17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
Commentary
Vs. 17-19 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
The testing of Abraham's faith is one of the great triumphs in the Bible. Because God in choosing to test Abraham's faith in such a profoundly personal way not only revealed the depth of Abraham's faith; but also God revealed of Himself the height and depth and length and breadth of His own loving kindness and mercies because Abraham believed and obeyed His voice (see Gen. 22:1-19, vs. 12, 15-18). And so when Abraham heard God's command to sacrifice his beloved son, the son of God's promise, of whom God said to him "In Issac your seed shall be called" (vs 18.). Abraham obeyed God concluding that God was able to raise Isaac up, even from the dead, in order to keep His Word and promises spoken to him. Therefore Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his own son clearly foretells of God's willingness to sacrifice His own Son for us all, with the goal of raising Him from the dead, so that His blessing of eternal salvation could could to one and to all who believe in Him.
Vs. 20 "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come."
Vs. 20 "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come."
Issac takes his place in God's hall of fame because in putting Jacob before Esau he was putting the will of God before his own. That is though Esau was Jacobs firstborn and preferred son, and according to all social norms should succeed him, God had already chosen Jacob the second born, even from the womb, and had already told Issac that the elder child Esau would serve the younger Jacob, and thus through Jacob, God's promises spoken to Abraham and Isaac would come to fruition. And so even though Issac was initially deceived by Rebekah and Jacob when it came time for Isaac to bestow his blessing on his sons, Jacob let his best blessing rest and remain on Jacob trusting God's choice over his own. (gleaned from Believers Bible Commentary)
Vs 21 "By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
By faith then Jacob when he was dying accepted as his own the sons of Joseph, blessing them and placing Ephraim (the younger) before Manasseh (the elder), while saving his greatest blessing for Joseph the son through whom God had chosen to not only save Jacob and all his sons, but also to keep innumerable persons alive while He was preparing a place for them in the land of Egypt, to fulfill His Word and keep His promises alive and going forward to the generations yet to come. The finial act of Jacob then is very poignant for in seeing the future for all his sons, and seeing afar off the fulfillment of God's promises, Jacob's finial then act was to worship God while leaning on his staff.
Vs. 22 "By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones."
Joseph too then having seen the children of Israel become a great and mighty multitude in Egypt made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, for Joseph could see that the time for God's fulfillment of His Word to bring His people into the land of Canaan was soon at hand. And so Joseph gave instructions regarding his bones, because though Joseph was dying he did not want his finial resting place to be in Egypt, but with God's people in the Promised Land. How about you where's your finial home? Will it be with Christ in the Kingdom of heaven or will it end down here separated and aliened from the love and life of God, and thus end in eternal disaster and ruin? If your unsure then repent and believe in the Gospel and receive the Lord Jesus Christ while the Day of Salvation is near you, because God's Word fulfillment waits for no one, therefore be reconciled to God today!
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
By faith then Jacob when he was dying accepted as his own the sons of Joseph, blessing them and placing Ephraim (the younger) before Manasseh (the elder), while saving his greatest blessing for Joseph the son through whom God had chosen to not only save Jacob and all his sons, but also to keep innumerable persons alive while He was preparing a place for them in the land of Egypt, to fulfill His Word and keep His promises alive and going forward to the generations yet to come. The finial act of Jacob then is very poignant for in seeing the future for all his sons, and seeing afar off the fulfillment of God's promises, Jacob's finial then act was to worship God while leaning on his staff.
Vs. 22 "By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones."
Joseph too then having seen the children of Israel become a great and mighty multitude in Egypt made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, for Joseph could see that the time for God's fulfillment of His Word to bring His people into the land of Canaan was soon at hand. And so Joseph gave instructions regarding his bones, because though Joseph was dying he did not want his finial resting place to be in Egypt, but with God's people in the Promised Land. How about you where's your finial home? Will it be with Christ in the Kingdom of heaven or will it end down here separated and aliened from the love and life of God, and thus end in eternal disaster and ruin? If your unsure then repent and believe in the Gospel and receive the Lord Jesus Christ while the Day of Salvation is near you, because God's Word fulfillment waits for no one, therefore be reconciled to God today!
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
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