Bible Talks: Abraham the man of faith- Gen. 22:11-13

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Our attention has been repeatedly called to the faith of Abraham, but it is a joy to also see the obedience and faith of Isaac at this time. Surely the young man could have refused his father’s command and escaped, but in full obedience he permitted the binding and placing of himself on the altar. The Spirit of God does not here otherwise turn our thoughts toward Isaac for it is the father’s love and faith that is the primary subject of this chapter—yet the obedience of the son is observed with profit and pleasure. A most beautiful expression appears too, in vs. 6 and 8: “They went both of them together.” Is it not refreshing to see the singleness of purpose and obedience in these two—a type of God the Father and the Son, with which our meditations will be engaged at more length shortly?
“And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here Amos 1 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything 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.” vv. 11-13. How welcome the voice that stopped the father’s hand ere it could fall with the blow of death on his son! And yet no exclamation of surprise or relief came from his lips as the deliverance was declared. Faith had brought Abraham and Isaac to this point and faith quietly accepted the release provided. There was absolute faith that God would restore Isaac to life again. “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Heb. 11:1717By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (Hebrews 11:17).
God declares in His Word that “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Heb. 11:66But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is always associated with patience and the Word encourages persistence in the children of God, in spite of outward circumstances that might tend to discourage. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Heb. 10:35,3635Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:35‑36).
Had Abraham seen the ram caught in the thicket before he bound Isaac on the altar, he still would not have been at liberty to take it as an offering until God released him from his test. The believer may at times be tempted to hasten the end of faith’s test by applying some circumstance as a reward for his patience. But God will ever have His own way of concluding the test of faith and it is a happy thing to wait for Him to make it clear.
ML 12/26/1965