Chapter 22

22:1  And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

And it came to pass

The spiritual experience of Abraham was marked by four great crises, each of which involved a surrender of something naturally most dear. These were:

(1) Country and kindred Genesis 12:1 ; Matthew 10:34-39 ; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

(2) His nephew, Lot; especially dear to Abraham by nature, as a possible heir and as a fellow believer 2 Peter 2:7 2 Peter 2:8 ; Genesis 13:1-18 . The completeness of Abraham's separation from one who, though a believer, was a "vessel unto dishonour," is shown by ; Genesis 15:1-3 ; 2 Timothy 2:20 2 Timothy 2:21 ; Acts 15:36-40 .

(3) His own plan about Ishmael Genesis 17:17 Genesis 17:18 ; 1 Chronicles 13:1-14 ; 1 Chronicles 15:1 1 Chronicles 15:2 .

(4) Isaac, "thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest" Genesis 22:1-19 ; Hebrews 11:17 Hebrews 11:18 .

22:9  And they came to the place which God had told him of; 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.

laid

The typical lessons here are:

(1) Isaac, type of Christ "obedient unto death" Philippians 2:5-8 .

(2) Abraham, type of the Father, who "spared not His own son, but delivered Him up for us all" John 3:16 ; Romans 8:32 .

(3) the ram, type of substitution--Christ offered as a burnt-offering in our stead, Hebrews 10:5-10 .

(4) cf. resurrection Hebrews 11:17-19 ; James 2:21-23 .

22:11  And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

angel

(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4") .

22:12  And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

fearest

(See Scofield "Psalms 19:9") .

22:15  And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

angel

(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4") .