Gideon |
Chapter 88 |
11-24-13
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(Gen 22:1-3) And
it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt [Heb:
test: prove] Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said,
Behold, here I am [please note Abraham’s immediate response of
“readiness to obey”]. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son
Isaac [Heb: laughter (mockery)], whom thou lovest, and
get thee into the land of Moriah [Heb: seen of Jah]; and offer him
there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell
thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and
saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and
Isaac his son, and clave [Heb: to break forth into pieces] the
wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the
place of which God had told him.
1.
Commentary: “God did tempt Abraham” = to “test” one is to confirm
or disaffirm one’s achievement or assimilation of certain previously set forth
standards; whereas, to “prove” one is to “test” with the addition of
notable affliction, as illustrated by “proving” a sword in
fire and water (analogous to the water baptism image of a human sword), an item
which, figuratively speaking, we each are, i.e., the Lord’s sword. “The
sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.” (Judg 7:18,20). Was Abraham being
“tested,” or was Abraham being “proven,” or both?
2.
Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: “Moriah” = The Jews believe the altar of
burnt offering in the temple at Jerusalem was situated on the exact site of the
altar on which Abraham intended to sacrifice Isaac. The Muslim mosque, the
Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, presently is situated on this site.
3.
Commentary: The “mountains” of Israel run in size from hills up to moderate
mountains. Jerusalem is situated upon three “moderate mountains,” Moriah,
Ophel, and Zion.
(Gen 22:4-6) Then
on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the
place afar off [Mount Moriah]. And Abraham said unto his young
men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and
worship, and come again to you [a type and shadow of “coming
again” together in the clouds]. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt
offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and
a knife; and they went both of them together [illustrating
“unity”].
1.
(Hosea
6:1-3) Come, and let us return
unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and
he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us [Heb:
restore us to life]: in the third day he will raise us up, and
we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know
the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as
the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
a.
(2 Pet
3:8) But, beloved, be not ignorant
of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years,
and a thousand years as one day.
2.
(Job
37:21) And now men see not
the bright light which is in the clouds [like a lamp in the
Bible]: but the wind [another symbol of the Holy Spirit] passeth,
and cleanseth them.
(Gen
22:7,8) And Isaac spake unto
Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my
son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb
for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide
himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together [repeat
phrase of v.6 illustrating and emphasizing “unity”].
(Gen 22:9-12) And
they came to the place which God had told him of [Mount Moriah];
and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound
Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And
Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his
son. And the angel of the
LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here
am I. And he said, Lay not
thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that
thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
(Gen 22:13,14) And
Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram
caught in a thicket by his horns [horns represent power]: and
Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in
the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh
[Heb: the Lord will see, provide: as it is said to this day, In
the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
(Gen 22:15-19) And
the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done
this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in
blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as
the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore;
and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all
the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to
Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
1.
(Gen 15:5) And he brought
him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell [Heb:
count] the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said
unto him, So shall thy seed be.
2.
(1 Sam 15:22) And Samuel
said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in
obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than
sacrifice, and to hearken [Heb: hear: regard]
[rationally, intelligently, is better] than the fat of rams.
(James 2:23) And
the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it
was imputed [Gk: counted] unto him for righteousness: and he was
called the Friend of God.
Amen