Genesis 22:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven

NIV: The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time

NASB: Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven,

CSB: Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven

NLT: Then the angel of the Lord called again to Abraham from heaven.

KJV: And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

NKJV: Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,

Previously, Abraham had taken his son, Isaac, to a particular mountain at God's command. There, so far as Abraham knew, he was to sacrifice his son to God (Genesis 22:1–2). Abraham's decision to trust that God had something unseen in mind was rewarded: God intervenes to prevent Isaac from being harmed (Genesis 22:11–12). The long-awaited son of Abraham and Sarah has been spared. The ram has been provided by God and offered in Isaac's place (Genesis 22:13–14). Abraham has named the mountain "The LORD will provide."

This encounter with God is not over, yet. The angel of the Lord—the Lord Himself—has more to say to Abraham. He calls down a second time.

Genesis 22:1–19 takes place over the course of a few days, when Isaac is perhaps a teenager. God commands Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son as a burnt offering. Abraham sets out to obey without hesitation, acting in complete trust that God, somehow, will make all things right. Abraham stops the sacrifice only when the Lord intervenes. For his deep trust and obedience, the Lord renews and emphasizes His blessing on Abraham and his offspring, as well as promising to bless all nations through Abraham's descendants.

In a test of Abraham's faith and obedience, God commands Abraham to do a terrible thing: kill and offer his son Isaac, whom he loves, as a burnt offering. Abraham sets out to obey without hesitation, having finally learned to trust God's goodness over his own misunderstandings. Instead of allowing the boy to be sacrificed, the Lord calls out to Abraham moments before he kills Isaac, laying bound on an altar. Because of Abraham's obedience, God renews and emphasizes His promises of blessing, multiplied offspring, and victory over future enemies.

In the previous chapter, the long-promised Isaac was finally born to Sarah and Abraham, while Abraham's other beloved son, Ishmael, was sent away to be cared for by God apart from them. Now God tests Abraham's faith and obedience by commanding him to offer his precious son Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham sets out to obey without hesitation, stopping only when the Lord cries out to him. For Abraham's obedience, God renews and emphasizes the blessing on him and his offspring. This marks the beginning of the end of Abraham's story, as the book of Genesis transitions to focus on Isaac and his descendants.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/1/2024 10:48:13 PM