaac. Could any other experience so fully have drawn him to God, or have so completely assured him of His mercy? God requires in all His people not only the proclaiming of faith and obedience, but the doing thereof as well. Thus it is written: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” James 2:22,2322Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:22‑23). Abraham’s demonstration of faith was not only to be for his own spiritual good and for the strengthening of faith in his son Isaac, but has also been preserved as an everlasting testimony throughout the pages of Scripture. God’s people in all generations, who have read this instructive story, have been encouraged to obedience in their own exercises of faith.
“So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.” v. 19. What manner of conversation must have been exchanged between father and son as they came down from the mountain and made their way to Beer-sheba! Their hearts would now be knit together with an unforgeable bond. Abraham’s appraisal of his son now had a new measure, and the son’s thoughts of his father’s obedience and faith could not do other than bring increased devotion. This again speaks, in type, of God’s appraisal of His dear Son who “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,... “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name.” Phil. 2:8,98And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2:8‑9).
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