Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
The promise meant that Abraham's seed would be reckoned through Isaac, the son of promise, and not through Ishmael, making him the line through which Abraham would become a great nation. The command to offer Isaac on Moriah seemed to contradict that word, yet Abraham did not abandon it or shift it to Ishmael but obeyed without questioning, believing God meant exactly what He said. He trusted that the God who gave Isaac in old age and sees the end from the beginning could raise him from the dead to fulfill the promise, and having truly made the sacrifice in his heart, his faith was counted for righteousness. Isaac was a figure of the Son of God offered for the sins of the world, and Abraham's own agony taught him the unutterable self-denial of God in giving His Son to rescue humanity from ruin. With this great difference, Isaac was spared by an angel at the last moment while God gave His own Son to humiliation and crucifixion with no deliverance, and Abraham's trusting obedience with Isaac's willing submission stands as the pattern of faith that strengthens believers to submit to God and keep every command.
Promise and Test of Faith
The promise was that Abraham's seed would be called in Isaac, the son of promise through whom his descendants would be reckoned. Through Isaac, and not through Ishmael, he was to become a great nation, for Isaac was the only son through whom the promised line would be fulfilled. The command to take Isaac to Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering seemed to stand directly against that word, and for that reason it was a severe test of trust in what God had said.
Abraham did not let go of the word spoken about Isaac nor transfer the promise to Ishmael when the command came. He obeyed without questioning, holding that God meant exactly what He said both in the promise concerning Isaac and in the command to offer him as a burnt offering.
He reasoned that God could still keep the promise even if Isaac died, because the same God who had given Isaac to Sarah in her old age could give him life again. Since God sees the end from the beginning, Abraham trusted Him to raise Isaac from the dead in order to fulfill what had been promised. In his heart he had truly made the sacrifice already, and that complete faith was counted to him for righteousness.
Type of Christ's Sacrifice
Isaac was the promised son through whom the seed was to be called, and in that place he stood as a figure of the Son of God who would be offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. The command to slay him was given to test Abraham's faith and to make the gospel of salvation a living reality to him, impressing the plan of redemption for fallen humanity deeply upon his understanding. Abraham's own sorrow and agony in obeying taught him by experience how unutterable was the self-denial of the infinite God in giving His own Son to die to rescue humanity from utter ruin.
The likeness holds with one great difference. Isaac was spared at the last moment when an angel intervened, while God gave His own Son to humiliation and reproach and to the agonizing death of crucifixion with no angel sent to say He need not die. Though legions of angels waited sorrowfully, hoping to prevent His shameful death, they were not permitted to deliver Him.
Example for Believers Today
Hebrews 11:18 belongs to the chapter on faith, which turns the mind from visible and discouraging things to unseen realities and to seeking a better country, the heavenly city built by God. It stands in the great cloud of witnesses that compasses believers, holding up one who breasted the evils and difficulties in his way and in the name of the Lord braced himself successfully against the opposing forces of evil, sustained and strengthened and held by the Lord's hand. That witness urges laying aside the weights of evil habits and practices formed by following natural dispositions and running with patience the race set before them.
The record of faith in God's servants of old shows a faith that can work in believers now and strengthen them for service. God works through faithful hearts as channels of His power, and the same faith that worked in them can work in us. Examples of faithfulness make faith visible and lead others to glorify Him.
Abraham's faith in obeying the command concerning Isaac is a pattern of trusting obedience. It teaches confidence in God's requirements even when they are painful, submission to God, and willing meeting of His requirements. It teaches keeping every command, since to disregard even one makes a transgressor, and that nothing is too precious to give to God. The promise that descendants would be reckoned through Isaac made Isaac the son of promise and the line through which God's word would be fulfilled, so the command to offer him was an especially severe test of faith. Abraham obeyed, trusting God to fulfill the promise even if Isaac had to die, believing He could raise him from the dead, and Isaac willingly submitted to the sacrifice, confident in God's promises and requirements. That willing submission, like Abraham's obedience, is a model of confidence in God and submission to parents and to God, placing Isaac among the ancient worthies commended for faith and firm principle whose lives serve as patterns for Christians.
Abraham's faith was complete, for in obeying he had in heart truly offered Isaac, trusting the God who sees the end from the beginning. That faith was counted to him for righteousness. His experience stands as an example meant to give strength and courage and faith in God.
The promise meant that Abraham's seed would be reckoned through Isaac, the son of promise, and not through Ishmael, making him the line through which Abraham would become a great nation. The command to offer Isaac on Moriah seemed to contradict that word, yet Abraham did not abandon it or shift it to Ishmael but obeyed without questioning, believing God meant exactly what He said. He trusted that the God who gave Isaac in old age and sees the end from the beginning could raise him from the dead to fulfill the promise, and having truly made the sacrifice in his heart, his faith was counted for righteousness. Isaac was a figure of the Son of God offered for the sins of the world, and Abraham's own agony taught him the unutterable self-denial of God in giving His Son to rescue humanity from ruin. With this great difference, Isaac was spared by an angel at the last moment while God gave His own Son to humiliation and crucifixion with no deliverance, and Abraham's trusting obedience with Isaac's willing submission stands as the pattern of faith that strengthens believers to submit to God and keep every command.
Promise and Test of Faith
The promise was that Abraham's seed would be called in Isaac, the son of promise through whom his descendants would be reckoned. Through Isaac, and not through Ishmael, he was to become a great nation, for Isaac was the only son through whom the promised line would be fulfilled. The command to take Isaac to Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering seemed to stand directly against that word, and for that reason it was a severe test of trust in what God had said.
Abraham did not let go of the word spoken about Isaac nor transfer the promise to Ishmael when the command came. He obeyed without questioning, holding that God meant exactly what He said both in the promise concerning Isaac and in the command to offer him as a burnt offering.
He reasoned that God could still keep the promise even if Isaac died, because the same God who had given Isaac to Sarah in her old age could give him life again. Since God sees the end from the beginning, Abraham trusted Him to raise Isaac from the dead in order to fulfill what had been promised. In his heart he had truly made the sacrifice already, and that complete faith was counted to him for righteousness.
Type of Christ's Sacrifice
Isaac was the promised son through whom the seed was to be called, and in that place he stood as a figure of the Son of God who would be offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. The command to slay him was given to test Abraham's faith and to make the gospel of salvation a living reality to him, impressing the plan of redemption for fallen humanity deeply upon his understanding. Abraham's own sorrow and agony in obeying taught him by experience how unutterable was the self-denial of the infinite God in giving His own Son to die to rescue humanity from utter ruin.
The likeness holds with one great difference. Isaac was spared at the last moment when an angel intervened, while God gave His own Son to humiliation and reproach and to the agonizing death of crucifixion with no angel sent to say He need not die. Though legions of angels waited sorrowfully, hoping to prevent His shameful death, they were not permitted to deliver Him.
Example for Believers Today
Hebrews 11:18 belongs to the chapter on faith, which turns the mind from visible and discouraging things to unseen realities and to seeking a better country, the heavenly city built by God. It stands in the great cloud of witnesses that compasses believers, holding up one who breasted the evils and difficulties in his way and in the name of the Lord braced himself successfully against the opposing forces of evil, sustained and strengthened and held by the Lord's hand. That witness urges laying aside the weights of evil habits and practices formed by following natural dispositions and running with patience the race set before them.
The record of faith in God's servants of old shows a faith that can work in believers now and strengthen them for service. God works through faithful hearts as channels of His power, and the same faith that worked in them can work in us. Examples of faithfulness make faith visible and lead others to glorify Him.
Abraham's faith in obeying the command concerning Isaac is a pattern of trusting obedience. It teaches confidence in God's requirements even when they are painful, submission to God, and willing meeting of His requirements. It teaches keeping every command, since to disregard even one makes a transgressor, and that nothing is too precious to give to God. The promise that descendants would be reckoned through Isaac made Isaac the son of promise and the line through which God's word would be fulfilled, so the command to offer him was an especially severe test of faith. Abraham obeyed, trusting God to fulfill the promise even if Isaac had to die, believing He could raise him from the dead, and Isaac willingly submitted to the sacrifice, confident in God's promises and requirements. That willing submission, like Abraham's obedience, is a model of confidence in God and submission to parents and to God, placing Isaac among the ancient worthies commended for faith and firm principle whose lives serve as patterns for Christians.
Abraham's faith was complete, for in obeying he had in heart truly offered Isaac, trusting the God who sees the end from the beginning. That faith was counted to him for righteousness. His experience stands as an example meant to give strength and courage and faith in God.