Notes from Genesis 22

We have here the famous story of Abraham's offering up his son Isaac, that is, his offering to offer him, which is justly looked upon as one of the wonders of the church. Here is,

I. The strange command which God gave to Abraham concerning it (v. 1, 2).
II. Abraham's strange obedience to this command (v. 3-10)
III. The strange issue of this trial.
1. The sacrificing of Isaac was countermanded (v. 11, 12).
2. Another sacrifice was provided (v. 13, 14).
3. The covenant was renewed with Abraham hereupon (v. 15-19).
Lastly, an account of some of Abraham's relations (v. 20, etc.)

Notes from Genesis 21

In this chapter we have,

I. Isaac, the child of promise born into Abraham's family (v. 1-8).
II. Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, cast out of it (v. 9-21).
III. Abraham's league with his neighbour Abimelech (v. 22-32).
IV. His devotion to his God (v. 33).

Notes from Genesis 20

We are here returning to the story of Abraham; yet that part of it which is here recorded is not to his honour. The fairest marbles have their flaws, and, while there are spots in the sun, we must not expect any thing spotless under it. The scripture, it should be remarked, is impartial in relating the blemishes even of its most celebrated characters. We have here,

I. Abraham's sin in denying his wife, and Abimelech's sin thereupon in taking her (v. 1, 2).
II. God's discourse with Abimelech in a dream, upon this occasion, wherein he shows him his error (v. 3), accepts his plea (v. 4-6), and directs him to make restitution (v. 7).
III. Abimelech's discourse with Abraham, wherein he chides him for the cheat he had put upon him (v. 8-10), and Abraham excuses it as well as he can (v. 11-13).
IV. The good issue of the story, in which Abimelech restores Abraham his wife (v. 14-16), and Abraham, by prayer, prevails with God for the removal of the judgment Abimelech was under (v. 17, 18).

Notes from Genesis 19

The contents of this chapter we have, 2 Pt. 2:6-8, where we find that "God, turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, and delivered just Lot.' It is the history of Sodom's ruin, and Lot's rescue from that ruin. We read (ch. 18) of God's coming to take a view of the present state of Sodom, what its wickedness was, and what righteous persons there were in it: now here we have the result of that enquiry.

I. It was found, upon trial, that Lot was very good (v. 1-3), and it did not appear that there was any more of the same character.
II. It was found that the Sodomites were very wicked and vile (v. 4-11).
III. Special care was therefore taken for the securing of Lot and his family, in a place of safety (v. 12-23).
IV. Mercy having rejoiced therein, justice shows itself in the ruin of Sodom and the death of Lot's wife (v. 24-26), with a general repetition of the story (v. 27-29).
V. A foul sin that Lot was guilty of, in committing incest with his two daughters (v. 30, etc.).

Notes from Genesis 18

We have an account in this chapter of another interview between God and Abraham, probably within a few days after the former, as the reward of his cheerful obedience to the law of circumcision. Here is,

I. The kind visit which God made him, and the kind entertainment which he gave to that visit (v. 1-8).
II. The matters discoursed of between them.
1. The purposes of God's love concerning Sarah (v. 9-15).
2. The purposes of God's wrath concerning Sodom.
(1.) The discovery God made to Abraham of his design to destroy Sodom (v. 16-22).
(2.) The intercession Abraham made for Sodom (v. 23, etc.).

Notes from Genesis 17

This chapter contains articles of agreement covenanted and concluded upon between the great Jehovah, the Father of mercies, on the one part, and pious Abram, the father of the faithful, on the other part. Abram is therefore called "the friend of God,' not only because he was the man of his counsel, but because he was the man of his covenant; both these secrets were with him. Mention was made of this covenant (ch. 15:18), but here it is particularly drawn up, and put into the form of a covenant, that Abram might have strong consolation. Here are,

I. The circumstances of the making of this covenant, the time and manner (v. 1), and the posture Abram was in (v. 3).
II. The covenant itself. In the general scope of it (v. 1). And, afterwards, in the particular instances.
1. That he should be the father of many nations (v. 4, 6), and, in token of this, his name was changed (v. 5).
2. That God would be a God to him and his seed, and would give them the land of Canaan (v. 7, 8). And the seal of this part of the covenant was circumcision (v. 9-14).
3. That he should have a son by Sarai, and, in token thereof, her name was changed (v. 15, 16). This promise Abram received (v. 17). And his request for Ishmael (v. 18) was answered, abundantly to his satisfaction (v. 19-22).
III. The circumcision of Abram and his family, according to God's appointment (v. 23, etc.).

Notes from Genesis 16

Hagar is the person mostly concerned in the story of this chapter, an obscure Egyptian woman, whose name and story we never should have heard of if Providence had not brought her into the family of Abram. Probably she was one of those maid-servants whom the king of Egypt, among other gifts, bestowed upon Abram (ch. 12:16). Concerning her, we have four things in this chapter:-

I. Her marriage to Abram her master (v. 1-3).
II. Her misbehaviour towards Sarai her mistress (v. 4-6).
III. Her discourse with an angel that met her in her flight (v. 7-14).
IV. Her delivery of a son (v. 15, 16).