Charles Spurgeon Commentary Genesis 22
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Genesis 22
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Genesis 22
"And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham. And he said, Here am I." — Genesis 22:1 (ASV)
That is, "God did test or try"—
"And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, 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." — Genesis 22:1-2 (ASV)
"But, Lord, I have two sons, Ishmael and Isaac."
"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, 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." — Genesis 22:2 (ASV)
Your only son,
"But, Lord, both Ishmael and Isaac are my sons, and each of them is the only son of his mother."
Isaac, whom thou lovest,
See how definitely God points out to Abraham the son who is to be the means of the great trial of his father's faith: 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.
It was usually the way, in God's commands to Abraham, to make him sail under sealed orders. When he was first commanded to leave his country and his relatives, and his father's house, he had to go to a land that God would show him. They have true faith who can go forth at God's command, not knowing where they are going. So Abraham did, and now the Lord says to him, Take Isaac, and offer him for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
"And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. And he clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him." — Genesis 22:3 (ASV)
And Abraham rose up early in the morning,
Obedience should be prompt; we should show our willingness to obey the Lord's command by not delaying: Abraham rose up early in the morning,.
And saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
All the details are mentioned, for true obedience is very careful of detail. Those who would serve God rightly must serve him faithfully in little things as well as in great ones. There must be a saddling of the ass, a calling of the two young men as well as Isaac, and a cleaving of the wood for the burnt offering. We must do everything that is included in the bounds of the divine command, and do it all with scrupulous exactness and care. Indifferent obedience to God's command is practically disobedience; careless obedience is dead obedience; the heart is gone out of it. Let us learn from Abraham how to obey.
"On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off." — Genesis 22:4 (ASV)
His was deliberate obedience; he could bear suspense, thinking over the whole matter for three days, and setting his face like a flint to obey his Lord's command.
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