“Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.” vs. 4. The three days journey must have been a severe further test for Abraham. During this time he surely proved God his true and only resource for strength and courage, for there is no indication that he had thus far spoken to anyone else of the object of this journey.
Faith, indeed, is a very personal thing between the believer and God. “Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God.” Rom. 14:2222Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. (Romans 14:22). The three days journey toward the mountains must have one effect or another: Either he would sorrow over the duty before him, be perplexed and discouraged—thus turning inwardly to his own poor heart for understanding; or it would draw him nearer to God and remove the natural questioning that could only alarm and disturb him. It is apparent that his behavior was of the latter character and is at least figuratively expressed in the words, “Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw.” Dear believer, what a lesson is in all this! You too may know a trial of faith; perhaps for three days, or three years, or even a lifetime, but it is only day by day that you are called to walk in that faith and strength has been promised you for it. “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deut. 33:2525Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. (Deuteronomy 33:25). You too, as Abraham, may not be able to share your trial or testing with others, but how loving the assurance: “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:77Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7).
Until the third day Abraham apparently did not actually know just where God wanted him to go, for the instruction had simply been, “upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” So too the end of individual faith in the believer may not immediately be seen. He may not know what will result from obedience to the Word that has exercised his conscience. Yet, like Abraham, confidence in God’s abiding goodness can be the mainstay. If faith is not allowed to waver through looking down (at circumstances), but the heart gazes upward to the source of strength, then the journey will be one of confidence and quietness, even though the old nature may say “everything is contrary to my desires.”
“And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” vs. 5. What an outstanding expression of confidence! Here was every evidence of unquestioning faith in the government of God. True it was that God had told him to offer up his son as a burnt offering and he was fully prepared to do so, yet could say to his servants: “I and the lad will come again to you.” This amazing expression will be more readily understood from a passage in Heb. 11:1919Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:19) which tells us that Abraham accounted “that God was able to raise him (Isaac) up, even from the dead.” Ah yes, he could rightly conclude that God would not forget His promises in Isaac and if obedience and faith demanded sacrificing his only son, then God could, and would, raise him up again. Furthermore, he counted that God would do so immediately.
ML 12/12/1965