And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
Ver. 10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, &c,] What painter in the world can possibly express the affection of Abraham, when thus he bound his son, and bent his sword? Surely that painter that set forth the sacrificing of Iphigenia, would also have drawn Abraham, as he did Agamemnon, with his face veiled; as not able to delineate his inconceivable grief. a But a man in Christ is more than a man, and can do that which other men cannot reach unto. It was a matter of blame to the carnal Corinthians, that "they walked as men". 1Co 3:3 And our Saviour looks for some singular thing to be done to those that pretend to him. Mat 5:47 Abraham had denied himself in his beloved Isaac, and therefore went an end with his work, hard though it were. Another that hath not done so, shall find a heavy business of it, an unsupportable burden. Sozomon b tells of a certain merchant, whose two sons being taken captives and adjudged to die, he offered himself to die for them; and with this promised to give the soldiers all the gold he had. They, pitying the poor man's calamity, allowed his request for one of his sons (which he would); but let them both escape they could not, because such a number must be put to death. The miserable man, therefore, looking at and lamenting both his sons, could not find in his heart to make choice of either, as overcome with an equal love to them both, but stood doubting and deliberating till they were both slain. At the siege of Buda in Hungary, there was among the German captains a nobleman, called Erkius Raschachius, whose son, a valiant young gentleman, being got out of the army without his father's knowledge, bore himself so gallantly in fight against the enemy, in the sight of his father and the army, that he was highly commended of all men, and especially of his father that knew him not at all. Yet before he could clear himself, he was compassed in with the enemy, and, valiantly fighting, slain. Raschachius exceedingly moved with the death of so brave a man, ignorant how near he touched himself, turning about to the other captains, said, This noble gentleman, whosoever he be, is worthy of eternal commendation, and to be most honourably buried by the whole army. As the rest of the captains were with like compassion approving his speech, the dead body of the unfortunate son rescued, was presented to the most miserable father; which caused all them that were there present to shed tears. But such a sudden and inward grief surprised the aged father, and struck so to his heart, that after he had stood a while speechless with his eyes set in his head, he suddenly fell down dead, Anno Dom. 1541. c
And took the knife to slay his son.] The apostle with, he did offer him up a slain sacrifice. Heb 11:17 God took it in as good part as if indeed he had done it, because he would have done it. Every man is so good before God, as he truly desires to be. In vitae libro scribuntur omnes, qui quod possunt faciunt, etsi quod debent, non possunt, saith one father. d And another, e Tota vita boni Christiani sanctum desiderium est. Ambulas, si amas. Non enim passibus ad Deum sed affectibus currimus. Tantum velis, et Deus tibi praeoccuret, saith a third. f
a Aspice vultus Ecce meos, utinamoque oculos in pectora posses Inserere. - Sol Phaetonti, apud Ovid.
b Sozomon, 1. c. 24.
c Turkish Hist.
d Bernard.
e Augustine.
f Basil.