The Promise to Abraham Repeated

On Mount Moriah, with a solemn oath, God again confirmed the blessing to Abraham and to his descendants: “Because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because you have obeyed My voice.”BOE 66.9

Abraham’s great act of faith stands like a pillar of light, illuminating the pathway of God’s servants in all the ages since then. During that three days’ journey Abraham had enough time to reason and to doubt God. He could have reasoned that killing his son would cause him to be looked upon as a murderer, a second Cain; it would cause his teaching to be rejected and despised, and thus destroy his power to do good to others around him. He might have claimed that age should excuse him from obedience, but he did not take refuge in excuses. Abraham was human, his passions and attachments were like ours, but he did not stop to reason with his aching heart. He knew that God is just and righteous in all His requirements.BOE 67.1

“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God” (James 2:23). And Paul says, “Only those who are of faith are the sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7). But Abraham’s faith was made manifest by his works. “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see how faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” (James 2:21, 22).BOE 67.2

Many fail to understand the relationship between faith and works. They say, “Only believe in Christ, and you are safe; it has nothing to do with keeping the law.” But genuine faith will be demonstrated by obedience. The Lord declares concerning the father of the faithful, “Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws” (Genesis 26:5). Says the apostle James, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). And John, who dwells so fully on love, tells us, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3).BOE 67.3

God “preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand” (Galatians 3:8). And the patriarch’s faith was fixed on the Redeemer to come. Christ said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). The ram offered in place of Isaac represented the Son of God, who was to be sacrificed in our place. The Father, looking on His Son, said to the sinner, “Live: I have found a ransom.”BOE 67.4

The agony that Abraham endured during the dark days of that fearful trial was permitted so that he might understand something of the greatness of the sacrifice God made for our redemption. No other test could have caused Abraham such torture of soul as did the offering of his son. God gave His Son to a death of agony and shame. The angels were not permitted to interpose, as they did in the case of Isaac. There was no voice to cry, “It is enough.” To save the fallen race, the King of glory yielded up His life.BOE 67.5

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).BOE 68.1