1084. Because Thou Hast Done This Thing

Because Thou Hast Done This Thing

"And said, By Myself hare 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" (Gen_22:16-17).

1. God called upon Abraham to give his very heart life, when He said, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest * * and offer him * * for a burnt offering." Abraham obeyed. There was no delay. He rose up early and went. Then he bound his son and would have killed him, had not God stayed his hand.

Therefore God spoke to Abraham and said, "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 thee."

What a rich reward! How foolish it is for believers to boast of all they gave up in order to follow the Lord. Why not speak rather of all we have received?

God will permit none of His children to outdo Him in giving. The one who gives, will get more than he gives.

Abraham gave up his son, and he received back his son. In addition thereto, Abraham was given a reach of blessing that will burden even the multiplication table to measure. In fact the whole world has already felt and will still more largely feel into the blessings of Abraham. Thank God, Abraham obeyed the voice of the Lord.

2. Let us close with a twofold typical suggestion. The blessing of Abraham came through his offering up his son, Isaac; the blessings of God come through His offering up His own Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

This type becomes the more striking when we consider that Abraham's blessing was to be realized not only through Isaac and a multitude of seed numbering the stars of the heaven, but the blessing was particularly to be consummated through Abraham's seed Jesus Christ, Who was also the Son of God.

Thus Isaac became a type of One Who should proceed forth from his own loins. And when Isaac was being led to the slaughter, Jesus Christ was being led in Isaac, for He was to be born of the Isaac line.

The expression of Heb_10:17, last clause, is most striking. It reads: "And thy seed shall possess the gate of HIS enemies." The pronoun is "singular" and refers to Christ.

Thus, as through Abraham's obedience in offering up Isaac he was blessed and made a blessing, so also in God's offering up of His Son, Who was also a son of Isaac, according to the flesh, is Abraham blessed and made a blessing.

And who can measure the blessings of the Cross of Christ?

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR