Page images
PDF
EPUB

20 the bottle with water, and gave the lad to drink. And God was with the lad, blessed him in temporal things; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer, a skilful 21 hunter of beasts and warrior with men, (ch. xvi. 12.) And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.*

22

And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, say23 ing, God [is] with thee in all that thou doest: Now, therefore, let us enter into a league of friendship and mutual kindnesses ; swear unto me here by God, that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son nor with my son's son: [but] according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned. 24 And Abraham consented and said, I will swear. And Abraham 25 reproved Abimelech, or, debated the matter with him, because of a well of water, which was exceeding valuable in that country, and which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. 26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing, Lam quite ignorant of the affair: neither didst thou tell me, or I would have redressed the grievance; neither yet heard I [of it,] 27 but today. And Abraham, out of gratitude for former favours, took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech ; and both of them made a covenant, according to the custom of 28 the country. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by 29 themselves. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What [mean]

these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? 30 And he said, For [these] seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well, and a token of our agreement in this matter. 31 Wherefore he called that place Beersheba, that is the well of 32 the oath; because there they sware both of them. Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

73

And [Abraham] planted a grove in Beersheba, fur peace and retirement, and a shelter from the heat; or rather, for public worship, as a tent could not hold his large family: and he called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God. This practice was afterwards abused to superstition and idolatry, and therefore forbidden, Exod. xxxiv. 13. Deut. 34 xvi. 21. And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days, or years.

It is probable that he often saw Abraham afterwards, and had gifts from-him; and Be find in chap. xxy. 6. that he was at his father's funeral.

1.

REFLECTIONS.

ET us patiently and cheerfully wait for God's promise,

Lafter the example of Abraham and Sarah, who stag

gered not through unbelief. Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. Heb. xi. 11. 12. Thus their desire was answered, and what they expected came to pass. Faithful is he who hath promised, and at the set time his promise was fulfilled. v. 2. God is punctual to his word, and his time is the best; let us therefore wait for it, and not prescribe to him.

2. Parents should cheerfully devote their children to the service of God. Abraham circumcised Isaac and complied with the divine appointment. However dear Isaac was, it must be done. Let parents enter their children into God's family, and be thankful that he will admit them. As the promise is to us and our children, let us see to it that we put them in the way of God's blessing, and devote them early to him.

3. From the example of Sarah, we may infer the duty of mothers to nurse their own children. The good women of those days thought it their duty to do so, and dry breasts were reckoned a great reproach. Sarah was a person of quality, of great eminence, had a large family, and many cares; they had three hundred and eighteen servant men beside women; and yet thought that no excuse. She had women enough to nurse it in her house, and was herself aged, being ninety years old; but she did it herself, and speaks of it with the greatest pleasure. It is a refinement of this last age for women to consign that work to strangers; which is a very cruel and barbarous practice, and shows the mind to be almost destitute of natural affection. The Lord himself says this, Lam. iv. 3. Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: but the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness, who leave their young to be hatched and brought up by others. It is a practice directly contrary to the dictates of nature, and the clear intention of Providence. Neither quality, nor business, nor difficulties, nor inconveniences, will excuse for the neglect of this plain duty; and what God hath made a duty, we may hope he will give strength to perform, as multitudes would experience, if they would but try: nothing but evident necessity can vindicate so unnatural a custom. These were the sentiments of Archbishop TILLOTSON, who says, " It is a natural duty; and because it is so, of more necessity and indispensable obligation than any positive precept of revealed religion, such as baptism, or the like; and that the general neglect of it, is one of the great and crying

sins of this age and nation; and the world is not likely to be better till this great fault is mended.'

4. It is no new thing for the servants of God to be hated and persecuted this is Paul's reflection in Gal. iv. 29. for as then (speaking of Isaac and Ishmael) he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit, even so it is now. God's favourites are often the world's laughing stock : but let them not think that any strange thing hath happened to them, if they are sometimes made a jest of, and despised; for so Christ was, so were his apostles, so have good men been in all ages: yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But let them learn to bear up with patience under this common lot of good men : God will remember and recompense them at last.

5. See how easily God can chastise and bring down the haughtiest spirit. So he did that of Hagar and Ishmael; they grew insolent in Abraham's family, and therefore were expelled. When driven into the wilderness and almost perishing for want of food and water, she no doubt began to wish herself in Abraham's house again; and would have been thankful for the crumbs that fell from her old master's table. Thus many foolish servants throw themselves out of comfortable places and families, by their pride and insolence: and have often cause to repent it bitterly, when it is too late. A meek and humble behaviour is the way to secure the favour of God and men.

6. Learn to cultivate friendships with those who are the friends of God: so Abimelech did with Abraham. When we see that God is with his servants in all they do, v. 22. let us covet their friendship. He sometimes so blesses and prospers them, that others cannot but see it. It is good to be the friends of those who have an interest in heaven; who can counsel us, and pray for us. The scriptures declare, that in the latter days the Jews should be so favoured of God, that their neighbours should say, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. Enter not therefore into the path of the wicked, but endeavour to be a companion of those who fear God, and have his presence and blessing with them.

7. Let us, after the example of Abraham, call on the name of the everlasting God. Consider him in this view; as the eternal JEHOVAH Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth was formed, from everlasting to everlasting THOU art the same. Let this fill our souls with a holy awe and veneration of him. Whenever we approach him we should consider him as God, the LORD, the everlasting God, who was, and is, and is to come. Whatever creature comforts perish and decay, though we ourselves die, though heaven and earth pass away, yet he is the same, and of his years there shall be no end. Let us therefore, with the profoundest veneration, worship him who liveth for ever and ever. Amen.

[blocks in formation]

CHAP. XXII.

Contains a most surprising story, as much admired, and as much found fault with, as any part of scripture. We have here the command to Abraham to offer up his son; his readiness to obey ; how the execution was prevented, and another sacrifice substituted in his room; a considerable promise renewed to Abraham ; and some account of the family of Nahor.

A

} ND it came to pass after these things, which happened at Beersheba, and all his troubles and mercies, and after God had given him a son according to his promise, that God did tempt Abraham, tried the strength of his faith and obedi ence, that it might be better known both to himself and others; and God said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, 2 [here] I [am.] And he said, Take now thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, the promised seed, whom thou lovest, who is the joy of thy old age, and get thee into the land of Moriah ;* and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.t

3

And Abraham, all silence and submission, and to show his readiness to obey, 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 the wood, which he probably carried with him, for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place 4 of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off; the divine 5 Shekinah or glory perhaps resting upon it. 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. This was no equivocation, for he firmly believed that God would 6 restore him his son again. 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 7 them together. And Isaac, who was well acquainted with the nature of religious services, 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 8 lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham, though no doubt much affected with Isaac's question, made a most prudent reply, and said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a 9 burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and

A range of hills, some of which lay in Jerusalem, others near it; and among them were Calvary and the Mount of Olives.

† Probably on Calvary, where Christ was afterward crucified.

bound Isaac his son,* and laid him on the altar upon the wood. There now, lies Abraham's joy, Sarah's delight, and the heir of 10 the promise, all meek and resigned to the fatal stroke. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And now the trial being made, and the end answered, the order is countermanded.

11

And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham and he said, Here [am] I. 12 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! thou hast given me the highest proof of thy faith and obe dience, and shown to me, and to all who shall hear of this, that 13 thou art a proper subject for my choicest benefits. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there was behind [him] a ram, strayed from the rest of the flock, and directed hither by God's providence, and he was caught in a thicket by his horns and Abraham with great thankfulness and joy, went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offer14 ing in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name

15

of that place Jehovahjireh, the Lord will see, or provide: as it is said [to] this day, In the Mount of the LORD it shall be seen this became a proverbial expression, to signify, that in the greatest difficulties God will take care of his servants,

And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, after he had done offering the sacrifice, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for be

cause thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, 17 thine only [son :] That in blessing I will bless thee, greatly and abundantly bless thee, and in multiplying, I will multiply thy seed, Isaac's posterity, 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; he shall have dominion over 18 them ;t And in thy seed, that is Christ, shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. 19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

20

And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also borne chil

No doubt Abraham had now informed his son of the divine command; Isaac neither contradicted nor resisted; he was now near thirty years old, and was strong enough to have opposed, and young enough to have fled from his father; yet the pious youth did neither, but willingly yielded up himself; wherein he was a type of Christ and a pattern for us.

†This was fulfilled, as to the temporal part, in the time of Joshua, David, &c. but especially and spiritually in the Messiah. Psalm viii. 9. Dan. íi. 44, 45. 1 Cor. xv. 57. Col. ii. 15.

« PreviousContinue »