O that unbelievers would learn of faithful _Abraham_, and believe whatever is revealed from GOD, though they cannot fully comprehend it! _Abraham_ knew GOD commanded him to offer up his son, and therefore believed, notwithstanding carnal reasoning might suggest many objections. We have sufficient testimony, that GOD has spoken to us by his son; why should we not also believe, though many things in the New Testament are above our reason? For, where reason ends, faith begins. And, however infidels may stile themselves reasoners, of all men they are the most unreasonable: For, is it not contrary to all reason, to measure an infinite by a finite understanding, or think to find out the mysteries of godliness to perfection?
But to return to the patriarch _Abraham_: We observed before what plausible objections he might have made; but he answered not a single word: no, without replying against his Maker, we are told, verse 3. that “_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.”
From this verse we may gather, that GOD spoke to _Abraham_ in a dream, or vision of the night: For it is said, he rose up early. Perhaps it was near the fourth watch of the night, just before break of day, when GOD said, Take now thy son; and _Abraham_ rises up early to do so; as I doubt not but he used to rise early to offer up his morning-sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. It is often remarked of people in the Old Testament, that they rose early in the morning; and particularly of our LORD in the New, that he rose a great while before day to pray. The morning befriends devotion; and, if people cannot use so much self-denial as to rise early to pray, I know not how they will be able to die at a stake (if called to it) for JESUS CHRIST.
The humility as well as the piety of the patriarch is observable: he saddled his own ass (great men should be humble;) and to shew his sincerity, though he took two of his young men with him, and _Isaac_ his son, yet he keeps his design as a secret from them all: nay, he does not so much as tell _Sarah_ his wife: for he knew not but she might be a snare unto him in this affair; and, as _Rebekah_ afterwards, on another occasion, advised _Jacob_ to flee, so _Sarah_ also might persuade _Isaac_ to hide himself; or the young men, had they known of it, might have forced him away, as in after-ages the soldiers rescued _Jonathan_ out of the hands of _Saul_. But _Abraham_ sought no such evasion, and therefore, like an _Israelite_ indeed, in whom there was no guile, he himself resolutely “clave the wood for the burnt-offering, rose up and went unto the place of which GOD had told him.” In the second verse GOD commanded him to offer up his son upon one of the mountains which he would tell him of. He commanded him to offer his son up, but would not then directly tell him the place where: this was to keep him dependent and watching unto prayer: for there is nothing like being kept waiting upon GOD; and, if we do, assuredly GOD will reveal himself unto us yet further in his own time. Let us practise what we know, follow providence so far as we can see already; and what we know not, what we see not as yet, let us only be found in the way of duty, and the LORD will reveal even that unto us. _Abraham_ knew not directly where he was to offer up his son; but he rises up and sets forward, and behold now GOD shews him: “And he went to the place of which GOD had told him.” Let us go and do likewise.
Verse 4. “Then on the third day _Abraham_ lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.”