Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/141

Rh calls him Isaac, Laughter; because Abraham rejoiced in spirit, when this son was promised him. Note, If God's promises be our joy, his mercies promised shall in due time be our exceeding joy. Christ will be Laughter to them that look for him; they that now rejoice in hope, shall shortly rejoice in having that which they hope for: this is laughter that is not mad. (3.) He entails the covenant upon that child; I will establish my covenant with him. Note, God takes whom he pleases into covenant with himself, according to the good pleasure of his will: see Rom. 9. 8, 18. Thus was the covenant settled between God and Abraham, with its several limitations and remainders, and then the covenant ended; God left off talking with him, and the vision disappeared, God went up from Abraham. Note, Our communion with God here is broken and interrupted; in heaven it will be a continual and everlasting feast.

23. And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their fore-skin in the self-same day, as God had said unto him. 24. And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his fore-skin. 25. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his fore-skin. 26. In the self-same day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. 27. And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.

We have here Abraham's obedience to the law of circumcision; he himself, and all his family, were circumcised; so receiving the token of the covenant, and distinguishing themselves from other families that had no part nor lot in the matter. 1. It was an implicit obedience; he did as God said unto him, and did not ask why or wherefore. God's will was not only a law to him, but a reason; he did it, because God bid him. 2. It was a speedy obedience; in the self-same day, v. 23, 26. Sincere obedience is not dilatory, Ps. 119. 60. While the command is yet sounding in our ears, and the sense of duty is fresh, it is good to apply ourselves to it immediately, lest we deceive ourselves by putting it off to a more convenient season. 3. It was an universal obedience; he did not circumcise his family, and excuse himself, but set them an example; nor did he take the comfort of the seal of the covenant to himself only, but desired that all might share with him in it: this is a good example to masters of families; they and their houses must serve the Lord. Though God's covenant was not established with Ishmael, yet he was circumcised; for children of believing parents, as such, have a right to the privileges of the visible church, and the seals of the covenant, whatever they may prove afterward; Ishmael is blessed, and therefore circumcised. 4. Abraham did this, though much might be objected against it: though circumcision was painful, though to grown men it was shameful; though, while they were sore and unfit for action, their enemies might take advantage against them, as Simeon and Levi did against the Shechemites; though Abraham was 99 years old, and had been justified and accepted of God long since; though so strange a thing done religiously, might be turned to his reproach by the Canaanite and the Perizzite that dwelt then in the land; yet God's command was sufficient to answer these, and a thousand such objections; what God requires, we must do, not conferring with flesh and blood.

CHAP. XVIII. We have an account in this chapter of another interview between God and Abraham, probably, within a few days after the former, as a reward of his cheerful obedience to the law of circumcision. Here is, I. The kind visit, which God made him, and the kind entertainment which he gave to that visit, v. 1..8. II. The matters discoursed of between them. 1. The purposes of God's love concerning Sarah, v. 9..15. 2. The purposes of God's wrath concerning Sodom. (1.) The discovery God made to Abraham of his design to destroy Sodom, v. 16. .22. (2.) The intercession Abraham made for Sodom, v. 23..33.

ND the appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent-door in the heat of the day; 2. And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent-door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 3. And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: 4. Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: 5. And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that, ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. 6. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said. Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. 7. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. 8. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

This appearance of God to Abraham seems to have had in it more of freedom and familiarity, and less of grandeur and majesty, than those we have hitherto read of; and therefore more resembles that great visit, which, in the fulness of time, the Son of God was to make to the world; when the Word would be made flesh, and appear as one of us. Observe here,

I. How Abraham expected strangers, and how richly his expectations were answered, v. 1, He sat in the tent-door, in the heat of the day; not so much to repose or divert himself, as to seek an opportunity of doing good, by giving entertainment to strangers and travellers, there being perhaps no inns to accommodate them. Note, 1. We are likely to have the most comfort of those good works that we are most free and forward to. 2. God graciously visits those in whom he has first raised the expectation of him, and manifests himself to those that wait for him. When Abraham was thus sitting, he saw three men coming toward him. These three men were three spiritual heavenly beings, now assuming human bodies, that they might be visible to Abraham, and conversable with him. Some think that they were all created angels, others, that one of