Genesis 22:1-19 - Exposition

Mount Moriah, or the mount of sacrifice.

I. ABRAHAM 'S TRIAL .

1. Divine in its origin . However explained, the appalling ordeal through which the patriarch at this time passed was expressly created for him by Elohim. Only he who made the human heart can adequately search it; and he alone who has a perfect understanding of the standard of moral excellence can pronounce upon the intrinsic worth of his creatures.

2. Unexpected in its coming . After all that had preceded, it might have been anticipated that not only were the patriarch's trials over, but that the need for such discipline in his case no longer existed. It shows that neither length of years nor ripeness of grace, neither conscious enjoyment of Divine favor nor previous experience of suffering, can exempt from trial or place beyond the need of testing; and that mostly "temptations" come at unexpected times, and in unlooked for ways.

3. Severe in its form . Trials to be efficient must be graduated to the strength of those they design to test Only a temptation of great force could be of service in the case of moral heroism like Abraham's. The intensity of the strain put upon his soul by the astounding order to make a holocaust of Isaac simply baffles description. Even on the supposition that Abraham was not unfamiliar with the practice of offering human victims, as it prevailed among the Canaanites and early Chaldeans, painful doubt must have insinuated itself into his mind

4. Needful in its design . The great covenant blessing was still- conditioned on the exercise by the patriarch of full-hearted trust in the naked word of God. Not until that standpoint had been reached by Abraham in his spiritual development was he able to become the parent of Isaac; and now that Isaac was born there was still the danger lest Isaac, and not the naked word of God, should be the ground of the patriarch's confidence. Hence the necessity arose for testing whether Abraham could resign Isaac and yet cling to the promise.

II. ABRAHAM 'S VICTORY .

1. The splendor of it. The tremendous act of self-immolation was performed not without pain, else Abraham must have been either more or less than human, but

2. The secret of it. This was faith. He accounted that, though Isaac should be slain, God was able to raise him up again from the dead. Hence, though prepared to plunge the knife into his son's breast, and to reduce his beloved form to ashes, he "staggered not at the promise."

III. ABRAHAM 'S REWARD .

1. The deliverance of Isaac .

2. The confirmation of the blessing .

Lessons :—

1. The certainty of trial.

2. The omnipotence of faith.

3. The blessedness of obedience.

HOMILIES BY F. HASTINGS