In Abraham, as being the depositary of the promises of God to the patriarchs, we find the fundamental principles of the believer. Having offered up his son Isaac and having received him back gives us the type of the resurrection of Jesus. He becomes, like Isaac, heir of all the goods of His Father. Rebekah, type of the church, is called to be the bride of a risen Isaac.
In Abraham we have the principle of man’s relationship with God—pure grace without law. Hagar is a figure of the law, while Isaac, raised from the dead in figure, shows us Christ, the Head, having accomplished His work. He is now in the position to maintain all the results of the divine counsels.
The Christian Friend, 1874