-
†. Gen 22:2d . . on one of the heights that I will point out to you.
Precisely where the land of Moriah was, and the specific height God chose, is
impossible to tell for sure. Abraham knew where the land was but he
wouldn't know the exact spot until he got there.
It's just as well to keep it a secret or otherwise somebody would turn it into
a shrine; sort of like the so-called Garden Tomb, where people come from all
over the world and make fools of themselves kissing the ground. Some
would even take home souvenir jars of dirt too; so that by now, likely so
much dirt would be gone that the site of Moriah would look more like a
quarry than a high place.
†. Gen 22:3a . . So early next morning, Abraham saddled his burro
and took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.
The Hebrew word for "saddled" is ambiguous. It doesn't necessarily indicate
a device meant for transporting personnel; more likely tackling for cargo.
Whether or not the servants were armed, Genesis doesn't say. And why only
two I don't know either. But that was enough to look after the burro while
Abraham and Isaac were gone. And it's not wise to leave one man all alone
in the outdoors; especially in the wild country of early day Palestine what
with no phone service nor radios, nor cars to flag down for help in that day.
†. Gen 22:3b . . He split the wood for the burnt offering,
It wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that the servants did the actual wood
cutting with Abraham supervising.
†. Gen 22:3c-4 . . and he set out for the place of which God had told
him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place from
afar.
Apparently everyone hiked on foot. The burro was just used as a pack
animal to haul food, water, tents, supplies, and the wood.
Though it's stated Abraham "looked up" it doesn't necessarily mean the site
was elevated above him. When Lot surveyed the Jordan valley, he was said
to have "lifted up" his eyes. But the valley was about three thousand feet
down below his vantage at the time. Lifting up one's eyes just simply means
to look around, and survey the scene.
Those three days gave Abraham plenty of time to think about what God
expected him to do. Abraham must surely have been giving Isaac's future
some serious thought. And he no doubt pondered the promises God made
concerning the great nation that was to issue from his boy. It was very likely
at this time that Abraham's faith in God's promises sustained his
determination to obey and take Isaac's life.
"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had
received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said
"In Isaac your seed shall be called" concluding that God was able to raise
him up, even from the dead," (Heb 11:17-19)
In other words: Abraham was so confident that God was going to somehow
make of his son's progeny a great nation that he assumed, quite correctly,
that though he slay Isaac and cremate his remains, the lad wouldn't stay
dead for very long.
†. Gen 22:5 . .Then Abraham said to his servants: You stay here with
the burro. The lad and I will go up there. We will worship and we will
return to you.
Worship can be defined as respect paid to a better-- like when Abraham ran
and bowed to the three men who came to his tent in chapter 18, and up
ahead when he will bow to the sons of Heth in chapter 23.
When we let a senior citizen go through a door ahead of us, we are saying
we regard that person as better than we are. And when we move aside for a
presidential motorcade, we say the same thing. That's a kind of worship. It's
not an attitude of equality nor one of parity. True worship is an attitude of
humility, inferiority, subordination, submission, and admiration.
The God of the Bible is so superior and respectable that the seraphs in His
throne room cover their faces and dare not gaze upon God. True worship
recognizes God's supremacy and respects the sanctity of His person. Sinners
are never allowed to barge in like drunken sailors, to gape and swagger,
unwashed and uninvited. No, they crawl in, recognizing the depravity of Man
and the extreme dignity of God. The burnt offering shows that Man not only
risks death and incineration in God's presence: he fully deserves it.
There exists adequate proof that Abraham was capable of dishonesty, so it's
difficult to tell at this point if he was actually predicting their return, or
misleading everyone with a fib so nobody would become alarmed and throw
a monkey wrench into the works. It was Abraham's full intention to slay
Isaac but I'm sure you can understand why he wouldn't want anyone to
know that.
However, Abraham was confident that Isaac wouldn't stay dead; that much
is known for certain so I vote to give Abraham the benefit of the doubt and
say he really did believe that he and Isaac come back together.
†. Gen 22:6a . . Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and
put it on his son Isaac.
Were Isaac not quite a bit grown up at this time I don't think Abraham would
have made him carry the wood.
But why not let the burro haul the wood to the site? Well; if you have never
heard a burro bray up close and personal, I guarantee you would not want
one to do it during a solemn church service. They are LOUD!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†. Gen 22:2d . . on one of the heights that I will point out to you.
Precisely where the land of Moriah was, and the specific height God chose, is
impossible to tell for sure. Abraham knew where the land was but he
wouldn't know the exact spot until he got there.
It's just as well to keep it a secret or otherwise somebody would turn it into
a shrine; sort of like the so-called Garden Tomb, where people come from all
over the world and make fools of themselves kissing the ground. Some
would even take home souvenir jars of dirt too; so that by now, likely so
much dirt would be gone that the site of Moriah would look more like a
quarry than a high place.
†. Gen 22:3a . . So early next morning, Abraham saddled his burro
and took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.
The Hebrew word for "saddled" is ambiguous. It doesn't necessarily indicate
a device meant for transporting personnel; more likely tackling for cargo.
Whether or not the servants were armed, Genesis doesn't say. And why only
two I don't know either. But that was enough to look after the burro while
Abraham and Isaac were gone. And it's not wise to leave one man all alone
in the outdoors; especially in the wild country of early day Palestine what
with no phone service nor radios, nor cars to flag down for help in that day.
†. Gen 22:3b . . He split the wood for the burnt offering,
It wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that the servants did the actual wood
cutting with Abraham supervising.
†. Gen 22:3c-4 . . and he set out for the place of which God had told
him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place from
afar.
Apparently everyone hiked on foot. The burro was just used as a pack
animal to haul food, water, tents, supplies, and the wood.
Though it's stated Abraham "looked up" it doesn't necessarily mean the site
was elevated above him. When Lot surveyed the Jordan valley, he was said
to have "lifted up" his eyes. But the valley was about three thousand feet
down below his vantage at the time. Lifting up one's eyes just simply means
to look around, and survey the scene.
Those three days gave Abraham plenty of time to think about what God
expected him to do. Abraham must surely have been giving Isaac's future
some serious thought. And he no doubt pondered the promises God made
concerning the great nation that was to issue from his boy. It was very likely
at this time that Abraham's faith in God's promises sustained his
determination to obey and take Isaac's life.
"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had
received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said
"In Isaac your seed shall be called" concluding that God was able to raise
him up, even from the dead," (Heb 11:17-19)
In other words: Abraham was so confident that God was going to somehow
make of his son's progeny a great nation that he assumed, quite correctly,
that though he slay Isaac and cremate his remains, the lad wouldn't stay
dead for very long.
†. Gen 22:5 . .Then Abraham said to his servants: You stay here with
the burro. The lad and I will go up there. We will worship and we will
return to you.
Worship can be defined as respect paid to a better-- like when Abraham ran
and bowed to the three men who came to his tent in chapter 18, and up
ahead when he will bow to the sons of Heth in chapter 23.
When we let a senior citizen go through a door ahead of us, we are saying
we regard that person as better than we are. And when we move aside for a
presidential motorcade, we say the same thing. That's a kind of worship. It's
not an attitude of equality nor one of parity. True worship is an attitude of
humility, inferiority, subordination, submission, and admiration.
The God of the Bible is so superior and respectable that the seraphs in His
throne room cover their faces and dare not gaze upon God. True worship
recognizes God's supremacy and respects the sanctity of His person. Sinners
are never allowed to barge in like drunken sailors, to gape and swagger,
unwashed and uninvited. No, they crawl in, recognizing the depravity of Man
and the extreme dignity of God. The burnt offering shows that Man not only
risks death and incineration in God's presence: he fully deserves it.
There exists adequate proof that Abraham was capable of dishonesty, so it's
difficult to tell at this point if he was actually predicting their return, or
misleading everyone with a fib so nobody would become alarmed and throw
a monkey wrench into the works. It was Abraham's full intention to slay
Isaac but I'm sure you can understand why he wouldn't want anyone to
know that.
However, Abraham was confident that Isaac wouldn't stay dead; that much
is known for certain so I vote to give Abraham the benefit of the doubt and
say he really did believe that he and Isaac come back together.
†. Gen 22:6a . . Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and
put it on his son Isaac.
Were Isaac not quite a bit grown up at this time I don't think Abraham would
have made him carry the wood.
But why not let the burro haul the wood to the site? Well; if you have never
heard a burro bray up close and personal, I guarantee you would not want
one to do it during a solemn church service. They are LOUD!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=