And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. 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 the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor; Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
Genesis 22
The first portion of Abraham’s life presented his public testimony as a man of faith walking in separation from the world, in answer to the call of God (chs. 12-14). In the second part of his history, commencing with the words, “After these things,” we learn the inner exercises of his soul in his personal relationships with God (chs. 15-21).
The Last Phase of Abraham’s Life
With the twenty-second chapter of Genesis we enter on the last phase of his life. It also commenced with the words, “After these things.” In this and the following chapters, there passes before us certain incidents which, in a very distinct way, set forth in type the ways of God in carrying out His purposes for the glory of Christ and the blessing of man.
In chapter 21, we saw in the birth of Isaac at “the set time” a foreshadowing of that great moment of which we read, “when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman” (Gal. 4:44But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4)). In chapter 22, we see a type of the death and resurrection of Christ—the Lamb of God’s providing. In chapter 23, the death and burial of Sarah sets forth in type the setting aside of Israel, the earthly bride, in consequence of the rejection of Christ. In chapter 24, while Israel was set aside, we have the calling out of the Church—the heavenly bride, set forth in Rebekah.
While we seek to profit by the typical aspects of these striking incidents, we must not overlook their moral bearing. If this twenty-second chapter is a marvelous presentation of the love of God in giving the Son, morally it also sets forth in a striking way the faith of Abraham.
The Supreme Test
The moral teaching comes before us in the opening words: “And it came to pass after these things, that God tried Abraham” (New Trans.). In that great chapter in the Epistle to the Hebrews which presents before us those who have trodden the path of faith, we find that Abraham has an outstanding place. It is not only that he is presented as one who by faith answered the call of God, but he is highly privileged as having his faith tested beyond that of any man before or since. In the account we read that God said to him, “Take now thy son, thine only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah: and offer him there for a burnt offering.” The inspired comment in Hebrews is, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac,” the very one in whom all the promises centered, and of whom it was said, “That in Isaac shall thy seed be called.” He was told to do that which to natural reason would make the fulfillment of the promises of God impossible. But we learn that he acted, not according to mere reason, but “by faith...accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence he received him in a figure.”
The Act of Obedience
When Job’s children were taken from him, he graciously submitted to what God had allowed, for he said, “The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away.” But Abraham’s faith was tried with a much severer test and rises to a far higher level. He was not simply asked to submit passively to the will of God but was called to take part actively in that which was contrary to nature, extreme anguish to a father’s heart. And apart from God’s direction, it would have been an outrage against the laws of God and man. But Abraham, with God-given faith, answered to the test. With calm deliberation, he rose up early in the morning, saddled his ass, and taking two young men and Isaac his son, he “went unto the place of which God had told him.”
For three days he traveled on his way. Time and opportunity was thus given to thoroughly enter into what he was called to do. For three days this terrible trial was before his soul. During these days he had to face the agony of offering up his son. It was not an act hurriedly done under some momentary impulse. It was deliberately done after having entered into all that it cost him. His love to his son, the feelings of Isaac and his love to his father, God’s promise that “in Isaac shall thy seed be called”—all was fully faced, but faith triumphed.
Had unbelief been at work, there was time given to turn back. But faith persevered, and on the third day, the place having come in sight, he “said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” Faith, accounting that God can raise the dead, can say with the utmost confidence, we will “come again.”
We are not tested in the same manner as Abraham, but it is a good thing if we can say when our loved ones are taken, “if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.” Faith knows that though for a time they are taken from us and have gone yonder to worship—they will “come again.”
Father and Son
Isaac inquired, “Where is the lamb for a burnt offering” In faith Abraham replied, “My son, God will provide Himself a lamb;” and without further word, they passed on “both of them together.” Without resistance or complaint, Isaac submitted to be bound to the altar and Abraham “stretched forth his hand... to slay his son.”
Then in the nick of time the angel of the Lord intervened. Abraham’s hand was withheld from plunging the knife into his son. Abraham’s faith had answered to the test and God says, “Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me.” Acting in the fear of God, he overcame the fear of man in doing that which man would have utterly condemned.
Another Father—Another Son
Viewing this remarkable scene in its typical bearing, there rises up before us the greatness of the love of God in giving His Son to die for us. The word to Abraham is “take now thy son,” telling us that God “spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all” (Rom. 8:3232He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)). Then Abraham was told that he was to take his “only son.” Three times in the chapter is it emphasized that Isaac was his “only son” (vv. 2, 12, 16). Again this speaks of the love of God by which “He gave His only begotten Son” (Jn. 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). Further, Abraham is reminded that the son he is to offer up was one “whom thou lovest,” speaking to us of the fact that Christ is the One of whom it is said, “The Father loveth the Son” (Jn. 3:3535The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. (John 3:35)). It is significant that this, the first mention of love in the Bible, is in connection with a scene that speaks of the love of a father for his son.
Perfect Obedience
Moreover, if the scene brings before us the love of God in giving the Son, so also it presents the perfect submission and uncomplaining obedience to his father’s will. In all this there is the bright foreshadowing of the perfect obedience of Christ to the Father which led Him to say in view of death, “Not My will, but Thine be done” (Lk. 22:4242Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:42)).
During the three days’ journey the wood of the burnt offering was borne by Isaac while the fire and the knife were in the hand of Abraham. Throughout the years of His ministry the Lord bore the knowledge of His coming death. Over every step of His way there was the shadow of the cross. The crowds may wonder at “all things which Jesus did,” but He knew that the Son of Man would be delivered into the hands of men (Lk. 9:4444Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. (Luke 9:44)). The apostles may follow Him to Jerusalem with visions of the Kingdom being set up in power, and Christ reigning on a throne of glory, but He knew that He was moving towards the shameful cross.
Nevertheless, if men were allowed to crucify the Lord, the fire and the knife—speaking of judgment and death—were in the hands of God. Men may think that they can crucify, or release the Lord according to their will, but the Lord can say to Pilate, “Thou couldest have no power at all against Me except it were given thee from above” (Jn. 19: 11). No eye could pierce the darkness of that great scene when the fire and the knife fell upon Christ. But all that took place then was received from God’s hand, for Christ could say, “Thou hast laid Me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon Me, and Thou hast afflicted Me with all Thy waves” (Ps. 88:6-7).
Perfect Communion
There came a moment when the “young men” were left behind and Abraham and his only son went up alone to the mount. This surely speaks to us of that great moment of which the Lord has to say, “Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now” (Jn. 13:3636Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. (John 13:36)). And yet the Lord can say, “He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone” (Jn. 8:2929And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (John 8:29)). Thus, of Abraham and Isaac we twice read, “They went both of them together” (vv. 6, 8), speaking to us of the perfect communion of the Father and the Son presented in the Gospel of John as the Lord Jesus moved forward to the cross to become the great burnt offering by which God is perfectly glorified. The Lord could say, “My Father worketh hitherto and I work”; again, “I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.” Later He can say, “I do always those things that please Him”; and again, “I and My Father are one” (John 5:17, 30; 8:29; 10:3017But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. (John 5:17)
30I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. (John 5:30)
29And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (John 8:29)
30I and my Father are one. (John 10:30)).
Perfect Submission
Arriving at the place, Isaac was perfectly submissive to the one that was called to act. Abraham built the altar; Abraham laid the wood in order: Abraham bound Isaac, his son; Abraham laid him upon the altar, and Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son. So of Christ we read, “He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth... Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief” (Isa. 53:7-107He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:7‑10)).
Comparison and Contrast
It is significant that in all the offerings, the victim was first killed and then laid on the altar. Here the offering becomes a more striking type of Christ in that he was first bound to the altar before the knife was taken to slay him.
But every type must fall short of the reality. In the type the angel of the Lord arrested the hand that held the knife, and Isaac was spared. At the cross no hand was put forth to stay the power of death. The love of the Father spared not the Son, and the love of the Son submitted to the Father’s will in going into death. An angel might strengthen the Lord in the garden, but there was no angel to shelter from judgment at the cross.
In a figure, Abraham received Isaac from the dead (Heb. 11:1919Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:19)). But if Isaac was to go free, death must come on the ram caught in the thicket—a further type of the Lamb of God’s providing. In the course of this wonderful scene Abraham uttered the two prophetic statements: first, “God will provide Himself a Lamb for a burnt offering”; secondly, “In the mount of the Lord it shall be provided” (NKJV). As the Lord could say, “Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:5656Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (John 8:56)).
God renewed His promises to Abraham on the ground of sacrifice, and confirmed His promise of blessing to all the nations of the earth through the risen seed. Here we know, from the Epistle to the Galatians, that the seed is Christ, for, says the apostle, “To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Gal. 3:1616Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)).
The genealogy of the closing verses seems purposely given at this point to introduce Rebekah, the one that so blessedly sets forth the heavenly bride of Christ.
O blessed Lord, what hast Thou done!
How vast a ransom paid!
God’s only well-beloved Son
Upon the altar laid!
The Father in His willing love
Could spare Thee from His side,
And Thou couldst stoop to bear above,
At such a cost, Thy bride.
While our full hearts in faith repose
Upon Thy precious blood,
Peace in a steady current flows,
Filled from Thy mercy’s flood.
What boundless joy will fill each heart,
Our every grief efface,
When we behold Thee as Thou art,
And all Thy love retrace.
Unseen we love Thee, dear Thy name!
But when our eyes behold,
With joyful wonder we’ll proclaim,
“The half hath not been told!”
For Thou exceedest all the fame
Our ears have ever heard;
How happy we who know Thy name,
And trust Thy faithful Word!
The Lamb of God to slaughter led,
The King of Glory see!
The crown of thorns upon His head,
They nail Him to the tree!
The Father gives His only Son;
The Lord of glory dies
For us, the guilty and undone,
A spotless Sacrifice!
Thy Name is holy, O our God!
Before Thy throne we bow;
Thy bosom is Thy saints’ abode,
We call Thee Father now!
Enthroned with Thee now sits the Lord,
And in Thy bosom dwells;
Justice, that smote Him with the sword,
Our perfect pardon seals.
Eternal death was once our doom;
Now death hast lost its sting;
We rose with Jesus from the tomb,
Jehovah’s love to sing.
—R. C. CHAPMAN