The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 352

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 12.-Abraltam'a perfect fauh. "Now I know that thou fearest God, eecing 1hou Jiast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." "The word of God," says Coleridge, "speaks to man, and therefore it speaks the language of the children ?f men. Tliis has to be kept in mind in studying the remarkable incident recorded ID this chapter. When God is represented tlB "tempting" Abraham, it only mel\ns that he tried or tested him. I. THE TESTING OF FAITH. Abraham was to be the head of the faithful nnd t.ype of tlio justified, therefore it was essential lie sho~ld ~e tested. Entire ?bedience i~ the test of perfect faith .. Abraham had shown Ins faith when ~e _left h_1a own lond, and when he waited patiently for a eon ;_ now he has to show it m a d1fferen~ way. In the two former testings he had a promise to rest on; now he mm:1t go far without any p1 omise to buoy him np in the perplexing eea of trial. "Take now thy s~n," &c. Surely there is some mistal,e I Mu~t Abral1am offer n humnn ancrifico? Tl11s event CB, XXII. 1-19.) 'l'HE BOOK OF GENESIS. 287 ----- ------ ha.q perplexed many, and they have only escaped from the difficulties preserilc<l by regarding the event--(1) As exceptional for the purpose of securing a unique type of the future sacrifice of Christ. (2) As never intended to be actually carried out, God having foreseen the faith of his servant, and having determined at the right moment to interfere and prevent any disaster. There is also a miraculous element in the narrative, both in the special voice and the ram caught in the thicket. Some have thought that the impulse was from Abraham's own mind-that, seeing human sacri- fices around, he wished to rise above all others in devotion to the one God. Had this been the case, the Scriptures would not have represented the testing as from God. Ir. that age a father's right to do as he would with his son was as unquestioned as his right to do what he would with his slave. The command of God was not out of harmony with this idea, but it helped to correct the mistake. A single act of such self- sacrifice becomes of the highest value; it is even a means of education to the world. God elicited the highest exerciee of faith, but not the blood of Isaac. What it must have cost the patriarch to submit to the Divine command I ,vith one blow he must slay his boy and his own ardent hopes. The only gleam of light was in the thought that God ,vho first gave Isaac could also restore him from death. This is indicated in the words 110 uttered to the young man, " We will come again to you." Tradi- tion says that the mount was the same on which Adam, Abel, and Noah had offered sacrifice. Here possibly Abraham found an altar to repair or rebuild. Isaac helps in rebuilding the altar and in arranging the wood. Silent prayers ascend from father und son. Isaac wonders where the lamb is to come from. lie finds out when his father has bound him and laid him on the altar. The knife gleams aloft, and, but for the arresting voice, would have been plunged in Isaac. The test was satisfactory. II. Gon's MANIFEST APPROVAL OF THE PATRIARCH'S FAITH AND PERFECT OBEDIENCE. 1. It was by a voice from heaven. 2. It was manifested also by the way in which God took away any pain consequent on obedience to his command. It is remarkable how those who appear to have little faith can become, when trial falls, perfectly submissive to the Divine will. 3. The approval was seen also in the way in which God provided a sacrifice. 4. And God repeated hie promise of blessing, confirming it by a solemn covenant. "By myself have I sworn," &c. No such voice comes to us, and no such promise is audibly given; still we can have, in the inner calm of fue soul, an evidence of the Divine approval. When our faith is strongest, after passing through some trial, we get a clearer view of the glory of God's working, both in our lives and in the world. What approval have we ,von? Does not Abraham put us to shame? Too many will laud the obedience of Abraham who will never try to emulate it. Abraham was glad to have his Isaac spared ; so would the Father have been, but he gave up his "only-begotten, well-beloved Son" for us. Our readiness to accept and follow the Saviour given is only another way of showing how wo bear the testing of faith. " Thy will be done" should be the ntternnco of each believer. Perfect faith in the heo.rt should be exhibited by perfect obedience in lifo.-H. Ver. 14.-Tlie Lamb of God. 11 And Abraham called the name of that placo Jehovah-jireh." The key to this narrative is John i. 29. It sets forth in type the way of salvation. Whether Abraham understood this we need not inquire. The losson is for us. Isaac, i. e. laughter (cf. Luke ii. 10), the child of promise (Rom. ix. 7), type of "the children of the kingdom," is yet condemned to die (cf. Rom. v. 12). So in Egypt the Israelites were not exempted; God's gift to them was a way of escape. What is that way? ( cf. Micah vi. 6). Every oge of the world has asked this question. A sense of separation from God has led to many efforts for its removol. Hence sacrifices, offerings, austerities, &c., but all in vain (lleb. x. 4). Still the soul asked," Where is the Lamb?" the effectual sacrifice for sin. 'l'ho answer of prophecy, i. e. God's answer, "God will provide himself a lamb" (rf. John i. 29; viii. 56). Man has no claim upon God, yet hie need is a plea (cf. Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7). We know not what was in Abraham's mind; perhaps ho was escap- ing from the direct answer, unable to utter it; perhaps there was II hope that God ·would in some way preserve or restore his son (cf. Heh. xi. 19). There nro many instances of prophrcy unconscionsly uttcrrd (cf. John xi. 50), ls:iac was buur:d-  THE BOOK OF GE~ESIS. [en. XXII. 1--HI.