1062 lines
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1062 lines
39 KiB
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter XXII].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01021.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01023.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page136"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We have here the famous story of Abraham's offering up his son
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Isaac, that is, his offering to offer him, which is justly looked
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upon as one of the wonders of the church. Here is,
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I. The strange
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command which God gave to Abraham concerning it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. Abraham's strange obedience to this command,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:3-10">ver. 3-10</A>.
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III. The strange issue of this trial.
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1. The sacrificing of Isaac
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was countermanded,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:11,12">ver. 11, 12</A>.
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2. Another sacrifice was provided,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:13,14">ver. 13, 14</A>.
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3. The covenant was renewed with Abraham
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hereupon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:15-19">ver. 15-19</A>.
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Lastly, an account of some of Abraham's
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relations,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:20-24">ver. 20</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge22_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge22_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Abraham Commanded to Offer Isaac.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1872.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And it came to pass after these
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things, that God did tempt Abraham,
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and said unto him, Abraham:
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and he said, Behold, <I>here</I> I <I>am.</I>
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2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine
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only <I>son</I> Isaac, whom thou lovest, and
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get thee into the land of Moriah; and
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offer him there for a burnt offering
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upon one of the mountains which I
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will tell thee of.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is the trial of Abraham's faith, whether
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it continued so strong, so vigorous, so
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victorious, after a long settlement in communion
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with God, as it was at first, when by
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it he left his country: then it was made to
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appear that he loved God better than his father;
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now that he loved him better than his
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son. Observe here,</P>
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<P>
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I. The time when Abraham was thus tried
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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<I>After these things,</I> after all the other
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exercises he had had, all the hardships and
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difficulties he had gone through. Now, perhaps,
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he was beginning to think the storms
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had all blown over; but, after all, this encounter
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comes, which is sharper than any yet.
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Note, Many former trials will not supersede
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nor secure us from further trials; we have not
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yet put off the harness,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+20:11">1 Kings xx. 11</A>.
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See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+30:6,7">Ps. xxx. 6, 7</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. The author of the trial: <I>God</I> tempted
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him, not to draw him to sin, so Satan tempts
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(if Abraham had sacrificed Isaac, he would
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not have sinned, his orders would have justified
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him, and borne him out), but to discover
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his graces, how strong they were, that
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they might be <I>found to praise, and honour,
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and glory,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:7">1 Pet. i. 7</A>.
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Thus God tempted
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Job, that he might appear not only a good
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man, but a great man. <I>God did tempt Abraham;</I>
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he did <I>lift up Abraham,</I> so some read
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it; as a scholar that improves well is lifted
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up, when he is put into a higher form. Note,
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Strong faith is often exercised with strong
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trials and put upon hard services.</P>
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<P>
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III. The trial itself. God appeared to him
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as he had formerly done, called him by name,
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<I>Abraham,</I> that name which had been given
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him in ratification of the promise. Abraham,
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like a good servant, readily answered, "<I>Here
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am I;</I> what says my Lord unto his servant?"
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Probably he expected some renewed promise
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like those,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+15:1"><I>ch.</I> xv. 1</A>,
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and
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+17:1"><I>ch.</I> xvii. 1</A>.
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But, to his
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great amazement, that which God has to say
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to him is, in short, <I>Abraham, Go kill thy son;</I>
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and this command is given him in such aggravating
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language as makes the temptation
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abundantly more grievous. When God
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speaks, Abraham, no doubt, takes notice of
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every word, and listens attentively to it; and
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every word here is a sword in his bones: the
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trial is steeled with trying phrases. Is it any
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pleasure to the Almighty that he should
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afflict? No, it is not; yet, when Abraham's
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faith is to be tried, God seems to take pleasure
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in the aggravation of the trial,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. The person to be offered.
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(1.) "<I>Take
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thy son,</I> not thy bullocks and thy lambs;"
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how willingly would Abraham have parted
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with them by thousands to redeem Isaac!
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<A NAME="Page137"> </A>
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"No, <I>I will take no bullock out of thy house,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:9">Ps. l. 9</A>.
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I must have thy son: not thy servant,
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no, not the steward of thy house, that
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shall not serve the turn; I must have thy
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son." Jephthah, in pursuance of a vow,
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offered a daughter; but Abraham must offer
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his son, in whom the family was to be built up.
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"Lord, let it be an adopted son;" "No,
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(2.) <I>Thy only son;</I> thy only son by <I>Sarah.</I>" Ishmael
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was lately cast out, to the grief of Abraham;
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and now Isaac only was left, and must
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he go too? Yes,
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(3.) "Take <I>Isaac,</I> him,
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by name, <I>thy laughter,</I> that <I>son indeed,</I>"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+17:19"><I>ch.</I> xvii. 19</A>.
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Not "Send for Ishmael back, and
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offer him;" no, it must be Isaac. "But,
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Lord, I love Isaac, he is to me as my own
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soul. Ishmael is not, and wilt thou take Isaac
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also? All this is against me:" Yea,
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(4.) That
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son <I>whom thou lovest.</I> It was a trial of Abraham's
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love to God, and therefore it must be
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in a beloved son, and that string must be
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touched most upon: in the Hebrew it is
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expressed more emphatically, and, I think,
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might very well be read thus: <I>Take now that
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son of thine, that only one of thine, whom thou
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lovest, that Isaac.</I> God's command must
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overrule all these considerations.</P>
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<P>
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2. The place: <I>In the land of Moriah,</I> three
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days' journey off; so that he might have
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time to consider it, and, if he did it, must do
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it deliberately, that it might be a service the
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more reasonable and the more honourable.</P>
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<P>
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3. The manner: <I>Offer him for a burnt-offering.</I>
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He must not only kill his son, but
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kill him as a sacrifice, kill him devoutly, kill him
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by rule, kill him with all that pomp and
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ceremony, with all that sedateness and composure
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of mind, with which he used to offer
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his burnt-offerings.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge22_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge22_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge22_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge22_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge22_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge22_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge22_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge22_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Abraham's Obedience.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1872.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>3 And Abraham rose up early in the
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morning, and saddled his ass, and took
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two of his young men with him, and
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Isaac his son, and clave the wood for
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the burnt offering, and rose up, and
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went unto the place of which God had
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told him.
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4 Then on the third day
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Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw
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the place afar off.
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5 And Abraham
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said unto his young men, Abide ye
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here with the ass; and I and the lad
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will go yonder and worship, and come
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again to you.
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6 And Abraham took
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the wood of the burnt offering, and
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laid <I>it</I> upon Isaac his son; and he took
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the fire in his hand, and a knife; and
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they went both of them together.
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7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his
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father, and said, My father: and he
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said, Here <I>am</I> I, my son. And he said,
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Behold the fire and the wood: but
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where <I>is</I> the lamb for a burnt offering?
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8 And Abraham said, My son,
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God will provide himself a lamb for
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a burnt offering: so they went both
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of them together.
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9 And they came
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to the place which God had told him
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of; and Abraham built an altar there,
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and laid the wood in order, and bound
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Isaac his son, and laid him on the
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altar upon the wood.
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10 And Abraham
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stretched forth his hand, and
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took the knife to slay his son.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here Abraham's obedience to this
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severe command. <I>Being tried, he offered up
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Isaac,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:17">Heb. xi. 17</A>.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The difficulties which he broke through
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in this act of obedience. Much might have
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been objected against it; as, 1. It seemed
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directly against an antecedent law of God,
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which forbids murder, under a severe penalty,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+9:5,6"><I>ch.</I> ix. 5, 6</A>.
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Now can the unchangeable God
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contradict himself? He that hates robbery
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for burnt-offering
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+61:8">Isa. lxi. 8</A>)
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cannot delight
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in murder for it.
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2. How would it consist
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with natural affection to his own son? It
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would be not only murder, but the worst of
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murders. Cannot Abraham be obedient but
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he must be unnatural? If God insist upon
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a human sacrifice, is there none but Isaac to
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be the offering, and none but Abraham to be
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the offerer? Must the father of the faithful
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be the monster of all fathers?
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3. God gave
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him no reason for it. When Ishmael was to
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be cast out, a just cause was assigned, which
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satisfied Abraham; but here Isaac must die,
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and Abraham must kill him, and neither the
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one nor the other must know why or wherefore.
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If Isaac had been to die a martyr for
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the truth, or his life had been the ransom of
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some other life more precious, it would have
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been another matter; of if he had died as a
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criminal, a rebel against God or his parents,
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as in the case of the idolater
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+13:8,9">Deut. xiii. 8, 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
or the stubborn son
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+21:18,19">Deut. xxi. 18, 19</A>),
|
||
|
|
it might have passed as a sacrifice to justice.
|
||
|
|
But the case is not so: he is dutiful, obedient,
|
||
|
|
hopeful, son. "Lord, what profit is
|
||
|
|
there in his blood?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. How would this
|
||
|
|
consist with the promise? Was it not said
|
||
|
|
that in <I>Isaac shall thy seed be called?</I> But
|
||
|
|
what comes of that seed, if this pregnant bud
|
||
|
|
be broken off so soon?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. How should he
|
||
|
|
ever look Sarah in the face again? With
|
||
|
|
what face can he return to her and his family
|
||
|
|
with the blood of Isaac sprinkled on his
|
||
|
|
garments and staining all his raiment?
|
||
|
|
"<I>Surely a bloody husband hast thou been to
|
||
|
|
me</I>" would Sarah say (as
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:25,26">Exod. iv. 25, 26</A>),
|
||
|
|
and it would be likely to alienate her affections
|
||
|
|
for ever both from him and from his
|
||
|
|
God.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
6. What would the Egyptians say,
|
||
|
|
and the Canaanites and the Perizzites who
|
||
|
|
dwelt then in the land? It would be an
|
||
|
|
eternal reproach to Abraham, and to his
|
||
|
|
altars. "Welcome nature, if this be grace."
|
||
|
|
These and many similar objection might
|
||
|
|
have been made; but he was infallibly assured
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page138"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
that it was indeed a command of God and
|
||
|
|
not a delusion, and this was sufficient to
|
||
|
|
answer them all. Note, God's commands
|
||
|
|
must not be disputed, but obeyed; we must
|
||
|
|
not consult with flesh and blood about them
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+1:15,16">Gal. i. 15, 16</A>),
|
||
|
|
but with a gracious obstinacy
|
||
|
|
persist in our obedience to them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. The several steps of obedience, all
|
||
|
|
which help to magnify it, and to show that
|
||
|
|
he was guided by prudence, and governed by
|
||
|
|
faith, in the whole transaction.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He rises early,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
Probably the command
|
||
|
|
was given in the visions of the night,
|
||
|
|
and early the next morning he set himself
|
||
|
|
about the execution of it--did not delay, did
|
||
|
|
not demur, did not take time to deliberate;
|
||
|
|
for the command was peremptory, and would
|
||
|
|
not admit a debate. Note, Those that do
|
||
|
|
the will of God heartily will do it speedily;
|
||
|
|
while we delay, time is lost and the heart
|
||
|
|
hardened.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He gets things ready for a sacrifice,
|
||
|
|
and, as if he himself had been a Gibeonite,
|
||
|
|
it should seem, with his own hands he cleaves
|
||
|
|
the wood for the burnt-offering, that it might
|
||
|
|
not be to seek when the sacrifice was to be
|
||
|
|
offered. Spiritual sacrifices must thus be
|
||
|
|
prepared for.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. It is very probable that he said nothing
|
||
|
|
about it to Sarah. This is a journey which she
|
||
|
|
must know nothing of, lest she prevent it.
|
||
|
|
There is so much in our own hearts to hinder
|
||
|
|
our progress in duty that we have need, as
|
||
|
|
much as may be, to keep out of the way of
|
||
|
|
other hindrances.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. He carefully looked about him, to discover
|
||
|
|
the place appointed for this sacrifice,
|
||
|
|
to which God had promised by some sign to
|
||
|
|
direct him. Probably the direction was given
|
||
|
|
by an appearance of the divine glory in the
|
||
|
|
place, some pillar of fire reaching from heaven
|
||
|
|
to earth, visible at a distance, and to which
|
||
|
|
he pointed when he said
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
|
||
|
|
"We will go
|
||
|
|
yonder, where you see the light, and worship."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. He left his servants at some distance
|
||
|
|
off
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
|
||
|
|
lest they should interpose, and
|
||
|
|
create him some disturbance in his strange
|
||
|
|
oblation; for Isaac was, no doubt, the
|
||
|
|
darling of the whole family. Thus, when
|
||
|
|
Christ was entering upon his agony in the
|
||
|
|
garden, he took only three of his disciples
|
||
|
|
with him, and left the rest at the garden
|
||
|
|
door. Note, It is our wisdom and duty,
|
||
|
|
when we are going to worship God, to lay
|
||
|
|
aside all those thoughts and cares which may
|
||
|
|
divert us from the service, leave them at the
|
||
|
|
bottom of the hill, that we may attend on the
|
||
|
|
Lord without distraction.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
6. He obliged Isaac to carry the wood
|
||
|
|
(both to try his obedience in a smaller matter
|
||
|
|
first, and that he might typify Christ, who
|
||
|
|
carried his own cross,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+19:17">John xix. 17</A>),
|
||
|
|
while he himself, though he knew what he did,
|
||
|
|
with a steady and undaunted resolution carried
|
||
|
|
the fatal knife and fire,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note,
|
||
|
|
Those that through grace are resolved upon
|
||
|
|
the substance of any service or suffering for
|
||
|
|
God must overlook the little circumstances
|
||
|
|
which make it doubly difficult to flesh and
|
||
|
|
blood.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
7. Without any ruffle or disorder, he talks
|
||
|
|
it over with Isaac, as if it had been but a
|
||
|
|
common sacrifice that he was going to offer,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:7,8"><I>v.</I> 7, 8</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) It was a very affecting question that
|
||
|
|
Isaac asked him, as they were going together:
|
||
|
|
<I>My father,</I> said Isaac; it was a
|
||
|
|
melting word, which, one would think,
|
||
|
|
would strike deeper into the breast of Abraham
|
||
|
|
than his knife could into the breast of
|
||
|
|
Isaac. He might have said, or thought, at
|
||
|
|
least, "Call me not thy father who am now
|
||
|
|
to be thy murderer; can a father be so barbarous,
|
||
|
|
so perfectly lost to all the tenderness
|
||
|
|
of a father?" Yet he keeps his temper, and
|
||
|
|
keeps his countenance, to admiration; he
|
||
|
|
calmly waits for his son's question, and this
|
||
|
|
is it: <I>Behold the fire and the wood, but where
|
||
|
|
is the lamb?</I> See how expert Isaac was in
|
||
|
|
the law and custom of sacrifices. This it is
|
||
|
|
to be well-catechised: this is,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] A trying
|
||
|
|
question to Abraham. How could he endure
|
||
|
|
to think that Isaac was himself the lamb?
|
||
|
|
So it is, but Abraham, as yet, dares not tell
|
||
|
|
him so. Where God knows the faith to be
|
||
|
|
armour of proof, he will laugh at <I>the trial of
|
||
|
|
the innocent,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+9:23">Job ix. 23</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] It is a teaching
|
||
|
|
question to us all, that, when we are going
|
||
|
|
to worship God, we should seriously consider
|
||
|
|
whether we have every thing ready, especially
|
||
|
|
the lamb for a burnt-offering. Behold,
|
||
|
|
the fire is ready, the Spirit's assistance and
|
||
|
|
God's acceptance; the wood is ready, the instituted
|
||
|
|
ordinances designed to kindle our
|
||
|
|
affections (which indeed, without the Spirit,
|
||
|
|
are but like wood without fire, but the Spirit
|
||
|
|
works by them); <I>all things are now ready,</I>
|
||
|
|
but where is the lamb? Where is the heart?
|
||
|
|
Is that ready to be offered up to God, to
|
||
|
|
ascend to him as a burnt-offering?</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It was a very prudent answer which
|
||
|
|
Abraham gave him: <I>My son, God will provide
|
||
|
|
himself a lamb.</I> This was the language,
|
||
|
|
either,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Of his obedience. "We must
|
||
|
|
offer the lamb which God has appointed now
|
||
|
|
to be offered;" thus giving him this general
|
||
|
|
rule of submission to the divine will, to prepare
|
||
|
|
him for the application of it to himself
|
||
|
|
very quickly. Or,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Of his faith. Whether
|
||
|
|
he meant it so or not, this proved to be
|
||
|
|
the meaning of it; a sacrifice was provided
|
||
|
|
instead of Isaac. Thus, <I>First,</I> Christ, the
|
||
|
|
great sacrifice of atonement, was of God's
|
||
|
|
providing; when none in heaven or earth
|
||
|
|
could have found a lamb for that burnt-offering,
|
||
|
|
God himself found the ransom,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:20">Ps. lxxxix. 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> All our sacrifices
|
||
|
|
of acknowledgment are of God's providing
|
||
|
|
too. It is he that prepares the heart,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+10:17">Ps. x. 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
The broken and contrite spirit is a
|
||
|
|
sacrifice of God
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+51:17">Ps. li. 17</A>),
|
||
|
|
of his providing.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
8. With the same resolution and composedness
|
||
|
|
of mind, after many thoughts of
|
||
|
|
heart, he applies himself to the completing
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page139"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
of this sacrifice,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:9,10"><I>v.</I> 9, 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
He goes on with
|
||
|
|
a holy wilfulness, 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, and he had built many a one),
|
||
|
|
lays the wood in order for his Isaac's funeral
|
||
|
|
pile, and now tells him the amazing news:
|
||
|
|
"Isaac, thou art the lamb which God has
|
||
|
|
provided." Isaac, for aught that appears, is
|
||
|
|
as willing as Abraham; we do not find that
|
||
|
|
he raised any objection against it, that he
|
||
|
|
petitioned for his life, that he attempted to
|
||
|
|
make his escape, much less that he struggled
|
||
|
|
with his aged father, or made any resistance:
|
||
|
|
Abraham does it, God will have it
|
||
|
|
done, and Isaac has learnt to submit to
|
||
|
|
both, Abraham no doubt comforting him
|
||
|
|
with the same hopes with which he himself
|
||
|
|
by faith was comforted. Yet it is necessary
|
||
|
|
that a sacrifice be bound. The great sacrifice,
|
||
|
|
which in the fullness of time was to be
|
||
|
|
offered up, must be bound, and therefore so
|
||
|
|
must Isaac. But with what heart could
|
||
|
|
tender Abraham tie those guiltless hands,
|
||
|
|
which perhaps had often been lifted up to
|
||
|
|
ask his blessing, and stretched out to embrace
|
||
|
|
him, and were now the more straitly
|
||
|
|
bound with the cords of love and duty!
|
||
|
|
However, it must be done. Having bound
|
||
|
|
him, he lays him upon the altar, and his hand
|
||
|
|
upon the head of his sacrifice; and now, we
|
||
|
|
may suppose, with floods of tears, he gives,
|
||
|
|
and takes, the final farewell of a parting
|
||
|
|
kiss: perhaps he takes another for Sarah
|
||
|
|
from her dying son. This being done, he
|
||
|
|
resolutely forgets the bowels of a father, and
|
||
|
|
puts on the awful gravity of a sacrificer.
|
||
|
|
With a fixed heart, and an eye lifted up to
|
||
|
|
heaven, he takes the knife, and stretches out
|
||
|
|
his hand to give a fatal cut to Isaac's
|
||
|
|
throat. Be astonished, O heavens! at this;
|
||
|
|
and wonder, O earth! Here is an act of faith
|
||
|
|
and obedience, which deserves to be a spectacle
|
||
|
|
to God, angels, and men. Abraham's
|
||
|
|
darling, Sarah's laughter, the church's hope,
|
||
|
|
the heir of promise, lies ready to bleed and
|
||
|
|
die by his own father's hand, who never
|
||
|
|
shrinks at the doing of it. Now this obedience
|
||
|
|
of Abraham in offering up Isaac is a
|
||
|
|
lively representation,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Of the love of God
|
||
|
|
to us, in delivering up his only-begotten Son
|
||
|
|
to suffer and die for us, as a sacrifice. It
|
||
|
|
<I>pleased the Lord</I> himself to <I>bruise him.</I> See
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:10,Zec+13:7">Isa. liii. 10; Zech. xiii. 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
Abraham was
|
||
|
|
obliged, both in duty and gratitude, to part
|
||
|
|
with Isaac, and parted with him to a friend;
|
||
|
|
but God was under no obligations to us, for
|
||
|
|
we were enemies.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Of our duty to God,
|
||
|
|
in return for that love. We must tread in
|
||
|
|
the steps of this faith of Abraham. God, by
|
||
|
|
his word, calls us to part with all for Christ,--all
|
||
|
|
our sins, though they have been as a
|
||
|
|
right hand, or a right eye, or an Isaac--all
|
||
|
|
those things that are competitors and rivals
|
||
|
|
with Christ for the sovereignty of the heart
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+14:26">Luke xiv. 26</A>);
|
||
|
|
and we must cheerfully let
|
||
|
|
them all go. God, by his providence, which
|
||
|
|
is truly the voice of God, calls us to part
|
||
|
|
with an Isaac sometimes, and we must do it
|
||
|
|
with a cheerful resignation and submission to
|
||
|
|
his holy will,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+3:18">1 Sam. iii. 18</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_11"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Isaac Rescued.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1872.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>11 And the angel of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> called
|
||
|
|
unto him out of heaven, and said,
|
||
|
|
Abraham, Abraham: and he said,
|
||
|
|
Here <I>am</I> I.
|
||
|
|
12 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 <I>son</I> from me.
|
||
|
|
13 And Abraham
|
||
|
|
lifted up his eyes, and looked, and
|
||
|
|
behold behind <I>him</I> 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.
|
||
|
|
14 And Abraham
|
||
|
|
called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh:
|
||
|
|
as it is said <I>to</I> this day, In the
|
||
|
|
mount of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> it shall be seen.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Hitherto this story has been very melancholy,
|
||
|
|
and seemed to hasten towards a most
|
||
|
|
tragical period; but here the sky suddenly
|
||
|
|
clears up, the sun breaks out, and a bright
|
||
|
|
and pleasant scene opens. The same hand
|
||
|
|
that had wounded and cast down here heals
|
||
|
|
and lifts up; for, though he cause grief, he
|
||
|
|
will have compassion. <I>The angel of the Lord,</I>
|
||
|
|
that is, God himself, the eternal Word, the
|
||
|
|
angel of the covenant, who was to be the
|
||
|
|
great Redeemer and comforter, he interposed,
|
||
|
|
and gave a happy issue to this trial.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Isaac is rescued,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
The command
|
||
|
|
to offer him was intended only for trial,
|
||
|
|
and it appearing, upon trial, that Abraham
|
||
|
|
did indeed love God better than he loved Isaac,
|
||
|
|
the end of the command was answered; and
|
||
|
|
therefore the order is countermanded, without
|
||
|
|
any reflection at all upon the unchangeableness
|
||
|
|
of the divine counsels: <I>Lay not thy
|
||
|
|
hand upon the lad.</I> Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Our creature-comforts
|
||
|
|
are most likely to be continued to us when
|
||
|
|
we are most likely to be continued to us when
|
||
|
|
we are most willing to resign them up to
|
||
|
|
God's will.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. God's time to help and relieve
|
||
|
|
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.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Abraham is not only approved, but applauded.
|
||
|
|
He obtains an honourable testimony
|
||
|
|
that he is righteous: <I>Now know I that
|
||
|
|
thou fearest God.</I> God knew it before, but
|
||
|
|
now Abraham had given a most memorable
|
||
|
|
evidence of it. He needed do no more;
|
||
|
|
what he had done was sufficient to prove the
|
||
|
|
religious regard he had to God and his authority.
|
||
|
|
Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. When God, by his providence,
|
||
|
|
hinders the performance of our sincere
|
||
|
|
intentions in his services, he graciously
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page140"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
accepts the will for the deed, and the honest
|
||
|
|
endeavour, though it come short of finishing.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The best evidence of our fearing God is
|
||
|
|
our being willing of serve and honour him
|
||
|
|
with that which is dearest to us, and to part
|
||
|
|
with all to him or for him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. Another sacrifice is provided instead
|
||
|
|
of Isaac,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
Now that the altar was built,
|
||
|
|
and the wood laid in order, it was necessary
|
||
|
|
that something should be offered. For,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. God must be acknowledged with thankfulness
|
||
|
|
for the deliverance of Isaac; and the
|
||
|
|
sooner the better, when here is an altar
|
||
|
|
ready.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Abraham's words must be made
|
||
|
|
good: <I>God will provide himself a lamb.</I> God
|
||
|
|
will not disappoint those expectations of his
|
||
|
|
people which are of his own raising; but
|
||
|
|
according to their faith it is to them. <I>Thou
|
||
|
|
shalt decree a thing, and it shall be established.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. Reference must be had to the
|
||
|
|
promised Messiah, the blessed seed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Christ was sacrificed in our stead, as this ram
|
||
|
|
instead of Isaac, and his death was our discharge.
|
||
|
|
"<I>Here am I</I> (said he,) <I>let these go
|
||
|
|
their way.</I>"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Though that blessed seed
|
||
|
|
was lately promised, and now typified by
|
||
|
|
Isaac, yet the offering of him up should be
|
||
|
|
suspended till the latter end of the world:
|
||
|
|
and in the mean time the sacrifice of beasts
|
||
|
|
should be accepted, as this ram was, as a
|
||
|
|
pledge of that expiation which should one
|
||
|
|
day be made by that great sacrifice. And it
|
||
|
|
is observable that the temple, the place of
|
||
|
|
sacrifice, was afterwards built upon this
|
||
|
|
mount Moriah
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+3:1">2 Chron. iii. 1</A>);
|
||
|
|
and mount Calvary, where Christ was crucified, was not
|
||
|
|
far off.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. A new name is given to the place, to
|
||
|
|
the honour of God, and for the encouragement
|
||
|
|
of all believers, to the end of the world,
|
||
|
|
cheerfully to trust in God in the way of
|
||
|
|
obedience: <I>Jehovah-jireh, The Lord will provide</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
||
|
|
probably alluding to what he had
|
||
|
|
said
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
|
||
|
|
<I>God will provide himself a lamb.</I>
|
||
|
|
It was not owing to any contrivance of
|
||
|
|
Abraham, nor was it in answer to his prayer,
|
||
|
|
though he was a distinguished intercessor;
|
||
|
|
but it was purely the Lord's doing. Let it
|
||
|
|
be recorded for the generations to come,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. That <I>the Lord will see;</I> he will always have
|
||
|
|
his eye upon his people in their straits and
|
||
|
|
distresses, that he may come in with seasonable
|
||
|
|
succour in the critical juncture.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. That he will <I>be seen,</I> be seen <I>in the mount,</I> in
|
||
|
|
the greatest perplexities of his people. He
|
||
|
|
will not only manifest, but magnify, his wisdom,
|
||
|
|
power, and goodness, in their deliverance.
|
||
|
|
Where God sees and provides, he
|
||
|
|
should be seen and praised. And, perhaps,
|
||
|
|
it may refer to <I>God manifest in the flesh.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Abraham's Blessing Confirmed.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1872.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 And the angel of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> called
|
||
|
|
unto Abraham out of heaven the second
|
||
|
|
time,
|
||
|
|
16 And said, By myself
|
||
|
|
have I sworn, saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, for because
|
||
|
|
thou hast done this thing, and
|
||
|
|
hast not withheld thy son, thine only
|
||
|
|
<I>son:</I>
|
||
|
|
17 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 <I>is</I> upon
|
||
|
|
the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess
|
||
|
|
the gate of his enemies;
|
||
|
|
18 And
|
||
|
|
in thy seed shall all the nations of the
|
||
|
|
earth be blessed; because thou hast
|
||
|
|
obeyed my voice.
|
||
|
|
19 So Abraham returned
|
||
|
|
unto his young men, and they
|
||
|
|
rose up and went together to Beer-sheba;
|
||
|
|
and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Abraham's obedience was graciously accepted;
|
||
|
|
but this was not all: here we have
|
||
|
|
it recompensed, abundantly recompensed,
|
||
|
|
before he stirred from the place; probably
|
||
|
|
while the ram he had sacrificed was yet burning
|
||
|
|
God sent him this gracious message, renewed
|
||
|
|
and ratified his covenant with him.
|
||
|
|
All covenants were made by sacrifice, so was
|
||
|
|
this by the typical sacrifices of Isaac and the
|
||
|
|
ram. Very high expressions of God's favour
|
||
|
|
to Abraham are employed in this confirmation
|
||
|
|
of the covenant with him, expressions
|
||
|
|
exceeding any he had yet been blessed with.
|
||
|
|
Note, Extraordinary services shall be crowned
|
||
|
|
with extraordinary honours and comforts;
|
||
|
|
and favours in the promise, though not yet
|
||
|
|
performed, ought to be accounted real and
|
||
|
|
valuable recompences. Observe, 1. God is
|
||
|
|
pleased to make mention of Abraham's
|
||
|
|
obedience as the consideration of the covenant;
|
||
|
|
and he speaks of it with an encomium:
|
||
|
|
<I>Because thou hast done this thing, and hast
|
||
|
|
not withheld thy son, thine only son,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
He lays a strong emphasis on this, and
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>)
|
||
|
|
praises it as an act of obedience: in it
|
||
|
|
thou hast <I>obeyed my voice,</I> and to obey is
|
||
|
|
better than sacrifice. Not that this was a
|
||
|
|
proportionable consideration, but God graciously
|
||
|
|
put this honour upon that by which
|
||
|
|
Abraham had honoured him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. God now
|
||
|
|
confirmed the promise with an oath. It was
|
||
|
|
said and sealed before; but now it is sworn:
|
||
|
|
<I>By myself have I sworn;</I> for he could swear
|
||
|
|
by no greater,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+6:13">Heb. vi. 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
Thus he interposed
|
||
|
|
himself by an oath, as the apostle expresses
|
||
|
|
it,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+6:17">Heb. vi. 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
He did (to speak
|
||
|
|
with reverence) even pawn his own life and
|
||
|
|
being upon it (<I>As I live,</I>) that by all those
|
||
|
|
immutable things, in which it was impossible
|
||
|
|
for God to lie, he and his might have strong
|
||
|
|
consolation. Note, If we exercise faith, God
|
||
|
|
will encourage it. Improve the promises,
|
||
|
|
and God will ratify them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The particular
|
||
|
|
promise here renewed is that of a numerous
|
||
|
|
offspring: <I>Multiplying, I will multiply thee,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note, Those that are willing to part
|
||
|
|
with any thing for God shall have it made up
|
||
|
|
to them with unspeakable advantage. Abraham
|
||
|
|
has but one son, and is willing to part
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page141"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
with that one, in obedience to God. "Well,"
|
||
|
|
said God, "thou shalt be recompensed with
|
||
|
|
thousands and millions." What a figure
|
||
|
|
does the seed of Abraham make in history!
|
||
|
|
How numerous, how illustrious, were his
|
||
|
|
known descendants, who, to this day, triumph
|
||
|
|
in this, that they have Abraham to their
|
||
|
|
father! Thus he received a thousand-fold in
|
||
|
|
this life,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+19:29">Matt. xix. 29</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. The promise,
|
||
|
|
doubtless, points at the Messiah, and the
|
||
|
|
grace of the gospel. This is the oath sworn
|
||
|
|
to our father Abraham, which Zacharias refers
|
||
|
|
to,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:73-75">Luke i. 73</A>,
|
||
|
|
&c. And so here is a
|
||
|
|
promise,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Of the great blessing of the
|
||
|
|
Spirit: <I>In blessing, I will bless thee,</I> namely,
|
||
|
|
with that best of blessings the gift of the
|
||
|
|
Holy Ghost; the promise of the Spirit was
|
||
|
|
that blessing of Abraham which was to come
|
||
|
|
upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+3:14">Gal. iii. 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Of the increase of the church,
|
||
|
|
that believers, his spiritual seed, should be
|
||
|
|
numerous as the stars of heaven.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Of
|
||
|
|
spiritual victories: <I>Thy seed shall possess the
|
||
|
|
gate of his enemies.</I> Believers, by their faith,
|
||
|
|
overcome the world, and triumph over all the
|
||
|
|
powers of darkness, and are more than conquerors.
|
||
|
|
Probably Zacharias refers to this
|
||
|
|
part of the oath
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:74">Luke i. 74</A>),
|
||
|
|
<I>That we, being
|
||
|
|
delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might
|
||
|
|
serve him without fear.</I> But the crown of all
|
||
|
|
is the last promise.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) Of the incarnation
|
||
|
|
of Christ: <I>In thy seed,</I> one particular person
|
||
|
|
that shall descend from thee (for he speaks
|
||
|
|
not of many, but of one, as the apostle observes,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+3:16">Gal. iii. 16</A>),
|
||
|
|
<I>shall all the nations of
|
||
|
|
the earth be blessed,</I> or shall <I>bless themselves,</I>
|
||
|
|
as the phrase is,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+65:16">Isa. lxv. 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
In him all
|
||
|
|
may be happy if they will, and all that belong
|
||
|
|
to him shall be so, and shall think
|
||
|
|
themselves so. Christ is the great blessing
|
||
|
|
of the world. Abraham was ready to give
|
||
|
|
up his son for a sacrifice to the honour of
|
||
|
|
God, and, on that occasion, God promised
|
||
|
|
to give his Son a sacrifice for the salvation
|
||
|
|
of man.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_23"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge22_24"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>20 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;
|
||
|
|
21 Huz his first born, and Buz
|
||
|
|
his brother, and Kemuel the father of
|
||
|
|
Aram,
|
||
|
|
22 And Chesed, and Hazo,
|
||
|
|
and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.
|
||
|
|
23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these
|
||
|
|
eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's
|
||
|
|
brother.
|
||
|
|
24 And his concubine,
|
||
|
|
whose name <I>was</I> Reumah, she
|
||
|
|
bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and
|
||
|
|
Thahash, and Maachah.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This is recorded here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. To show that
|
||
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though Abraham saw his own family highly
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dignified with peculiar privileges, admitted
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into covenant, and blessed with the entail of
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the promise, yet he did not look with contempt
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and disdain upon his relations, but
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was glad to hear of the increase and prosperity
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of their families.
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2. To make way for
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the following story of the marriage of Isaac
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to Rebekah, a daughter of this family.</P>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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