And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
Ver. 13. Behold, behind him a ram.] Be like the angel called behind him; which when he turned to listen to, he spied the ram caught in a thicket, Heb., Sabbech, which signifies the perplexity; winding or binding of a bush or brier. And to this both David seems to allude, Psa 116:19 and the son of David in that famous "Lama Sabachthani" of his. Mar 15:34
And Abraham went and took the ram, &c.] How likely is it, saith one, a that we will offer to God Isaac, our joy, who will not sacrifice the ram; that is, mortify our sinful lusts, and the desires of our flesh! God tempteth us now, saith Mr Philpot, martyr, as he did our father Abraham - commanding him to slay his son Isaac, which by interpretation signifieth mirth and joy - who by his obedience preserved Isaac unto life, and offered a ram in his stead. Similarly, we are to sacrifice to God, our Isaac; that is, our joy and consolation; which if we be ready to do, our joy shall not perish, but live and be increased: although our ram be sacrificed; that is, the pride and concupiscence of our flesh entangled, through sin, with the cares of this stinging world, for the preservation and perfect augmentation of our mirth and joy, sealed up for us in Christ. Thus he. b And as God provided another sacrifice, saith a third, c for Abraham, that so he might save his son, which was a ram tied and entangled in thorns: so God provided a sacrifice for the salvation of the world, Christ that immaculate Lamb; whose head being crowned with thorns, and hanging on the cross, by his death opened unto us the door, and made us capable of eternal happiness. It is probable, saith Bucholcerus, that Abraham, when he slew and sacrificed the ram, looked up to heaven with new eyes full of divine light; and that being filled with the Spirit of God, and carried beyond himself, he thought of more things, he felt more, he seemed to see and hear more than was possible to be uttered. Ipse Deus quodammodo expositurus, et declaraturus Abrahae actionis praesentis augustam significationem, et manu eum ducturus ad introspicienda huius sacrificii sui adyta, promissionem de Christo repetit, et iureiurando confirmat. d
a Bastard's Serm. on Genesis 22:1 .
b Act. and Mon., 1667.
c Itinerar. Scripturae, fol. 99.
d Bucholc. in Chronol., p. 187.