Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/110

 commands him  to  sacrifice  that  son  through  whom  alone  he  could  have any descendants  1 Was  not  this  an  apparent  contradiction ? Nevertheless, Abraham’s faith  in  the  word  of  the  Lord  was  unshaken,  and  he  doubted neither the  goodness  nor  the  faithfulness  of  God. He did  not  murmur and say:  '‘How  can  God  ask  of  me  such  a hard  and  unnatural  sacrifice? How can  His  promises  possibly  be  fulfilled,  if  my  only  son  is slain  r”  No,  on  the  contrary,  he  said  to  himself:  “God  is  good,  faithful and true:  His  promise  will  surely  be  fulfilled,  though  how,  or  in  what way, I know  not! God is  almighty:  He  is  able  to  raise  up  Isaac  even from the  dead”  (Hebr.  11,  19). Abraham believed  so  firmly  that  he is  called  a man  of  faith,  and  the  father  of  the  faithful. His example ought to  lead  us  to  believe  firmly  in  God’s  word,  and  trust  in  His goodness and  faithfulness,  whatever  our  temptations  and  trials  may  be.

The love  of  God  above  all  things.  Abraham  had  a living  faith, that is,  he  lived  up  to  his  faith,  and  consequently  loved  God  above all things. His love  of  God  had  to  stand  a very  severe  test. He dearly loved the  son  whom  God  had  given  him,  and  the  command  which  Almighty God  gave  him  to  sacrifice  this  son,  was  given  to  prove  whether he loved  God  more  than  his  son. Abraham, however,  did  not  hesitate for an  instant. He got  up  at  once  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  and made his  preparations  for  the  required  sacrifice. He had  interceded for the  wicked  cities,  but  he  had  no  word  to  say  for  his  son. He travelled along  with  the  boy  for  three  long  days,  and  his  heart  must have sorely  ached,  as  he  looked  upon  Isaac  and  said  to  himself:  “Very soon you  will  no  longer  be  among  the  living,  for  you  will  have  died by the  hand  of  your  own  father!”  However,  his  resolution  never  failed. He lifted  up  his  heart  to  God  and  said:  “Thou,  O God,  didst  give me this  son. Thou hast  bidden  me  sacrifice  him  to  Thee. So be  it! Thy holy  will  be  done! For love  of  Thee  I will  sacrifice  him,  however hard  it  be  to  me!”  — Thus,  during  those  three  days’  journey  he offered  up  his  son  a thousand  times  on  the  altar. of his  heart,  before he actually  bound  him  and  laid  him  as  a victim  upon  the  wood,  and raised his  hand  to  slay  him. What great,  what  mighty  love! Isaac was dearer to  him  than  anything  on  earth,  and  on  him  he  had  set  all  his hopes; but  he  loved  God  more  than  he  loved  Isaac,  and  for  love  of Him  he  offered  up  his  son. He proved  that  he  loved  God  above all things.

The object  of  trials.  Why  did  God  try  Abraham ? Was this  trial necessary to  show  Him  Abraham’s  dispositions? Did He  not  know beforehand that  Abraham’s  faith  was  firm,  and  that  he  was  quite  ready to sacrifice  his  son  for  love  of  Him? Yes; God  knew  all  this,  because He is  omniscient,  and  for  Him,  therefore,  the  test  was  not  necessary: He need  never  prove  men  in  order  to  discover  their  faith,  obedience  &amp;c. Almighty God  did  not  prove  Abraham  for  His  own  sake  but  for  Abraham’s, in  order  to  give  him  the  opportunity  of  practising  his  virtues of faith,  love  &amp;c.,  and  of  thus  increasing  his  merits,  and  drawing  down