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Genesis 22:9
Verse
Context
The Offering of Isaac
8Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.9When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood.10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
Sermons
Leonard Ravenhill
J. Vernon McGeeJ. Vernon McGee
Chuck Smith
David Ravenhill
G.W. NorthSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
And bound Isaac his son - If the patriarch had not been upheld by the conviction that he was doing the will of God, and had he not felt the most perfect confidence that his son should be restored even from the dead, what agony must his heart have felt at every step of the journey, and through all the circumstances of this extraordinary business? What must his affectionate heart have felt at the questions asked by his innocent and amiable son? What must he have suffered while building the altar, laying on the wood, binding his lovely son, placing him on the wood, taking the knife, and stretching out his hand to slay the child of his hopes? Every view we take of the subject interests the heart, and exalts the character of this father of the faithful. But has the character of Isaac been duly considered? Is not the consideration of his excellence lost in the supposition that he was too young to enter particularly into a sense of his danger, and too feeble to have made any resistance, had he been unwilling to submit? Josephus supposes that Isaac was now twenty-five, (see the chronology on Gen 22:1 (note)); some rabbins that he was thirty-six; but it is more probable that he was now about thirty-three, the age at which his great Antitype was offered up; and on this medium I have ventured to construct the chronology, of which I think it necessary to give this notice to the reader. Allowing him to be only twenty-five, he might have easily resisted; for can it be supposed that an old man of at least one hundred and twenty-five years of age could have bound, without his consent, a young man in the very prime and vigor of life? In this case we cannot say that the superior strength of the father prevailed, but the piety, filial affection, and obedience of the son yielded. All this was most illustriously typical of Christ. In both cases the father himself offers up his only-begotten son, and the father himself binds him on the wood or to the cross; in neither case is the son forced to yield, but yields of his own accord; in neither case is the life taken away by the hand of violence; Isaac yields himself to the knife, Jesus lays down his life for the sheep.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
Having arrived at the appointed place, Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood upon it, bound his son and laid him upon the wood of the altar, and then stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Abraham built an altar, &c.--Had not the patriarch been sustained by the full consciousness of acting in obedience to God's will, the effort would have been too great for human endurance; and had not Isaac, then upwards of twenty years of age displayed equal faith in submitting, this great trial could not have gone through.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And they came to the place which God had told him of,.... Mount Moriah. Maimonides (f) says,"it is a tradition in or by the hands of all, that this is the place where David and Solomon built an altar in the threshing floor of Araunah, the Jebusite, and where Abraham built an altar, and bound Isaac on it; and where Noah built one when he came out of the ark, and is the altar on which Cain and Abel offered; and where the first man offered when he was created, and from whence he was created.''And so the Targum of Jonathan, and other Jewish writers (g). The Mahometans say (h), that Meena or Muna, a place about two or three miles from Mecca, is the place where Abraham went to offer up his son Isaac, and therefore in this place they sacrifice their sheep. And Abraham built an altar there; of the earth, and turf upon it he found on the mount, erected an altar for sacrifice, even for the sacrifice of his own son: he had built many before, but none for such a purpose as this, and yet went about it readily, and finished it. But if there was one before, Abraham could not with any propriety be said to build it, at most only to repair it; but there is no doubt to be made of it that he built it anew, and perhaps there never was an altar here before: and laid on the wood in order: for the sacrifice to be put upon it: and bound Isaac his son: with his hands and feet behind him, as Jarchi says; not lest he should flee from him, and make his escape, as Aben Ezra suggests, but as it was the usual manner to bind sacrifices when offered; and especially this was so ordered, that Isaac might be a type of the Messiah, who was bound by the Jews, Joh 18:12; as well as he was bound and fastened to the cross: and laid him on the altar upon the wood; it is highly probable with his own consent; for if he was twenty five, and as some say thirty seven years of age, he was able to have resisted his father, and had he been reluctant could have cleared himself from the hands of his aged parent: but it is very likely, that previous to this Abraham opened the whole affair to him, urged the divine command, persuaded him to submit to it; and perhaps might suggest to him what he himself had faith in, that God would either revoke the precept, or prevent by some providence or another the fatal blow, or raise him again from the dead; however, that obedience to the will of God should be yielded, since disobedience might be attended with sad consequences to them both; and with such like things the mind of Isaac might be reconciled to this affair, and he willingly submitted to it; in which he also was a type of Christ, who acquiesced in the will of his Father, freely surrendered himself into the hands of justice, and meekly and willingly gave himself an offering for his people. (f) Hilchot Beth Habechirah, c. 2. sect. 1. 2. (g) In Pirke, ut supra. (c. 31.) (h) See Pitts's Account of the Mahometans, c. 7. p. 97.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
22:9-19 God’s intervention was dramatic and instructive, confirming that he never intended for Isaac to be sacrificed. God later made it clear that child sacrifice was an abomination to him (see Lev 18:21; 20:1-5; Deut 18:10; 2 Kgs 16:2-3; Isa 57:5; Jer 32:35). God wanted Abraham to sacrifice his own will and surrender it to God, and when he did, God intervened. This passage sets a pattern for all sacrificial worshipers. Like Abraham, true worshipers of God know that everything belongs to God—it all came from God and must therefore be acknowledged as God’s possession. A true worshiper holds nothing back but obediently gives God what he asks, trusting that God will provide for all needs, and then discovering through experience that God always does so.
Genesis 22:9
The Offering of Isaac
8Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.9When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood.10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Romans 7 vs Romans 8
By Leonard Ravenhill3.4K1:24:27FreedomGEN 22:9JOS 1:2MAT 6:33MAT 11:28ROM 7:24ROM 8:37HEB 4:9In this sermon, the speaker discusses the power of the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which sets believers free from the law of sin and death. He mentions his fear of flying and the challenges involved in his upcoming teaching trip. The speaker then talks about the significance of Jesus' resurrection and how the Holy Spirit quickened him, emphasizing the importance of this moment in human history. He concludes by discussing the various trials and difficulties people face and how they can be more than conquerors through God's ways and thoughts.
(Genesis) Genesis 22:1-2
By J. Vernon McGee3.0K08:22GenesisGEN 15:6GEN 22:1GEN 22:9MAT 6:33ROM 4:1JAS 1:13JAS 2:21In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Abraham and Isaac from the Bible. He addresses the apparent contradiction between James and Paul regarding Abraham's justification by works. The preacher suggests that both James and Paul are correct in their statements. He explains that Abraham's act of offering Isaac as a sacrifice was an act of faith and obedience, demonstrating his works of faith. The preacher emphasizes the importance of understanding the context and purpose of James and Paul's teachings in order to reconcile their seemingly conflicting statements.
(Genesis) Genesis 21:11-34
By J. Vernon McGee2.9K09:15GenesisGEN 21:32GEN 22:6GEN 22:9GEN 22:12GEN 22:18In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael from the book of Genesis. He highlights how God promised Abraham that Ishmael would become a great nation. However, God later clarifies to Abraham that it is through Isaac that his seed will be called. The preacher emphasizes the obedience of Isaac and compares it to the obedience of Jesus Christ. He also mentions how the miraculous birth of Isaac symbolizes the resurrection of Christ. Overall, the sermon explores God's gracious dealings with Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael, and the significance of Isaac in the biblical narrative.
(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5
By Chuck Smith1.8K1:23:21ExpositionalGEN 50:26EXO 2:15EXO 4:1EXO 4:10In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that God is not just a passive observer of our struggles and suffering. He takes action to deliver His people from their hardships. The preacher also highlights the importance of not getting too attached to material possessions, as they can easily be taken away. Instead, our focus should be on the things of the Spirit and God's eternal kingdom. The sermon references the story of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt, where they faced oppression and hardship, but ultimately God delivered them.
Sacrifice of Praise, Sacrifice of Joy, Sacrifice of Service, Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
By Devern Fromke1.5K1:18:24SacrificeGEN 22:9ROM 12:1In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the true meaning of leaving ourselves as a sacrifice on God's altar. He explains that when Jesus died, we also died with Him, were buried with Him, and rose with Him. The speaker warns against offering sacrifices of the old life, our own strength and energy, as they are not acceptable to God. He highlights the need for a genuine, complete surrender to God, where our sacrifices are not driven by impulsive emotions or willpower, but by a transformed life that is focused on God's glory. The speaker urges listeners to prioritize their relationship with God and allow the cross to do its perfect work in their lives, freeing them from self-centeredness and religious busyness.
Praying for Revival
By David Ravenhill9411:17:41GEN 22:9
This sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God, drawing parallels to the story of Joseph and his brothers. It highlights the need for unity in the family of God, breaking down barriers and embracing the truth that we are all redeemed by the same blood, regardless of our backgrounds. The speaker calls for a shift from mere visitation to habitation, where God dwells in our lives, creating an atmosphere of worship, holiness, gratitude, and true worship centered on God alone.
The Altar - a Basic Principle in Man
By G.W. North0SacrificeCommunication with GodGEN 12:7GEN 13:4GEN 22:9EXO 20:24LEV 1:1G.W. North explores the concept of altars and sacrifice, emphasizing that the instinct to offer sacrifices is deeply embedded in human nature, transcending cultures and ages. He highlights Abraham's unique relationship with altars, noting that while he built many, he did not offer sacrifices on them, which distinguished his worship from that of the surrounding cultures. North suggests that Abraham's altars served as testimonies of his communication with God and marked his spiritual journey, despite the absence of blood offerings. The sermon delves into the mystery of sacrifice, questioning how early humans understood the need for atonement and the nature of God's communication regarding sacrifice. Ultimately, North presents the altar as a fundamental principle in man's relationship with the divine, reflecting both obedience and the quest for connection with God.
Faith and Good Works
By Clement of Rome0GEN 22:9GEN 28:13ROM 4:2EPH 2:8EPH 2:10TIT 3:5HEB 11:8JAS 2:17Clement of Rome emphasizes the importance of seeking God's blessings as our primary objective, following the examples of faith displayed by our forefathers like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These patriarchs were blessed not by their own efforts, but by their faith and obedience to God's will. Clement reminds us that our justification comes through faith in Christ, not by our own works or virtues. He encourages believers to eagerly engage in good works and Christian love, recognizing that even the Creator delights in His works and calls us to fulfill His will with dedication and strength.
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
And bound Isaac his son - If the patriarch had not been upheld by the conviction that he was doing the will of God, and had he not felt the most perfect confidence that his son should be restored even from the dead, what agony must his heart have felt at every step of the journey, and through all the circumstances of this extraordinary business? What must his affectionate heart have felt at the questions asked by his innocent and amiable son? What must he have suffered while building the altar, laying on the wood, binding his lovely son, placing him on the wood, taking the knife, and stretching out his hand to slay the child of his hopes? Every view we take of the subject interests the heart, and exalts the character of this father of the faithful. But has the character of Isaac been duly considered? Is not the consideration of his excellence lost in the supposition that he was too young to enter particularly into a sense of his danger, and too feeble to have made any resistance, had he been unwilling to submit? Josephus supposes that Isaac was now twenty-five, (see the chronology on Gen 22:1 (note)); some rabbins that he was thirty-six; but it is more probable that he was now about thirty-three, the age at which his great Antitype was offered up; and on this medium I have ventured to construct the chronology, of which I think it necessary to give this notice to the reader. Allowing him to be only twenty-five, he might have easily resisted; for can it be supposed that an old man of at least one hundred and twenty-five years of age could have bound, without his consent, a young man in the very prime and vigor of life? In this case we cannot say that the superior strength of the father prevailed, but the piety, filial affection, and obedience of the son yielded. All this was most illustriously typical of Christ. In both cases the father himself offers up his only-begotten son, and the father himself binds him on the wood or to the cross; in neither case is the son forced to yield, but yields of his own accord; in neither case is the life taken away by the hand of violence; Isaac yields himself to the knife, Jesus lays down his life for the sheep.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
Having arrived at the appointed place, Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood upon it, bound his son and laid him upon the wood of the altar, and then stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Abraham built an altar, &c.--Had not the patriarch been sustained by the full consciousness of acting in obedience to God's will, the effort would have been too great for human endurance; and had not Isaac, then upwards of twenty years of age displayed equal faith in submitting, this great trial could not have gone through.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And they came to the place which God had told him of,.... Mount Moriah. Maimonides (f) says,"it is a tradition in or by the hands of all, that this is the place where David and Solomon built an altar in the threshing floor of Araunah, the Jebusite, and where Abraham built an altar, and bound Isaac on it; and where Noah built one when he came out of the ark, and is the altar on which Cain and Abel offered; and where the first man offered when he was created, and from whence he was created.''And so the Targum of Jonathan, and other Jewish writers (g). The Mahometans say (h), that Meena or Muna, a place about two or three miles from Mecca, is the place where Abraham went to offer up his son Isaac, and therefore in this place they sacrifice their sheep. And Abraham built an altar there; of the earth, and turf upon it he found on the mount, erected an altar for sacrifice, even for the sacrifice of his own son: he had built many before, but none for such a purpose as this, and yet went about it readily, and finished it. But if there was one before, Abraham could not with any propriety be said to build it, at most only to repair it; but there is no doubt to be made of it that he built it anew, and perhaps there never was an altar here before: and laid on the wood in order: for the sacrifice to be put upon it: and bound Isaac his son: with his hands and feet behind him, as Jarchi says; not lest he should flee from him, and make his escape, as Aben Ezra suggests, but as it was the usual manner to bind sacrifices when offered; and especially this was so ordered, that Isaac might be a type of the Messiah, who was bound by the Jews, Joh 18:12; as well as he was bound and fastened to the cross: and laid him on the altar upon the wood; it is highly probable with his own consent; for if he was twenty five, and as some say thirty seven years of age, he was able to have resisted his father, and had he been reluctant could have cleared himself from the hands of his aged parent: but it is very likely, that previous to this Abraham opened the whole affair to him, urged the divine command, persuaded him to submit to it; and perhaps might suggest to him what he himself had faith in, that God would either revoke the precept, or prevent by some providence or another the fatal blow, or raise him again from the dead; however, that obedience to the will of God should be yielded, since disobedience might be attended with sad consequences to them both; and with such like things the mind of Isaac might be reconciled to this affair, and he willingly submitted to it; in which he also was a type of Christ, who acquiesced in the will of his Father, freely surrendered himself into the hands of justice, and meekly and willingly gave himself an offering for his people. (f) Hilchot Beth Habechirah, c. 2. sect. 1. 2. (g) In Pirke, ut supra. (c. 31.) (h) See Pitts's Account of the Mahometans, c. 7. p. 97.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
22:9-19 God’s intervention was dramatic and instructive, confirming that he never intended for Isaac to be sacrificed. God later made it clear that child sacrifice was an abomination to him (see Lev 18:21; 20:1-5; Deut 18:10; 2 Kgs 16:2-3; Isa 57:5; Jer 32:35). God wanted Abraham to sacrifice his own will and surrender it to God, and when he did, God intervened. This passage sets a pattern for all sacrificial worshipers. Like Abraham, true worshipers of God know that everything belongs to God—it all came from God and must therefore be acknowledged as God’s possession. A true worshiper holds nothing back but obediently gives God what he asks, trusting that God will provide for all needs, and then discovering through experience that God always does so.