When the father of the faithful raised his arm, with the sacrificial knife in his hand, to fulfill God's commandment, then the Lord called to him, "Abraham, Abraham." The Angel of the Covenant called him from heaven, and immediately Abraham answered, "Here I am." He who intervened is called the Angel of the Lord. He is the second Person in the Divine Being, and He commanded Abraham to spare Isaac's life. This goes together with the divine approval over the way he had borne this test by faith, as described in this portion of God's Word.

The Lord called Abraham two times. We find this more often in Scripture; it is always as an introduction to a weighty matter, so the addressee will give his full attention to the words that will be spoken. We find such a double address to Jerusalem, to Martha, to Simon Peter, and here also to Abraham. In Abraham's heart there was not a moment of doubt that the Lord spoke to him. How did he know this? When the Lord comes, then He brings everything along, also faith to believe.

Therefore when the Lord speaks to our soul, then there is no doubt from whom it comes. Of course, later on there can be strife, some­times much strife, about it, but the Lord will at His time confirm His Word.

After forbidding him to do any harm to his son, the Lord continued to speak to him, "Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me." You understand that the Lord did not need this examination of Abraham for Himself. He knows everything, He knew that Abraham feared the Lord, as it is written in Psalm 139, "Oh Lord, Thou has searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off." The Lord is omni­scient and omnipresent; He also knows what is going on in the heart when He tries His children. So such examination or temptation or trial is not for God Himself, but to the service of His children. When they go on the wrong path, it is that they may learn it and ask the Lord for His leading. When they may be obedi­ent, it is to the glory of God and to the welfare of their soul.

Isaac had been saved from death on the altar, but first a sacrifice had to be brought as a substitute for him. What would that be? The Lord Himself would provide. When Abraham looked up, he saw a ram which was caught in a thicket by his horns. This ram he sacrificed. It was a substitute sacrifice for Isaac, and an example for Israel. We know that from the beginning of history men have brought animal sacrifices to the Lord (Genesis 4:3). Here it becomes, and so it will remain, that the animal becomes a substitute for man, as we read in Leviticus 17:11, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood; AND I HAVE GIVEN it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls." From this we can learn that the Lord gives the sacrifice of a substitute to reconciliation. This is only ceremonial, and it directs us to Christ, the perfect sacrifice.

In the ram itself the fathers (Augustine, Tertullian, Origen, Chrysostom, and Ambrose) have rightly discerned a type of Christ, but it is fanciful to detect a shade of the crown of thorns in this word, "caught in a thicket by his horns." The ram was a sacrifice in the stead of Isaac, as the Lord gave His Son as a ransom for many. Here is fulfilled what Abraham had said before by faith, although he did not know how, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering". So the ram died as a substitute instead of Isaac. In this history lay also a testimony and a warning for the future against the heathen customs with which the children of Israel would be confronted in the promised land of Canaan. The Gentiles brought animal sacrifices to their idols, but in special cases they also sacrificed children, especially to Moloch. Because of their darkened minds they no longer knew the will of God and came to such great cruelties. Has this died out? We fear not, because recently we read in the papers about an Incan girl that was sacrificed to her god about 500 years ago. She died from a powerful blow to the head, which cracked her skull. She is called "The Ice Maiden" because she was naturally mummified by the freezing temperatures on the top of a mountain in Peru. And sometimes one hears rumors that human sacrifices are still brought by certain sects.

On one of the summits of the same mountain on which Abraham brought his sacrifice, the temple was later built (2 Chronicles 3:1). In future centuries, from here the smoke of the sacrificial animals would ascend on high. We all know that these sacrifices pointed to the fullness of time, when Christ would bring His sacrifice. In that one sacrifice He gave perfect satisfaction. He merited salvation in the state of humiliation, but in His exaltation He is able to apply His merits to His people by Word and Spirit. Do we know by the grace of God that we also may take part in it? Then He has received the first place in our heart, and He will be our life. When it is the opposite, then the world is the most important for us, and then there is no room for the Lord and His service in us. We hope that the Lord will open our eyes for it.

You can understand that this Mount Moriah had become an unforgettable place for Abraham. "And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh: as it is said to this day, 'In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.'" This is the meaning of Jehovah-Jireh. This is a great promise for all who fear the Lord, for poor and rich, for small and great, for wise and fools.

Our English translation differs here from the Dutch. In verse 8 it is written that God will provide, and the same verb is used in the Dutch in verse 14; but the English translation, "In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen," is the right translation according to several commentaries, also some in Dutch. It is true that the care of the Lord is over the whole world, and especially over His church, but this is not written in verse 14. Here is written, "In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen."

Here the Lord reveals His will and service, and therein He reveals Himself. This seeing of the Lord is also a seeing in grace and love according to His covenant and promise. This revelation of the Lord in His grace and love and faithfulness was also visible on the mountain when the Angel of the Lord called Abraham for the second time (verses 15-18). The content of it is that Abraham, and in him all the heirs of the promise, may receive a strong comfort, because the Lord confirms here that His counsel is unchangeable. The Lord swears by Himself, because there is no one that is greater by whom He could swear (Hebrews 6:13).

According to James, Abraham was justified by works (James 2:21-23). "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" Is Abraham here given any merit in his works to justification? No, because Abraham's obedience was the fruit of God's grace. His obedi­ence was not the ground for God to justify him, but it showed that God's grace had been further revealed to him.

By the oath of the Lord Abraham received the confirmation of being a lawful heir of the promise of the Lord. He would not only greatly multiply and become as the stars of heaven and as the sand of the sea, but he would also defeat his enemies, as it is written, "And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies." We should not think first of all of the victories which the children of Israel would score over their enemies in the future, but it is directed to God's church. Of which enemies is this spoken? There is the prince of darkness, who made a covenant with the world. Our own flesh is also included. All these enemies look for the destruction of the church. In the book of Revelation the Lord promises to those who overcome and are faithful unto death, "I will give thee a crown of life." What is this victory? It is to overcome the three-headed enemy. In that battle God's children are often at a loss, since they have no strength in themselves against the great multitude which comes with all kinds of deceitful tricks. But the Lord promises that they will be victorious in the end.

In our days it seems to be the opposite, especially when we think of all the laws which are passed throughout the world. Laws have been accepted regarding abortion, euthanasia, human rights, and equal opportunity for all, no matter how wicked their lifestyle may be. Often we fear that the church will be crushed by it. Paul already warned of grievous wolves that would come to destroy the flock. This was not only in Abraham's and Paul's days, but we can see it also today.

The great danger comes from the anti-Christ powers who, without God and without morals, go directly and openly against the church, which they see as a hindrance to their goals. We may not forget the great danger of doctrines which use old terms to camouflage their errors, but are in reality enemies of the doctrine of free grace. John on the isle of Patmos warned about the treacherous times in which we are now living. For you, young people, it is a very difficult time, and we should pray every day that the Lord will keep us with the old truth. Here we have an encouraging promise that the Lord will give the victory to His church.

Another promise was given: that in his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. This the Lord had promised before (Genesis 12:3; 13:16; 15:5; 18:18). We know that this pointed to Christ, who would come in the fullness of time.

It had been a very, very deep way for Abraham, but here on Moriah he received the greatest promise that could be given, that wherein all other promises are contained. Here he became in truth the father of the faithful, because from him, in the following generations, Christ would be born.

After all this had transpired, Abraham and Isaac returned to the young men that were waiting at the foot of the mountain. Together they went to Beersheba. It was a wonderful way back home. His heart was filled with joy, and he could sing the song of the great King, as he had personally experienced that God helps in the time of need.

Finally they arrived at Beersheba, which means, "Well of an Oath." Now he might live from the Well of living Water that had been opened for him. This Well was of great comfort to Abraham and to the church in all kinds of circumstances of life. God's promises have not failed, for this Well has never dried up. We do not say that Abraham always had the tender experience of this Well. No, that is reserved for life in heaven. Then there will be no cloud between God and His people.

Undisturbed, they will rejoice forever in what they have tasted in beginning here below. This foretaste Abraham had in Beersheba.

At the end of this chapter it is written that Abraham received tidings from his relatives by some unknown messenger or by an accidental traveller from Mesopotamia. It almost seems as if Milcah had not yet begun to have a family at the time Abram left Ur. This brief table of Nahor's descendants is an introduction for the sake of showing the ancestry of Rebekah, who later would become the wife of Isaac.

Questions:⤒🔗

1. Mention a few substitute sacrifices which the Lord commanded in the ceremonial laws.
2. Try to find in the Bible a few of those sinful examples of the heathen and Israelites who sacrificed children.
3. Discuss the meanings of the word seed in verses 17 and 18. What is the ultimate difference between these two meanings?
4. Do you know of other places in the Bible where the Lord swear an oath?
5. When may we, and when may we not, swear an oath?
6. Does this genealogical register at the end of this chapter (verses 20-24) have any value? What does it tell us?