Abraham's obedience was graciously accepted; but this was not all: here
we have it recompensed, abundantly recompensed, before he stirred from
the place; probably while the ram he had sacrificed was yet burning God
sent him this gracious message, renewed and ratified his covenant with
him. All covenants were made by sacrifice, so was this by the typical
sacrifices of Isaac and the ram. Very high expressions of God's favour
to Abraham are employed in this confirmation of the covenant with him,
expressions exceeding any he had yet been blessed with. Note,
Extraordinary services shall be crowned with extraordinary honours and
comforts; and favours in the promise, though not yet performed, ought
to be accounted real and valuable recompences. Observe, 1. God is
pleased to make mention of Abraham's obedience as the consideration of
the covenant; and he speaks of it with an encomium: Because thou hast
done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, v. 16.
He lays a strong emphasis on this, and (v. 18) praises it as an act of
obedience: in it thou hast obeyed my voice, and to obey is better than
sacrifice. Not that this was a proportionable consideration, but God
graciously put this honour upon that by which Abraham had honoured him.
2. God now confirmed the promise with an oath. It was said and sealed
before; but now it is sworn: By myself have I sworn; for he could swear
by no greater, Heb. vi. 13. Thus he interposed himself by an oath, as
the apostle expresses it, Heb. vi. 17. He did (to speak with reverence)
even pawn his own life and being upon it (As I live,) that by all those
immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, he and his
might have strong consolation. Note, If we exercise faith, God will
encourage it. Improve the promises, and God will ratify them. 3. The
particular promise here renewed is that of a numerous offspring:
Multiplying, I will multiply thee, v. 17. Note, Those that are willing
to part with any thing for God shall have it made up to them with
unspeakable advantage. Abraham has but one son, and is willing to part
with that one, in obedience to God. "Well," said God, "thou shalt be
recompensed with thousands and millions." What a figure does the seed
of Abraham make in history! How numerous, how illustrious, were his
known descendants, who, to this day, triumph in this, that they have
Abraham to their father! Thus he received a thousand-fold in this life,
Matt. xix. 29. 4. The promise, doubtless, points at the Messiah, and
the grace of the gospel. This is the oath sworn to our father Abraham,
which Zacharias refers to, Luke i. 73, &c. And so here is a promise,
(1.) Of the great blessing of the Spirit: In blessing, I will bless
thee, namely, with that best of blessings the gift of the Holy Ghost;
the promise of the Spirit was that blessing of Abraham which was to
come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, Gal. iii. 14. (2.) Of the
increase of the church, that believers, his spiritual seed, should be
numerous as the stars of heaven. (3.) Of spiritual victories: Thy seed
shall possess the gate of his enemies. Believers, by their faith,
overcome the world, and triumph over all the powers of darkness, and
are more than conquerors. Probably Zacharias refers to this part of the
oath (Luke i. 74), That we, being delivered out of the hand of our
enemies, might serve him without fear. But the crown of all is the last
promise. (4.) Of the incarnation of Christ: In thy seed, one particular
person that shall descend from thee (for he speaks not of many, but of
one, as the apostle observes, Gal. iii. 16), shall all the nations of
the earth be blessed, or shall bless themselves, as the phrase is, Isa.
lxv. 16. In him all may be happy if they will, and all that belong to
him shall be so, and shall think themselves so. Christ is the great
blessing of the world. Abraham was ready to give up his son for a
sacrifice to the honour of God, and, on that occasion, God promised to
give his Son a sacrifice for the salvation of man.