John Calvin Commentary Genesis 22:11

"And the angel of Jehovah called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, Here I am." — Genesis 22:11 (ASV)

And the angel of the Lord called unto him. The inward temptation had already been overcome when Abraham intrepidly raised his hand to slay his son. It was by the special grace of God that he obtained such a remarkable victory. But now Moses adds that, suddenly and beyond all hope, his sorrow was changed into joy.

Poets, in their fables, when affairs are desperate, introduce some god who unexpectedly appears at the critical juncture. It is possible that Satan, by such figments, has attempted to obscure the wonderful and stupendous interventions of God, when He has unexpectedly appeared to bring assistance to His servants.

This history should certainly be known and celebrated among all people. Yet, by Satan's subtlety, God's truth has not only been corrupted and turned into a lie, but also distorted into fables to make it more ridiculous. But it is our task to consider with earnest minds how wonderfully God, at the very point of death, both recalled Isaac from death to life and restored his son to Abraham, as one who had risen from the tomb.

Moses also describes the angel's voice as sounding from heaven to assure Abraham that it came from God, so that he might withdraw his hand under the direction of the same faith by which he had stretched it out. For, in a matter of such magnitude, it was not permissible for him to undertake or relinquish anything, except by God's authority.

Let us, therefore, learn from his example by no means to pursue what our carnal sense suggests is likely our right course. Instead, let God, by His will alone, prescribe to us how we are to act and when to cease from acting. And truly, Abraham does not accuse God of inconsistency, because he considers that there was just cause for the exercise of his faith.