And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
The angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time. If there could be any doubt as to the character and rank of this "angel of the Lord," it must be removed by the solemn asseveration here used-swearing by Himself, there being none greater-and as the executor of the Covenant with the patriarch and his seed, giving full assurances of its accomplishment in the most magnificent results.
Because thou hast ... not withheld thy son, thine only son. Isaac was virtually dead from the time that Abraham commenced his journey to Moriah; and hence, the apostle speaks of his having been offered (Hebrews 11:17: cf. James 2:21). Abraham had not actually sacrificed his son; and if he had, there would have been nothing meritorious in the act itself, but in the state of heart which disposed him to perform it, which was faith. Genesis 22:17-18 contain a renewal of the promises formerly made to the patriarch (Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 15:5) - only the extraordinary multiplication of his posterity-which, in the latter passage, was shown by an appeal to the starry heavens, is here illustrated by a similitude borrowed from the grains of sand on the seashore.
But there are two important additions. The first is, that their greatness as a nation is spoken of, and represented metaphorically by their "possessing the gate of their enemies;" and the second is, that "in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;" literally, shall bless themselves (cf. Genesis 26:4). Instead of the Niphal form х nibrªkuw (H1288)], shall be blessed - i:e., through the medium of Hebrew instrumentality, the Hithpael conjugation is used here х hitbaarªkuw (H1288)], they shall bless themselves, denoting that the nations shall desire to participate in the blessings of Abraham and his seed. In the earlier annunciation of the promises, Abraham was assured that he, individually, would be a source of blessing to the world (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18). But in this passage the expression "in thee" is exchanged for the more expanded form х bªzar`ªkaa (H2233)], "in thy seed" - a form in which the promise was reannounced successively to Isaac (Genesis 26:3), and to Jacob (Genesis 28:14), the patriarchs and their seed being viewed in unity. In the first clause of the latter verse referred to, "thy seed" denotes the natural descendants of Jacob: the term is indefinite in the sacred history, and the progressive character of revelation raises a difficulty in applying it to an individual at so early a stage of the promise. The apostle Paul, however, distinctly interprets it in a personal sense (Galatians 3:16). and his inspired commentary suggests the idea, which is countenanced by the tenor of our Lord's declaration (John 8:56), that the patriarchs had been led, by some means, to cherish the expectation of an individual Saviour.