WHO is there of all my little reader that does not delight either to hear or to read the interesting story related in the twenty-second chapter of Genesis? For, in this chapter, the Spirit of God informs us, in words so simple that even children are able to read, and to understand, how Abraham obeyed that wondrous command, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."
We are told that Abraham started early in the morning, taking with him Isaac, and also two of his young men, and that he journeyed on until upon the third day he came to "the place of which God had told him." And there, upon Mount Moriah, he actually took the knife to slay his own beloved son Isaac. This he would have done if the angel of the Lord had not prevented him. And God richly rewarded Abraham for his obedience, by blessing him, and his seed. God also promised him, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou halt obeyed My voice." This meant that “when the fullness of time was come," the Lord Jesus Christ should be born of "the seed of Abraham;" and that all the nations should be blessed in Him. So that this was a very important day in Abraham's life.
I seem, even now, to see the young Isaac, a strong active lad, starting upon this journey with a light heart, bidding his beloved mother Sarah, a loving farewell; and perhaps waving his hand fondly to her as they set out, telling her that he should be back soon, just as any of my young readers might do this very day, if they were leaving home. And then, as they went on their journey through that beautiful country, may we not suppose that Isaac's merry voice was often heard, telling out the joy he felt, upon what was no doubt to him then a very delightful journey. For Isaac did not then know the real object of their journey. It was best for him not to know this, until the proper time came for him to know it, It was well that he did not know how his father's heart was yearning over the son of his love, and that he knew not the anguish of his father's spirit, as Abraham thought how soon that sweet merry voice, would be hushed in the stillness of death.
But Abraham believed that God was able to raise up his son Isaac again from the dead. (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)). He also believed that God would restore his beloved sons' life: for, when Abraham and Isaac left the young men behind, Abraham said unto them," Abide ye here with the ass: and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." This shows what great faith Abraham had in God. Before he came back to his young men, Abraham expected by the awful stroke of the knife, to take away his son's life, and if he had not believed that God would raise up Isaac again from the dead, would he not have said to them," I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and I will come again to you"?
"And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together." This verse presents a lovely sight. An aged man, and his young son, "went both of them together to worship God. " "And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, my father; and he said, here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?" What a question for his fond father to answer at such a time.
"And Abraham said, my son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt-offering;" and now a second time occur the words, " So they went both of them together." They started to go up the mount “together," to worship God; and they went on “together," believing that God would provide a lamb.
" And they came to the place which God had told him of; " and, my dear readers, just think of it; there, in the presence of God, and his father, Isaac had to learn the painful secret so long pent up in Abraham's soul. He now knew that he himself was to be the offering. He must expect to die. Did Isaac begin to cry? We are not told that he wept. Did he try to run away? If he had tried so to do, could his aged father have caught him? We do not read of a single struggle, nor of a single murmur coming from Isaac's lips. We are not told that Isaac even asked his father to let him live just for one more hour. And yet life was as sweet to Isaac upon that day as it is now to any of us. Surely he loved his mother as much as any of us love ours. But she was now far away, and perhaps knew nothing of this great trial. Would Isaac ever see her again? God had spoken, God's word must be obeyed. And Abraham obeyed God; while his son Isaac obeyed Abraham in the Lord. “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.'
“And Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood." Had Isaac struggled, his father would have been obliged to bind Isaac first: instead of which he built the altar first; and bound Isaac last.
Then came the most trying moment of all. "And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son." At that moment a voice was heard. Was it the cry of Isaac, as he expected the awful thrust of the knife? Was it his fond father's sigh of anguish because his son must die, and not himself? It was not the voice of Abraham, it was not the voice of Isaac; but it was, indeed, a very welcome voice, to both father and son; a voice well known to Abraham.
"And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham; and he said, Here am I. 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." What joy filled both father and son at these words. How happy they both must have been that God's commands had been obeyed; and yet Isaac's life was spared. “And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and beheld behind him a ram caught in the 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. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh"—this word means “The Lord will see, or provide."
With great joy they could now both return home: and oh! what a story Isaac had to tell to his mother. Then surely Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac, rejoiced together, because of the goodness and mercy of God.
I am sure that all my little readers are glad that Isaac's life was spared. Yes, God spared Isaac's life; but He did not spare the life of His own beloved Son. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. He gave His life for the sheep. It was for your sakes, and mine, that Jesus “humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." He died, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. And now, dear readers, I want you all to think of Isaac, and to be obedient even as he was: but, above all, I desire each reader to “Look to Jesus, “and to believe on Him.” Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.