Gen. 22.
IT is well to be prepared unto every good work―to be ready at all times to do the will of God. We know not how soon it may please God to put our faith to the test―it may be sharply. Let it not take us by surprise. Let us not count even a fiery trial a strange thing, This is the time for the trial of our faith, and it is more precious than of gold that perisheth. Tribulation in one form or other characterizes our wilderness journey, and when one trial is over let us prepare for another; for when our faith has been exercised, and our spirit tried, it is often to fit us for deeper exercise and severer trial. Thus it was with Abraham. He had passed through much trial in connection with famine, the untoward ways of Lot, the mistaken path concerning Hagar, the fear of Abimelech, the painful circumstances connected with Ishmael; and now he was called to the most unexpected and heavy trial of offering up his beloved Isaac, for whom he had waited on God with such enduring patience, and to whom the promises of God concerning all nations were made. The emergency wad sudden, and the trial, both spiritually and naturally, perhaps of the deepest kind, that mortal, fallible man was ever called to honor God in.
But the man of faith was ready for the call. He heard the gracious and authoritative voice of God, saying, “Abraham! Abraham!” and, apparently, with undisturbed composure of spirit, he replied, “Behold, here I am.” He is immediately before this presented to us calling “on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God” (ch. 21:33), and now, in the stillness of the night watches, his ear is opened to the voice of the God of promise, and most sorrowful and trying as the path may be in which he is called to walk, yet the light of heaven shines upon it with unmistakably clear guidance.
How deeply important it is, beloved, that we should be much in the habit of calling on the name of the Lord. It has been well said, that
‘Prayer makes the Christian’s armor bright,’
and the divine statute is, “Them that honor me, I will honor.” In the carnal scene connected with the weaning of Isaac, the patriarch was ill prepared far such a service as that we are considering. We see how this feasting had dimmed his spiritual vision to the perception of the ill behavior of the “son of the bondwoman,” and how reluctant he was to rule in this instance according to the mind of God. He stood reproved, for “fleshly lusts war against the soul;” but after this we see him in the grove of Beersheba, with uplifted heart, calling upon “the name of the Lord, the everlasting God,” and therefore ready for the service of the living and true God. (See chapters 21:8, 12, 33.) And so it should be with us; for if we would be calm in emergencies, ready for the service of God, and capable of being used for His honor and glory, we must be found not indulging in fleshly lusts, but mortifying our members which are upon the earth, seeking to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and calling upon the name of the Lord. “He that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.” He that waiteth on his Master shall be honored. “Thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” (Job 17:99The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. (Job 17:9); Prov. 27:1818Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored. (Proverbs 27:18); Matt. 6:66But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:6).)
I repeat that Abraham was led into a plain path; nothing could exceed the clearness of the way he was called to walk in. First, he was told what to do; he was to “offer for a burnt offering,” his son, his only and beloved Isaac-that son for whom he had waited on God for twenty-five years, concerning whom God had made such promises, and whose weaning he had celebrated with such joyous festivity and gladness―that only son, that affectionate and obedient lad, who lay so near his father’s heart, must unreservedly be consumed to ashes in yonder mountain. Secondly, he must hasten to this service at once. “Take now thy son.” Thirdly, the place of service is pointed out; he must go “into the land of Moriah” to execute the divine commission. These plain details left no room for inquiry, opened no door for delay; they comprehended all that faith needed for obeying the voice of God. Abraham therefore “rose up early in the morning,” and proceeded “to the place of which God had told him,” to carry out the heavenly mandate, taking Isaac, the wood, the fire, and knife, for the necessary purpose of carrying out the word of God.
No doubt there was much deep, living communion with God, during the three days’ journey to Mount Moriah. The man of faith was now walking in the quickener of the dead― “the Almighty God.” This was the spring of the patriarch’s hope, the anchor of his soul, the sole incentive of his self-renouncing obedience. The God of the covenant commanded, and this was enough for believing Abraham, who was able, by the grace of God, to turn the trial into a special occasion of worship― “I and the lad will go yonder and worship.” This was faith indeed. He did not make flesh his arm. Had the claim of natural affection, unduly preponderated, he could not have gone a step towards Mount Moriah, much less have bound his beloved, son to the altar, and lifted up the knife to slay him. Had he attempted to make the promises of God in Isaac more secure, like Uzzah put forth his hand to stay the ark of God from falling, he might have sought to persuade himself that he had been deceived, that Isaac must not be offered, because that in him all nations were to be blessed. But he trusted in the faithful God who cannot deny Himself. He felt that it became a servant to obey his master, and to rest in the wisdom, grace, and faithfulness of “the Almighty God” to confirm His own word in what way He pleased. Abraham well knew that Isaac must live, even though he be burnt to ashes, for the unalterable word of the Lord was, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Resurrection was here the sustaining thought of the Patriarch’s mind, he went forward, therefore, spite of appearances, and his own natural feelings, to obey the word of God. He reckoned upon God’s power; his confidence was alone is the faithfulness of God to His own word. “By faith Abraham, when he was tired, 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: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received, him in a figure.” (Heb. 11:17, 18, 1917By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:17‑19))
True faith in God makes us peaceful in the most trying circumstances, because it deals only with the God of truth, and triumphs spite of feelings, reasonings of the creature, and the aspect of circumstances, for it rests in the unfailing God to make good His own unalterable word. Hence faith can trust God where it cannot see Him.
‘The hope that’s built upon His word
Can ne’er be overthrown.’
The trial of our faith is precious to God, and profitable to us. Faith must be exercised to grow. When we really abide the trial, He will say, “It is enough,” and spare our feelings, as well as honor us and comfort our souls. We see this in verses 10 to 18 of this chapter. When Abraham manifested full subjection to God, as well as confidence in His power and faithfulness, then the angel of the Lord called out of heaven unto him, saying, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, &c., for now I know that thou fearest God,” &c. We know what blessing followed.
Can anything, beloved, more powerfully exhort us to trust God “at all times” than this affecting narrative? Does it not loudly exemplify that “this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not grievous?” May we be always ready and willing to do the will of God! We know how perfect is the example of Christ, who “was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
‘O holy Saviour, Friend unseen,
Since on Thine arm thou bid’st us lean,
Help us, throughout life’s changing scene,
By faith to cling to Thee.’