GOD REAFFIRMS HIS PROMISES

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This chapter compares with Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. The first time that I saw in this chapter these great truths which depict the cross of Christ, it was breathtaking.

Not only in the birth of Isaac, but now also in the sacrifice of Isaac, there is a strange similarity to the life of our Lord.

Genesis 22:15-18 KJV

[15] And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

[16] And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

[17] That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

[18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Genesis 22:15 KJV

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

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• “The Angel of the LORD” in verses 11 and 15, as in all the OT, is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Genesis 22:16 KJV

And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

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There are high declarations of God’s favour to Abraham in this confirmation of the covenant with him, exceeding any he had yet been blessed with.

Genesis 22:17 KJV

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

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Those that are willing to part with any thing for God, shall have it made up to them with unspeakable advantage.

Genesis 22:18 KJV

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

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• The promise, Genesis 22:18, doubtless points at the Messiah, and the grace of the gospel.
• Hereby we know the loving-kindness of God our Saviour towards sinful man, in that he hath not withheld his Son, his only Son, from us.
• Hereby we perceive the love of Christ, in that he gave himself a sacrifice for our sins.
• Yet he lives, and calls to sinners to come to him, and partake of his blood-bought salvation.
• He calls to his redeemed people to rejoice in him, and to glorify him.

What then shall we render for all his benefits?

Let his love constrain us to live not to ourselves, but to Him who died for us, and rose again.

Admiring and adoring His grace, let us devote our all to his service, who laid down his life for our salvation.

Whatever is dearest to us upon earth is our Isaac. And the only way for us to find comfort in an earthly thing, is to give it by faith into the hands of God.

Yet remember that Abraham was not justified by his readiness to obey, but by the infinitely more noble obedience of Jesus Christ; his faith receiving this, relying on this, rejoicing in this, disposed and made him able for such wonderful self-denial and duty.

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,

 

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