Twice we read that significant things happened in the life of Abram/Abraham ‘after these things’, see Gen. 15. 1 and 22. 1, (i.e. following significant events in his life). On the first occasion, the Lord promised Abram a son, but on the second occasion He proved Abram by commanding him to offer up his son. The devil tempts the believer to bring out the worst, but as we will see, the Lord always tests us to bring out the best, Jas. 1. 12-13; 1 Pet. 1. 7.
Abraham, who had been so slow to give up his father, was now immediately willing to give up his son, such was his faith, for his spiritual logic had reckoned that ‘God was able to raise him up, even from the dead’, Heb. 11. 19. God knew how much Abraham loved Isaac, for he said, ‘Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest … and offer him there for a burnt offering’, v. 2. Abraham showed no hesitation when the call came, and ‘rose up early in the morning’. Eventually they get near the place of sacrifice and Abraham says to his servants, ‘I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you’, v. 5. What faith!
As they got even closer, Isaac said, ‘Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’, v. 7. Abraham replied, ‘My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering’, v. 8. God would provide His own burnt offering! This was a prophetic utterance indeed, fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ, see John 1. 29, 36. Isaac was completely obedient to the end, for once the place of sacrifice had been prepared, he allowed himself to be bound and even submitted himself to be killed on the altar. At the very last minute, Abraham was halted by a call from heaven. Nothing else would have stopped him! The test had been passed and now heaven knew that Abraham really feared God, v. 12. A substitute was provided – ‘a ram caught in a thicket by his horns’, v. 13. Abraham’s complete obedience brought immediate blessing, and the Lord’s earlier promises were confirmed and expanded, vv. 17-18.
The lesson for us is obvious – ‘we never can prove the delights of His love, until all on the altar we lay’.
