GENESIS 21 AND GENESIS 22
GENESIS 21 AND GENESIS 22
Chapter 21 shows us, typically, Christ obtaining His place in the believer’s heart; and chapter 22 sets forth that it must be Christ as risen. The person who is the occasion of the feast in the former has to go into death (in a figure, at least) in the latter. Chapter 21 is, in a sense, Christ’s day. We have to bear in mind that these chapters deal with the progress the Christian makes normally; and there is a moment when Christ obtains all the place in our souls. “No longer live, I, but Christ liveth in me”, Galatians 2:20.
“Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned” Genesis 21:8. This meant that Isaac was now the prominent figure in the house. This refers to a very great day in the believer’s history, for Christ is now supreme. This excites the opposition of the man born after the flesh — Ishmael. He had been in the house a good while, but the appearance of Christ, and His being recognised in the house, brought out [p. 292] his true character. Abraham was loth to part with him, but he must be cast out. Abraham’s house is, so to speak, the sphere of faith: Christ now fills this sphere, and there is no place for Ishmael. In the New Testament we find, even in the apostles, the antitype of Abraham’s reluctance to cast out Ishmael: they were slow to give up Jerusalem and her children, notwithstanding that these latter were persecuting Christ.
But we have to learn that even Isaac has to go into death. Christianity is on the ground of the resurrection and ascension of Christ. In Christendom generally Christ is thought of only as He was here in the flesh; there is scarcely any conception of resurrection, and hence Christianity, as a system of things altogether outside the man after the flesh and the world, is but little known.
This emphasises the importance of chapter 22. Abraham is tested by God; he is still the man of faith and Isaac is the only son — must he go into death? Faith surrenders him, but only to receive him back in resurrection. This is a supreme moment, for Abraham is now, figuratively, on the ground of resurrection. In chapter 17 he had the light of resurrection, for God had revealed Himself to him as Almighty; but now he has reached the fact of resurrection, for he is in company with a risen man.
The teaching in Galatians corresponds with these two chapters, especially with chapter 21. Sarah is the free woman, she thinks only of Isaac. There is the energy of the Spirit which will not tolerate the man who mocks at Christ. The question is, who is to occupy the house? only Christ; the Spirit will not admit of anything else. But then, it is Christ risen, and this is chapter 22. Galatians leads on to new creation. “In Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision; but new creation”. Galatians 6:15. This involves resurrection, for we are in Christ only [p. 293] as risen from the dead. New creation is subjective and involves a wholly new man, answering in us to Christ as risen from the dead. In Christianity new creation is the rule and not the law of Moses. “As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God”, Galatians 6:16.
Christians do not reach resurrection because of unwillingness to surrender. God will not test us beyond our faith, but as we progress we are tested. Every test involves surrender; and if we answer manfully to the test, as Abraham did, we get compensation in resurrection. God will not rest till He leads us to this, and we shall find everything there. Everything of God is secured in Christ risen; the Israel of God is there. Scripture is not understood until Christ is known as risen. Blessing results from the surrender made by faith “By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing ... that in blessing I will bless thee”. Genesis 22:16. There is much more, of course, than mere surrender in this wonderful chapter, but still Abraham offered up Isaac in the faith that he should receive him back in resurrection; and it is on this principle that believers now are to give up whatever may be dear to them; and as we surrender, God blesses us.