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| 1 And it came to pass, after these things, that, God, did prove Abraham,–and he said unto him, Abraham! And he said, Behold me! |
Did tempt Abraham – Tried or proved his character. R1623:3
For his good. R5702:1
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| 2 And he said–Take, I pray thee, thy son, thine only one, whom thou lovest, even, Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah,–and cause him to ascend there, as an ascending-sacrifice, on one of the mountains, which I shall name unto thee. |
Take now thy son – God's final test upon Abraham's faith. R4574:1
Abraham was 125 years old, and Isaac was the son who would be the channel for all the blessings promised. R5180:1
Offer him – Only a person very intimately acquainted with the Almighty, very sympathetic and trustful, could possibly have endured such a test. R5180:1
By prompt obedience Abraham gave proof of his loyalty, "accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead." (Heb. 11:19) R5702:1
Thus he was counted worthy of a better resurrection. R4574:2
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| 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took his two young men with him, and Isaac his son,–and clave the pieces of wood for an ascending-sacrifice, and mounted and went his way unto the place which God had named to him. |
Abraham – Type of the Almighty. F170; R5180:3
Isaac – Type of The Christ, Head and Body. F170; R5180:3
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| 4 It was, on the third day, that Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place, afar off. |
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| 5 And Abraham said unto his young men–Tarry by yourselves here, with the ass, but, I and the young man, must go yonder,–that we may bow ourselves down, and return unto you. |
And worship – Abraham's frequent drawing near to God in private prayer and communion was the secret of his unwavering faith and obedience. R1624:1
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| 6 So Abraham took the pieces of wood for the ascending-sacrifice, and laid them on Isaac his son, and took in his own hand, the fire and the knife,–and they went on their way, both of them, together. |
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| 7 Then said Isaac unto Abraham his father, then said he: My father! And he said, Behold me, my son,–And he said, Behold–the fire, and the pieces of wood,–but where is the lamb, for an ascending-sacrifice? |
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| 8 And Abraham said, God, will provide for himself the lamb, for an ascending-sacrifice, my son! So they went on their way, both of them, together. |
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| 9 Then came they into the place which God had named to him, and Abraham built there the altar, and laid in order the pieces of wood,–and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, above the pieces of wood. |
And bound Isaac – Isaac was a man at the time, full of health and vigor, and evidently offered no resistance; typifying Christ Jesus' submission to the Father's will. R2861:1
On the altar – Typifying Christ's death as the blood of the original covenant. R4320:1
Supposedly the very rock upon which Isaac was bound became the location for the Brazen altar. (2 Chron. 3:1) R5180:2, R2510:6
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| 10 And Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife,–to slay his son. |
Took the knife – The offering was complete in the sight of heaven. R5180:2
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| 11 Then called out unto him the messenger of Yahweh, out of the heavens, and said, Abraham, Abraham! And he said, Behold me! |
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| 12 Then he said, Do not put forth thy hand, unto the young man, neither do to him–anything at all,–for, now, know I that, one who reverest God, thou art, when thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only one, from me. |
Thou fearest God – Abraham's entire life was a life of faith, of trust in God, and of reliance upon the divine promises. R5180:1
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| 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and lo! a ram, behind, caught in a thicket by his horns,–and Abraham went, and took the ram, and caused him to ascend as an ascending-sacrifice, instead of his son. |
A ram – Type of Christ. Q557:3; R5180:5
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| 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, Yahweh-yireh,–as to which it is still said today, In the mountain of Yahweh, will provision be made. |
Jehovah-jireh – Jehovah's providence. E43
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| 15 Then called out the messenger of Yahweh, unto Abraham,–a second time, out of the heavens; |
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| 16 and said, By myself, have I sworn is the oracle of Yahweh,–Because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only one, |
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| 17 That I will, richly bless, thee, and, abundantly multiply, thy seed, as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the lip of the sea,–that thy seed may take possession of the gate of his foes: |
In blessing – A spiritual promise which the Jews at that time could not appreciate. R5295:5
Seed as the stars – The heavenly seed, Christ and the Church. A292; F355; T34; R4682:3, R4931:1, R5178:5, R5273:4, R5809:5; OV156:3, OV428:3; SM368:1
The Little Flock and Great Company. R2067:4
The favor of the Lord now comes to us as the spiritual seed, to the extent of our faithfulness to the Lord. R4606:4
The spiritual portion was hidden until God's due time-at the first advent. R5285:3
These are the heirs of Gal. 3:29 and 1 Cor. 15:41, 42, R5178:5
Jesus was the first, the Captain, the forerunner. R4646:2
And as the sand – The earthly seed. A292; F355; T34; R4606:4, R4682:3, R5809:5; CR157:5
All who during the Millennial age attain to human perfection. R2854:1, R4646:1, R5273:4, R5836:5
Necessitating the awakening of the entire race from the tomb. R5533:4
In resemblance, not necessarily in numbers. R2067:4
Possess the gate – Place of power and control. R4370:4
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| 18 So shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves in thy seed,–Because thou didst hearken unto my voice. |
And in thy seed – The glorified Christ. F72; R5301:4, R5818:1; CR269:6
God's agency in blessing the world. CR460:5; R4442:4, R5181:3, R5761:4; OV201:1
All of God's blessings come under the Abrahamic covenant, either directly or indirectly. Q165:4; OV9:1; PD35/46
Isaac did not fulfill the promise, he was merely a type. SM530:T
Referred to by Paul as the oath-bound covenant. (Heb. 6:10-14). OV9:3
Every mother amongst the Israelites hoped she could be the mother of the promised child. R4963:2
At first the Jews thought of this promise as being fulfilled in them as a nation. R4714:3
The Jews will be first in prominence in the time of blessing. OV118:1
The earthly seed cannot have its share in the work of blessing others until first the heavenly seed shall have been perfected in the first resurrection. HG667:6
The Jews were in darkness in respect to God's plan. R5769:5
All of God's dealings with Israel were in accord with his covenant with Abraham. R5285:3
All the nations – Not only Israel but, through Israel, all families of the earth. A58; R4442:4, R5818:1; OV118:2, 5, OV143:T, SM368:1
Implies a resurrection from the dead. R5608:2
Be blessed – With an opportunity both of returning to harmony with God, and for everlasting life. R4557:3, R4537:6, R4806:1; SM530:T
"In becoming thy seed shall all the families of the earth bless themselves." R5836:5; SM590:T
God's promise was that the seed of Abraham would be the great king who would bless Israel and, through Israel, bless the world. HG273:5
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| 19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they mounted, and went on their way together, unto Beer-sheba,–and Abraham dwelt in Beer-sheba. |
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| 20 And it came to pass, after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying,–Behold! Milcah–she also, hath borne sons, to Nahor thy brother: |
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| 21 Uz his firstborn, and Buz his brother,–and Kemuel, father of Aram– |
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| 22 and Chesed and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph,–and Bethuel; |
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| 23 And, Bethuel, hath begotten Rebekah,–These eight, hath Milcah borne to Nahor, brother of Abraham. |
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| 24 And, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she also, hath borne Tebah and Gaham, and Tahash, and Maacah. |
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