| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index
|
Genesis Chapter
Twenty-Two
I.
Content of the Chapter
God Tested Abraham
A. God asked Abraham to offer Isaac as
a burnt offering (v.1-2);
B. Abraham went to the place of which God had
told him (v.3-4);
C. And the father and the son went together
(v.5-8);
D. God hindered Abraham from slaying Isaac
(v.9-12);
E. They experienced “the-Lord-Will-Provide”(v.13-14);
F. He was blessed and returned (v.15-19);
G. The genealogy of the brother of Abraham
Nahor (v.20-24);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
Gen. 22:1 “Now it came to pass after these things that
God tested Abraham
and said to him
“Abraham!” And he said
“Here I am.””
YLT:
“And
it cometh to pass after these things that God hath tried Abraham
and saith
unto him
`Abraham;' and he saith
`Here I.'”
Literal
Meaning: “after
these things”: after the birth
of Isaac and after Ishmael was cast out and after he had made the covenant with
Abimelech;
“God
tested Abraham”
it does not mean the omniscient God needs to know the heart of
Abraham by test
but that the real situation of the one who is tested will be
manifested so that he shall know himself more deeply.
Spiritual
Meaning: this verse shows us
the meaning of “offering”:
1.
“After these things”
it is after Abraham had experienced the faithfulness and
provision of God
which shows that offering means offering what is obtained
from God to God.
2.
“God tested Abraham”
God tests the genuineness of faith in and love to Him by
offering.
3. “And said to him
“Abraham!””
offering is
initiated by the calling of God.
4. “And
he said
“Here I am.”” Offering is the
man’s response to God’s calling.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God does not test man flippantly. Only when we
are able to bear the test
will God start to test us.
2)
Whether we love the blessing of God or the source of blessings
and whether we
love the gifts of God or God Himself will be manifested sooner or later.
3) Our
faith will be more precious than gold after trial (1Pet. 1:7).
4) We
have to live before God so that we are enabled to respond to the calling of God
at once.
Gen. 22:2 “Then He said
“Take now your son
your only son Isaac
whom you love
and go to
the
YLT:
“And
He saith
`Take
I pray thee
thy son
thine only one
whom thou hast loved
even Isaac
and go for thyself unto the land of Moriah
and cause him to ascend
there for a burnt-offering on one of the mountains of which I speak unto
thee.'”
Meaning
of Words: “Moriah”: God prepares
God looks upon; “offer”:
life up
raise; “burnt offering”: the rising offering;
The Background: “Moriah”
it was near
Literal
Meaning: “burnt offering”:
all the sacrifices should be burnt and the odour will be offered to God
so the
burnt offering is utterly offered to God. Here God asked Abraham to offer Isaac
as a burnt offering
which did not mean God whom we believe in is just like the
false god Moloch who asked men to give their seed to him (Lev. 20:1-5). The
real purpose of God is not slaying Isaac (see v.12)
but proving the faith of
Abraham in God.
“Take…
go… offer”
the three commanding words show that the detailed and precise
commands of God.
Spiritual
Meaning: this verse shows
“what to offer” and “how to offer”:
1. “Take now your son”
it is not offering something
else
but what God has given to us by promise.
2. “Your
only son Isaac”
what we have to offer is our
only hope.
3. “Whom
you love”
to offer what we are reluctant
to offer;
4. “And
go to the
5. “And
offer him there as a burnt offering”
offering means sacrificing our bodies to be a
living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1) and henceforth living to the Lord who died for us
and has been raised
not to ourselves (2Cor. 5:15).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) All spiritual experiences are based on “the word
of God”.
2) It
is the word of God rather than human words that counts.
3) If
we believers walk on the foundation of the word of God
we will be strengthened
and established. However
if we walk according to our feeling
we will be
unstable and powerless when we have no feeling.
4)
Before everything is offered to God
we are the “owner” of everything and have
the utter authority upon everything. However
once it is offered to God
it is
of God.
5) It
is God that rewards Isaac to Abraham
but now He comes to ask for Isaac back
through which God shows us whether we have love His gifts more than Himself
(John 21:15).
6) The
Lord does not ask for us what we do not love
but what we love. God takes what
we love most to prove His irreplaceable position in our hearts.
7) If
we love our parents or children more than the Lord
we are unworthy of the
Lord’s disciples (Matt. 10:37).
8) It
is all in vain if there is Isaac
but no God. Everything goes well if there is
God
but no Isaac. If we do not regard God as all
we will be unwilling to
offer my “Isaac”.
Gen. 22:3 “So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his
donkey
and took two of his young men with him
and Isaac his son; and he split
the wood for the burnt offering
and arose and went to the place of which God
had told him.”
YLT:
“And
Abraham riseth early in the morning
and saddleth his ass
and taketh two of
his young men with him
and Isaac his son
and he cleaveth the wood of the
burnt-offering
and riseth and goeth unto the place of which God hath spoken to
him.”
Literal
Meaning: concerning the
demand of the previous verse
Abraham did not doubt or argue for him
but kept
it silently. This is a precious point of him.
“Rose
early in the morning”
probably
Abraham was called to offer Isaac during the
night
so here it indicated his immediate obedience to the word of God. This
was also a manifest token of his pure faith in God.
“Saddled … took … split”
it showed that he had made complete
preparation.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Once believers have received the word of God
we
have to keep without any delay (Ps. 119:60). If we hesitate slightly or see the
environmental elements
our heart may be hardened.
2) To
the commandment of God
we can only obey without any hesitation instead of
arguing with God or taking counsel with flesh and blood (Gal. 1:15-16).
Otherwise
our service and testimony will suffer loss.
3)
When a man has clearly known the will of God
he needs immediate response
rather than prayer. Any prayer for the purpose of bargaining or delay is
disobedience.
4)
“Faith and obedience” are the secrets of Abraham’s victory. Faith is the source
of his obedience
and obedience is due to his faith in God (see v.8).
Gen. 22:4 “Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the
place afar off.”
YLT:
“On
the third day -- Abraham lifteth up his eyes
and seeth the place from afar;”
Literal
Meaning: “then on the
third day”
it indicated that they spend more than two days on the way
and this
was a kind of spiritual trial to Abraham.
Spiritual
Meaning: “then on the
third day”
after Abraham obeyed the word of God
he suffered by the pain of
“losing his beloved son” and got his beloved son three days later (see
v.12-13)
which typified the resurrection of the Lord Jesus after His
crucifixion (Matt. 16:21).
“Lifted his eyes
and saw the place afar off”
it typified that he had seen afar
off and was confident that God would make man raised from the dead (Heb.
11:19).
This verse also shows that those who
offer the sacrifice to God should have an insight of resurrection ---- yield
yourselves to God as alive from among dead (Rom. 6:13).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Faith is not out of impulsion
but shall undergo
the way of “three days” ---- such way requires a kind of enduring faith.
2) He
who has spiritual sight can always look into the distance of the purpose of God
---- press on towards the goal (Phil. 3:14).
Gen. 22:5 “And Abraham said to his young men
“Stay here with the
donkey; the lad and I will go
yonder and worship
and we will come back to you.””
YLT:
“and
Abraham saith unto his young men
`Remain by yourselves here with the ass
and
I and the youth go yonder and worship
and turn back unto you.'”
Literal
Meaning: Abraham believed
that God would make Isaac rise again after he was offered (Heb. 11:17-19).
Therefore
his words here were spoken in faith.
“Lad”:
a teenager. Isaac here might be at least in teens or even twenty or thirty
so
he could bear the wood of the burnt offering.
Spiritual
Meaning: “stay here with the donkey”
“servant” and “donkey” symbolize our
service works. When we offer ourselves to God
let us put aside the works of
service.
“The lad and
I will go yonder and worship”
let us worship with a pure
heart.
“And
we will come back to you”
such offering
will lead to better and purer service.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The purpose of our offering is to serve God (
2) The
offering finally makes us serve God in the newness of resurrection.
3)
Whatever may hinder our offering shall be reserved at that foot of the
mountain. If we take them
they will ultimately become our troubles.
4) The
object of worship is the Lord Himself. He who is really godly and loves the
Lord does not set his sight upon works
but upon the Lord.
Gen. 22:6 “So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the
fire in his hand
and a knife
and the two of them went together.”
YLT: “And
Abraham taketh the wood of the burnt-offering
and placeth on Isaac his son
and he taketh in his hand the fire
and the knife; and they go on both of them
together.”
Spiritual
Meaning: “took
the wood of the burnt offering and laid it
on Isaac his son”
it typified that Jesus Christ bore
the cross to
“Fire and a knife” symbolize the righteous judgment of God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Offering is not a trivial matter----- “knife”
shows that we have to cut off something when we offer us to God; “fire” shows
that something is burnt and removed in the offering.
2) “The two of them
went together”
it shows that
offering is not a unilateral action of believers
but an action in which God
also partakes ---- God initiates and man responds to Him and God perfects.
Gen. 22:7 “But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said
“My
father!” And he said
“Here I am
my son.” Then he said
“Look
the fire and
the wood
but where is the lamb
for a burnt offering?””
YLT:
“And
Isaac speaketh unto Abraham his father
and saith
`My father
' and he saith
`Here I
my son.' And he saith
`Lo
the fire and the wood
and where the lamb
for a burnt-offering?'”
Literal
Meaning: probably
Isaac at
this time had understood what would happen. The answer of Isaac was bound to
make Abraham suffered in heart.
Enlightenment
in the Word: offering must make
us painful in heart. The flippant offering that does not touch our heart may
also not touch God’s heart.
Gen. 22:8 “And Abraham said
“My son
God will provide for Himself the
lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.”
YLT:
“and
Abraham saith
`God doth provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt-offering
my
son;' and they go on both of them together.”
Meaning
of Words: “provide for Himself”: see Himself;
Literal
Meaning: “God
will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering”
Abraham prophesied in faith
for he
believed God would make Isaac raised again (Heb. 11:17-19). Therefore
what he
offered was what God had provided.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “God will provide for
Himself”
it is
the hope of believers who are in hopeless situations.
2) The
Lord Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:29). He died for all
then all died
and
He died for all that those who live no longer for themselves
but for Him who
died for them and rose again (2Cor. 5:14-15).
3) The
Lord Jesus is always with God the Father (John 16:32). Therefore
when we abide
in Christ
God is with us (Matt. 1:23).
Gen. 22:9 “Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And
Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac
his son and laid him on the altar
upon the wood.”
YLT:
“And
they come in unto the place of which God hath spoken to him
and there Abraham
buildeth the altar
and arrangeth the wood
and bindeth Isaac his son
and
placeth him upon the altar above the wood;”
Meaning
of Words: “bind”: bind the four limbs of the
sacrifice;
Literal
Meaning: “bound Isaac his
son”
at this time
Isaac was at least a teenager and was able to bear the wood
of the burnt offering (see v.6). And Abraham was an old man more than one
hundred and ten years. Therefore
Isaac did not struggle but was ready to be
bound by his elder father. There is also someone who infers that Isaac was more
than thirty years then
which was just the same age as that of the Lord Jesus
when He was crucified.
Spiritual
Meaning: Isaac did not
struggle or resist
who was just led as a lamb to the slaughter
and as a sheep
before its shearers is silent
so he opened not his mouth (Is. 53:7; Acts
8:32). Therefore
this verse typifies the Lord Jesus was obedient to the point
of death (Phil. 2:8).
This
verse also reveals us the example of offering:
1. “The
place of which God had told him”
it is a “right” position ---- the position of offering is not some work or
organization.
2. “Built an altar”
the altar typifies the
cross. Offering requires the knowledge and experience of the cross.
3. “Bound”
he who is offered will not be free
any more.
4. “Laid
him on the altar
upon the wood”
it shows that he commits himself to God and is willing to die for God and lives
to God henceforth.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Like father
like son! The father who obeys God
edifies the son who obeys the father.
2)
Even though many believers have the actions of offering
their places
(motivations) of offering are not right.
3) No
altar
no offering. In the six chapter of Romans
dying of the cross and living
with the Lord (
4) He
who is offered to God should have a clear account before God so that he shall
not repent again.
Gen. 22:10 “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to
slay his son.”
YLT:
“and
Abraham putteth forth his hand
and taketh the knife -- to slaughter his son.”
Literal
Meaning: “stretched
out his hand and took the knife”
it shows that Abraham did not pretend to offer Isaac
for he put it into
practice and took the final action.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Let us not walk in word or in tongue
but in
deed and in truth (1John 3:18).
2) It
is the one who offers that takes the knife ---- do not show compassion or pity
to ourselves.
Gen. 22:11 “But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said
“Abraham
Abraham!” So
he said
“Here I am.””
YLT:
“And
the messenger of Jehovah calleth unto him from the heavens
and saith
`Abraham
Abraham;' and he saith
`Here I;'”
Literal
Meaning: “the
Angel of the Lord”
it is God Himself
for in verse twelve He
said “you have not withheld your son from Me”. Therefore
here it is God that
speaks.
God
did not hinder Abraham until he stretched out his hand and took the knife
for
God knew that the hand that was courageous to take the knife would not hesitate
afterwards.
Enlightenment
in the Word: the deliverance and
help of God may come at the final moment.
Gen. 22:12 “And He said
“Do not lay your hand on the lad
or do
anything to him; for now I know that you fear God
since you have not withheld
your son
your only son
from
Me.””
YLT: “and
He saith
`Put not forth thine hand unto the youth
nor do anything to him
for
now I have known that thou art fearing God
and hast not withheld thy son
thine only one
from Me.'”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God does not want to see that we kill the
precious life given by Him
so believers should not commit suicide.
2) We
are free enough to have the desire to depart and be with the Lord. However
if
God allows us to remain in the flesh
it is still needful (Phil. 1:23-24).
3) The
purpose of God’s testing Abraham is whether he really “fears God” or fears to
sin against God. The attitude of believers’ living on the earth should be “in
deep fear of sinning against God”.
4) If
we really fear to be against God
we will not withhold anything for ourselves.
Whatever God asks for us
we will be willing to offer to Him.
5) If
man loves anything more than God
he does not fear God. If one withholds
something from God
he does not regard Him as God.
6) God
demands that He has utter priority over the life of those who are of Him. If we
fail to honor the absolute priority and authority of God over us
we have committed
idolatry.
7)
Many believers say they believe in God and fear God and serve God. In fact
they live for themselves.
8) The value of offering does not depend on what we
have offered
but on what we have remained. Even though we have offered 99.99%
it is still incomplete in the sight of God.
9) God cherishes the father’s bowel of Abraham
so
His test is enough. He will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we are
able (1Cor. 10:13).
Gen. 22:13 “Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked
and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by
its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram
and offered it up for a burnt
offering instead of his son.”
YLT:
“And
Abraham lifteth up his eyes
and looketh
and lo
a ram behind
seized in a
thicket by its horns; and Abraham goeth
and taketh the ram
and causeth it to
ascend for a burnt-offering instead of his son;”
Literal
Meaning: “there
behind him was a ram”
the horn of ram was long and curl
so the
ram was caught by the thicket and could not get free.
Spiritual
Meaning: “a ram” typifies
that the Lord Jesus is “the lamb of God”
who was sacrificed for the sins of
the world (John 1:29; 1John2:1-2).
“Caught in a
thicket by its horns”
“the horns of the
ram” typify the strong divinity and power of the Lord Jesus. “Caught…by its
horns”
it typifies that He was willing to be restricted in His humanity and
did not come down from the cross (Matt. 27:40)
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Offering apparently causes costs and losses
but
in fact it is a secret for believers to be supplied with the grace of God.
2)
Only those who are willing to stand on the position of offering will partake in
the full provision of God by grace.
Gen. 22:14 “And Abraham called the name of the place
The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day
“In the Mount of the Lord it shall be
provided.””
YLT: “and
Abraham calleth the name of that place `Jehovah-Jireh
' because it is said this
day in the mount
`Jehovah doth provide.'”
Meaning
of Words: “will provide”: foresee
prepare;
Literal
Meaning: “the-Lord-Will-Provide”
God Himself comes to be the provision of
man by grace.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “The-Lord-Will-Provide”
it is the word of the one who has ever
been the mountain of offering. Only those who have experienced offering are
able to bear the witness that “the-Lord-Will-Provide”.
2) It
is one thing of knowing that “the-Lord-Will-Provide” and another thing of experiencing and
seeing that “the-Lord-Will-Provide”. That “the-Lord-Will-Provide” is merely a doctrine. Only those who obey
God by faith will personally experiencing that “the-Lord-Will-Provide”.
3)
Abraham sees the ram God has provided for him in the real process of offering.
Only the one who is willing to offer himself to God will truly see the provision
of God in spirit.
4)
“The
5) The more we enjoy the provision of
God
the more clearly will we be enabled to see things of God.
Gen. 22:15 “Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of
heaven
”
YLT:
“And
the messenger of Jehovah calleth unto Abraham a second time from the heavens
”
Gen. 22:16 “and said: “By Myself I have sworn
says the Lord
because you have done this thing
and
have not withheld your son
your only son—”
YLT:
“and
saith
`By Myself I have sworn -- the affirmation of Jehovah -- that because
thou hast done this thing
and hast not withheld thy son
thine only one --”
Literal
Meaning: here it proves again
that “the Angel of Jehovah” (v.15) is “Jehovah” Himself.
Since
God could swear by no one greater
He swore by Himself (Heb. 6:13). And the
purpose of God’s swearing is to show more abundantly the immutability of His
counsel (Heb. 6:17).
Enlightenment
in the Word: the non-reservation offering of
believers most pleases God’s heart
which makes God even willing to be
restricted by His swearing and pour down His blessings.
Gen. 22:17 “blessing I will bless you
and multiplying I will multiply
your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your
descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.”
YLT:
“that blessing I bless thee
and multiplying I multiply thy seed as stars of
the heavens
and as sand which on the sea-shore; and thy seed doth possess the
gate of his enemies;”
Literal
Meaning: “possess the gate of
their enemies”
if the gate of the enemies is possessed
the whole city is
possessed.
Spiritual
Meaning: “the stars of the
heaven”: Christians who are justified by faith are descendants of Abraham
who
manifest the glory of the Lord and shine in the darkness and bear witness to
the Lord.
“The sand which is on the seashore”
the people of
“Shall possess
the gate of their enemies”
“gate” in the Bible refers to a kind of power. Here
it means: 1) the church
that is built will overcome the power of the Hades (Matt. 16:18); 2) If the
people of Israel turn to God
they will be delivered from the hand of their
enemies (Neh. 9:27).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God tests us to make us blessed
not suffer loss
(Deut. 8:16).
2) The
greatest blessing of God to man is that He has gifted His only beloved Son to
us.
3)
Abraham offered his only son Isaac
but he obtained numerous descendants.
Whoever offers his grain to God and lets the grains fall into the ground and
die will receive countless grains in resurrection (John 12:24).
4)
Only those who have offered them to God have the right and position to deal
with the enemies.
Gen. 22:18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed
because you have obeyed My voice.”
YLT:
“and
blessed themselves in thy seed have all nations of the earth
because that thou
hast hearkened to My voice.'”
Literal
Meaning: “your seed”
the
word seed is in the singular
which refers to one man
namely
Jesus Christ
(Gal. 3:16). In Christ all the nation shall be blessed.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Offering means “God speaks and man obeys”.
2) He
who keeps the word of God pleases God and begets godly descendants
who makes
not only himself but also all the nations blessed.
Gen. 22:19 “So Abraham returned to his young men
and they rose and
went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.”
YLT: “And
Abraham turneth back unto his young men
and they rise and go together unto
Beer-Sheba; and Abraham dwelleth in Beer-Sheba.”
Gen. 22:20 “Now it came to pass after these things that it was told
Abraham
saying
“Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor:”
YLT: “And
it cometh to pass after these things that it is declared to Abraham
saying
`Lo
Milcah hath borne
even she
sons to Nahor thy brother:”
Meaning
of Words: “Milcah”: queen
counsel; “Nahor”: deep sleep;
Gen. 22:21 “Huz his firstborn
Buz his brother
Kemuel the father of
Aram.””
YLT:
“Huz
his first-born
and Buz his brother; and Kemuel father of Aram
”
Meaning
of Words: “Huz”: stable
fat; “Buz”: despise; “Aram”: high land; “Kemuel”: the assembly of God;
Gen. 22:22 “Chesed
Hazo
Pildash
Jidlaph
and Bethuel”
YLT:
“and Chesed
and Hazo
and Pildash
and Jidlaph
and Bethuel;”
Meaning
of Words: “Chesed”: as a man out of dust
he who augurs; “Hazo”: vision; “Pildash”: fire; “Jidlaph”: weep; “Bethuel”: dwelling-place of God
God seperates;
Literal
Meaning: from verse twenty to
twenty-four
the genealogy of Nahor is recorded
which is a hint of chapter
twenty-four that Isaac would marry Rebekah. The theme of Genesis chapter
twenty-two is “God provides”. Therefore
this genealogy shows that God prepares
the wife of Isaac
Rebekah. That is to say
God has prepared the mother of His
elect.
Enlightenment
in the Word: Rebekah typifies
the church ---- the bride God has prepared for His Son.
Gen. 22:23 “And Bethuel begot Rebekah.[c] These
eight Milcah bore to Nahor
Abraham’s brother.”
YLT:
“and
Bethuel hath begotten Rebekah;' these eight hath Milcah borne to Nahor
Abraham's brother;”
Gen. 22:24 “His concubine
whose name was Reumah
also bore Tebah
Gaham
Thahash
and Maachah.”
YLT:
“and
his concubine
whose name Reumah
she also hath borne Tebah
and Gaham
and
Tahash
and Maachah.”
Meaning
of Words: “Reumah”: high; “Tebah”: slaughterer; “Gaham”: burn
flame
brown; “Thahash”: red
badger; “Maachah”: oppress;
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Types of Abraham and Isaac
A. Abraham typifies God the Father:
1. Not withhold his son (v.2
12
16; Rom.
8:32);
2. His only son (v.2
12
16; John 3:16);
3. His beloved son (v.2; Matt. 3:17)
B. Isaac typifies Jesus Christ:
1. He bore the wood of the
burnt offering ---- bear his cross (v.6; John 19:7);
2. Let his father bind him ---- be
willing to give his life (v.9; John 10:18);
3. Be put on the altar ---- obey to
the point of death (v.9-10; Phil. 2:8);
4. As if he was raised even from
the dead on the third day ---- rise on the third day (v.4
12; Heb. 11:19; Luke
24:7);
The Degree of Abraham’s Obedience to God
(v.3)
A. Do not reason with God;
B. Do not defend for himself;
C. Do not entreat a favor of Isaac;
D. Do not consult with Sarah;
E. Act immediately in the morning;
Preparations of God
A. Isaac---- the sacrifice God has prepared
(v.2);
B. Moriah ---- the place God has prepared (v.2);
C. Abraham
---- look upon the
preparation of God by faith (v.4-8);
D. The-Lord-Will-Provide ----experience the provision of God
(v.13-14);
E. Promise of great blessings ---- obtain the
blessings God has prepared (v.15-18);
F. Rebekah ---- the bride God had prepared ----
through whom God’s promise is fulfilled (v.22);
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou