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GENESIS CHAPTER 22
God tempts Abraham, Gen_22:1; to sacrifice Isaac, Gen_22:2. He readily goes about it, Gen_22:3-6. Isaac’s question, Gen_22:7. Abraham’s answer, Gen_22:8. They come to the place; he binds Isaac; lays him on the altar; takes the knife, Gen_22:9,10. The Lord sees his integrity, and forbids him, Gen_22:11,12. A ram caught, and offered in the stead of Isaac, Gen_22:13. The name of the place, Jehovah-jireh, Gen_22:14. The Lord calls a second time, Gen_22:15; swears by himself; confirms his promise to Abraham and his seed, Gen_22:16-18. Abraham returns to Beer-sheba, Gen_22:19. The posterity of his brother Nahor, Gen_22:20-24.
After the accomplishment of God’s promises made to Abraham, and especially of that promise concerning the blessed Seed, when now he seemed to be in a most prosperous and secure condition, he meets with a severe exercise from God,
God did tempt Abraham. The word tempt is ambiguous, and signifies either,
1. To entice to sin, in which sense devils and wicked men are said to tempt others, but God tempts no man, Jam_1:13. Or,
2. To prove or try, and in this sense God is said to tempt men. See Deu_8:2 13:3 Jud_2:22. Thus God tempted Abraham, i.e. he tried the sincerity and strength of his faith, the universality and constancy of his obedience, and this for God’s great honour, and Abraham’s great glory and comfort, and for the church’s benefit in all following ages.
Beheld, here I am; an expression signifying a man’s attentive hearing what is said to him, and his readiness to execute it, as Gen_22:7,11 Ge 27:1 1Sa_3:4,6.