Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Abraham concluded while preparing to offer Isaac that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, and when Isaac was spared and a ram was offered in his place, receiving him back alive was like receiving him back from death. He reasoned this way because Isaac was the child of miracle given to Sarah in old age by power that could restore life, and because he held to the promise that in Isaac his seed would be called into a numberless multitude and great nation, which could not be fulfilled through Ishmael. Though the command seemed terrible and contrary to the promise and he had three days on the way to Moriah to doubt, he did not murmur, question, hesitate or complain, but obeyed with implicit trust strengthened by dwelling on God's goodness and faithfulness. Isaac's near-sacrifice was a figure of God's Son offered for the sins of the world, impressing on Abraham the cost of redemption, yet unlike Isaac who was spared, Christ was not spared but endured suffering and crucifixion. His trust was counted to him for righteousness and stands among the heroes of faith as a cloud of witnesses, calling believers to trust God through severe trials and mysterious providences with patient obedience, confident that God sees the end from the beginning and still works with power through faithful hearts.
Abraham's Faith at Moriah
Accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead means Abraham concluded while preparing to offer Isaac that God could bring his son back to life from death. He obeyed because he trusted that power to restore Isaac even as the knife was lifted.
He reasoned this way because Isaac had been unexpectedly given as the child of miracle, and the same power that gave life to Sarah's son in her old age could restore that life again. He who had bestowed the precious gift had a right to recall His own. He told Isaac of this hope when he laid him on the altar.
He held fast to the promise that in Isaac his seed would be called, a seed numberless as grains of sand upon the shore. That promise still required Isaac to live and have descendants and to become a great nation, looking beyond what was seen to grasp the divine word with faith. He did not distrust God or reason that the promise could be fulfilled through Ishmael, for Isaac was the only son of promise, and he staggered not at the promise.
Though he had three days on the journey to Moriah to reason and doubt, he did not murmur, question God's justice, hesitate, or complain. Though the command seemed terrible and appeared to conflict with the promises about Isaac, and though he believed God meant literally what He said to offer him as a burnt offering, his trust was implicit and his obedience without complaint. He strengthened his soul by dwelling on evidences of the Lord's goodness and faithfulness.
From whence also he received him in a figure means that because Abraham had truly given Isaac up in his heart and made the sacrifice in his heart, receiving him back alive and spared was like receiving him back from death. When God stopped the sacrifice and a ram was offered in his place, Isaac spared from death was restored as though from the dead. His trust that God could do this was counted to him for righteousness.
Isaac as Figure of Christ
Isaac's being offered and then restored alive stands as a figure of God's Son offered for the sins of the world. The anguish Abraham felt in giving up his son impressed upon his own mind the plan of redemption. It taught him the self-denial God Himself would show in giving His Son to die to rescue humanity and save mankind.
The parallel holds a decisive contrast, for Isaac was spared death while Christ was not. Christ endured humiliation and suffering and the crucifixion itself.
Isaac was not a small child but a full-grown young man when this occurred. He willingly submitted because he trusted his father and believed Abraham was obeying God. In that submission his own faith was tested together with Abraham's.
Faith's Example for Believers
Hebrews 11:19 belongs to the account of the heroes of faith, including Isaac, whose faith is held up as an example for Christians, for Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead and in receiving him back in a figure showed faith in God's power. It stands in the record of the faith of God's servants in sacred history and in the cloud of witnesses who met evils and difficulties in their way and in the Lord's name stood successfully against opposing forces of evil, sustained and strengthened with the Lord holding them by His hand. Their fidelity to God and obedience made their faith visible as an example, leading others to glorify God.
The chapter on faith in which it stands calls believers to turn their minds from discouraging things that are seen to things that are unseen and to seek a better country, the heavenly city built by God. Abraham's obedience in trusting that God could raise Isaac from the dead teaches confidence in God's requirements even when they are painful, and shows that nothing is too precious to give to God. His willingness to sacrifice his son rested on confidence in God's power and promise even though the command seemed to conflict with the promise that Isaac would carry his descendants, and when God stopped the sacrifice Abraham received Isaac back as though from the dead. Their example, in which Abraham's faith and Isaac's submission were both tested, shows that God's gifts belong to Him and that confidence in His word leads to obedience.
That same faith can work in believers now, helping them trust God through trials and mysterious providences and preparing them for service. Abraham had made the sacrifice in his heart, trusting God even though Isaac would die, and this faith was counted to him for righteousness and teaches believers to trust God through severe trials, confident that God sees the end from the beginning and is their best friend. His faith is an example of patient, humble obedience to God even under a severe test, and God works with no less power wherever faithful hearts serve as channels of His power. Their lives were brought before the world so their light could guide people in darkness, and their fidelity made them examples that lead others to glorify God.
Abraham concluded while preparing to offer Isaac that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, and when Isaac was spared and a ram was offered in his place, receiving him back alive was like receiving him back from death.
He reasoned this way because Isaac was the child of miracle given to Sarah in old age by power that could restore life, and because he held to the promise that in Isaac his seed would be called into a numberless multitude and great nation, which could not be fulfilled through Ishmael.
Though the command seemed terrible and contrary to the promise and he had three days on the way to Moriah to doubt, he did not murmur, question, hesitate or complain, but obeyed with implicit trust strengthened by dwelling on God's goodness and faithfulness.
Isaac's near-sacrifice was a figure of God's Son offered for the sins of the world, impressing on Abraham the cost of redemption, yet unlike Isaac who was spared, Christ was not spared but endured suffering and crucifixion.
His trust was counted to him for righteousness and stands among the heroes of faith as a cloud of witnesses, calling believers to trust God through severe trials and mysterious providences with patient obedience, confident that God sees the end from the beginning and still works with power through faithful hearts.
Abraham's Faith at Moriah
Accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead means Abraham concluded while preparing to offer Isaac that God could bring his son back to life from death. He obeyed because he trusted that power to restore Isaac even as the knife was lifted.
He reasoned this way because Isaac had been unexpectedly given as the child of miracle, and the same power that gave life to Sarah's son in her old age could restore that life again. He who had bestowed the precious gift had a right to recall His own. He told Isaac of this hope when he laid him on the altar.
He held fast to the promise that in Isaac his seed would be called, a seed numberless as grains of sand upon the shore. That promise still required Isaac to live and have descendants and to become a great nation, looking beyond what was seen to grasp the divine word with faith. He did not distrust God or reason that the promise could be fulfilled through Ishmael, for Isaac was the only son of promise, and he staggered not at the promise.
Though he had three days on the journey to Moriah to reason and doubt, he did not murmur, question God's justice, hesitate, or complain. Though the command seemed terrible and appeared to conflict with the promises about Isaac, and though he believed God meant literally what He said to offer him as a burnt offering, his trust was implicit and his obedience without complaint. He strengthened his soul by dwelling on evidences of the Lord's goodness and faithfulness.
From whence also he received him in a figure means that because Abraham had truly given Isaac up in his heart and made the sacrifice in his heart, receiving him back alive and spared was like receiving him back from death. When God stopped the sacrifice and a ram was offered in his place, Isaac spared from death was restored as though from the dead. His trust that God could do this was counted to him for righteousness.
Isaac as Figure of Christ
Isaac's being offered and then restored alive stands as a figure of God's Son offered for the sins of the world. The anguish Abraham felt in giving up his son impressed upon his own mind the plan of redemption. It taught him the self-denial God Himself would show in giving His Son to die to rescue humanity and save mankind.
The parallel holds a decisive contrast, for Isaac was spared death while Christ was not. Christ endured humiliation and suffering and the crucifixion itself.
Isaac was not a small child but a full-grown young man when this occurred. He willingly submitted because he trusted his father and believed Abraham was obeying God. In that submission his own faith was tested together with Abraham's.
Faith's Example for Believers
Hebrews 11:19 belongs to the account of the heroes of faith, including Isaac, whose faith is held up as an example for Christians, for Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead and in receiving him back in a figure showed faith in God's power. It stands in the record of the faith of God's servants in sacred history and in the cloud of witnesses who met evils and difficulties in their way and in the Lord's name stood successfully against opposing forces of evil, sustained and strengthened with the Lord holding them by His hand. Their fidelity to God and obedience made their faith visible as an example, leading others to glorify God.
The chapter on faith in which it stands calls believers to turn their minds from discouraging things that are seen to things that are unseen and to seek a better country, the heavenly city built by God. Abraham's obedience in trusting that God could raise Isaac from the dead teaches confidence in God's requirements even when they are painful, and shows that nothing is too precious to give to God. His willingness to sacrifice his son rested on confidence in God's power and promise even though the command seemed to conflict with the promise that Isaac would carry his descendants, and when God stopped the sacrifice Abraham received Isaac back as though from the dead. Their example, in which Abraham's faith and Isaac's submission were both tested, shows that God's gifts belong to Him and that confidence in His word leads to obedience.
That same faith can work in believers now, helping them trust God through trials and mysterious providences and preparing them for service. Abraham had made the sacrifice in his heart, trusting God even though Isaac would die, and this faith was counted to him for righteousness and teaches believers to trust God through severe trials, confident that God sees the end from the beginning and is their best friend. His faith is an example of patient, humble obedience to God even under a severe test, and God works with no less power wherever faithful hearts serve as channels of His power. Their lives were brought before the world so their light could guide people in darkness, and their fidelity made them examples that lead others to glorify God.