God commands Abraham to offer up Isaac. (1,2) Abraham's faith
and obedience to the Divine command. (3-10) Another sacrifice is
provided instead of Isaac. (11-14) The covenant with Abraham
renewed. (15-19) The family of Nahor. (20-24) Verses 1-2 We
never are secure from trials In Hebrew, to tempt, and to try, or
to prove, are expressed by the same word. Every trial is indeed
a temptation, and tends to show the dispositions of the heart,
whether holy or unholy. But God proved Abraham, not to draw him
to sin, as Satan tempts. Strong faith is often exercised with
strong trials, and put upon hard services. The command to offer
up his son, is given in such language as makes the trial more
grievous; every word here is a sword. Observe, 1. The person to
be offered: Take thy son; not thy bullocks and thy lambs. How
willingly would Abraham have parted with them all to redeem
Isaac! Thy son; not thy servant. Thine only son; thine only son
by Sarah. Take Isaac, that son whom thou lovest. 2. The place:
three days' journey