N THE sacrifice of Isaac Abraham obeyed the commandment
OBEDIENCE
1. ABRAHAM'S OBEDIENCE
N THE sacrifice of Isaac Abraham obeyed the commandment [« God. His obedience was graciously accepted, but that was not all. Here (Gen. xxii. 18f.) we have it recompensed, abundantly recompensed, before he stirred from the place. Probably, while the ram he had sacrificed was yet burning,
God sent him this gracious message, renewed and ratified His covenant with him. All covenants were made by sacrifice, so was this by the typical sacrifices of Isaac and the ram. Very high expressions here are of God's favour to Abraham in this confirmation of the covenant with him, above any he had yet been blessed with. Extraordinary services shall be crowned with honours and extraordinary comforts. Favours in the promise, though not yet performed, ought to be accounted real and valuable recompenses.
God is pleased to make mention of Abraham's obedience as the consideration of the covenant; and he speaks of it with an encomium (verse 1): '"'Because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son. . ." He lays a mighty emphasis upon that, and (verse 18) praises it as an act of obedience. In it ''thou hast obeyed my voice'. To obey is better than sacrifice. Not that this was a proportionable consideration; but God graciously put this honour upon that by which Abraham had honoured God.
Ever afterwards the obedience of Abraham shall be remembered in connection with God's promises and covenant relations with His people. It was by the conduct of Abraham that God sought to encourage Isaac.
He recommended to him the good example of his father's obedience, as that which had preserved the entail of the covenant in his family (verse 5): "Abraham obeyed my voice, do thou do so too, and the promise shall be sure to thee.'"' Abraham's obedience is here celebrated to his honour; for by it he obtained a good report both with God and men. A great variety