Dr. Peter Van Kleeck, Sr., Providence Baptist Church 6/4/23 As If Isaac had Risen from the Dead

Central thought: The point, therefore, of this passage is that Abraham, at the command of God, was willing to do the unthinkable, believing that God, in keeping his promise, would raise Isaac from the dead. The remedy for the unthinkable was belief in the miracle of Isaac’s resurrection. God miraculously gave Abraham and Sarah a son. Isaac was the son of promise. The covenant made with Abraham would be transferred to Isaac and his descendants. Isaac was God’s choice no matter what was asked of Abraham. In Abraham’s mind, not even the death of Isaac could change the promise of God. Therefore, Abraham believed God would raise the sole son of promise from the dead. The results of an unthinkable action, for Abraham, were therefore only temporary because of what God had promised. This is why, Abraham’s example stands as perhaps the most exceptional and powerful demonstrations of faith in God recorded in Scripture.Show more

The text reads:

17. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

“Tried” -- The meaning here is, that Abraham was placed in circumstances which showed what was the real strength of his confidence in God.

“Offered up Isaac” -- That is, he showed that he was ready and willing to make the sacrifice, and would have done it if he had not been restrained by the voice of the angel; Genesis 22:1-19. So far as the intention of Abraham was concerned, the deed was done, for he had made every preparation for the offering, and was actually about to take the life of his son.

Note that Isaac is Abraham’s “only begotten son.” No respect is granted to Ishmael, since he was not of equal birth, and stood outside of all relation to the divine promises.

18. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Gen. 21:12, “But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.”

Romans 9:7, “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.”

Note that the fulfillment of God’s promises depended on the one Abraham was about to offer as a sacrifice. If Abraham had been surrounded with children, or if no special promise of a numerous posterity had been made to him, this act would not have been so remarkable. It would in any case have been a strong act of faith; it "was especially" strong in his ease from the circumstances that he had an only son, and that the fulfillment of the promise depended on his life.

19. Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

“Accounting” -- ογισαμενος, reasoning, or concluding, after weighing all circumstances; that, notwithstanding the apparent contradiction in the divine revelations; God was able to raise him up.

Accounting is what we are to do with Scripture as we heed the teaching of the Holy Scripture. We are to reason and conclude, after weighing all the circumstances, based on what God has said. This is the foundation of biblical faith. Faith is not a willy nilly hoping but based on the unrealized promises of God as they apply to each circumstance of life.

“Even from the dead” -- Though, so far as we can learn, there never had been one single instance of a resurrection from the dead in the world. There was no prior precedent for Abraham’s faith. The first recorded reference to resurrection is in the con text of trusting that God has the power over death.

“From whence also he received him in a figure” – “Figure” refers to a parable or a story that sets an example. The parable is one of resurrection from the dead.

Barnes: “The obvious interpretation is that he then received him by his being raised up from the altar as if from the dead. He was to Abraham dead. He had given him up. He had prepared to offer him as a sacrifice. He lay there before him as one who was dead From that altar he was raised up by direct divine interposition, as if he was raised from the grave, and this was to Abraham a "figure" or a representation of the resurrection.

Because of Abraham’s commitment to believe and follow God’s word, Abraham left Mt. Moriah with the sense that Isaac had been raised from the dead. And in Isaac, we see a type of Jesus Christ. One who would bodily rise from the dead, having fulfilled the Father’s will.
4 June 2023 -- PVK