◄ Genesis 22:19 ►
Abraham went back to his servants, and they got up and set out together for Beersheba. And Abraham settled in Beersheba.
Study Bible
Abraham went back to his servants
This phrase marks the conclusion of the binding of Isaac narrative, where Abraham's faith was tested. The return to his servants signifies the end of a significant spiritual journey. The servants, who were left behind earlier, represent those who witness the outcomes of faith without experiencing the direct encounter with God. This moment highlights Abraham's obedience and trust in God, which is a central theme in his life.

and they got up and set out together for Beersheba
The journey to Beersheba indicates a return to a place of previous significance in Abraham's life. Beersheba, located in the southern part of Israel, was a well-known settlement and a place where Abraham had previously made a covenant with Abimelech (Genesis 21:31). This return can symbolize a restoration or continuation of God's promises to Abraham. The unity in "set out together" underscores the communal aspect of faith and obedience.

And Abraham settled in Beersheba
Settling in Beersheba suggests a period of stability and fulfillment of God's promises. Beersheba becomes a patriarchal center, later associated with Isaac and Jacob. This settlement can be seen as a type of the believer's rest in God's promises after a period of testing. It also foreshadows the establishment of Israel in the Promised Land. The act of settling indicates a trust in God's provision and a commitment to the land promised to Abraham and his descendants.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Abraham
The patriarch of the Israelites, who demonstrated his faith and obedience to God by being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac.

2. Servants
The individuals who accompanied Abraham and Isaac on their journey to Mount Moriah, where the sacrifice was to take place.

3. Beersheba
A significant location in the life of Abraham, often associated with covenant and settlement. It is where Abraham returned after the testing of his faith.

4. Mount Moriah
The place where God tested Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, though this specific location is not mentioned in verse 19, it is the context of the preceding events.

5. Isaac
Abraham's son, who was the subject of the test of faith, though not mentioned in this specific verse, he is central to the account.
Teaching Points
Faith in Action
Abraham's return to Beersheba signifies the completion of a profound act of faith. Believers are encouraged to trust God fully, even when His plans are not fully understood.

Obedience and Reward
Abraham's obedience led to God's reaffirmation of His promises. Obedience to God often precedes blessings and fulfillment of His promises in our lives.

Community and Support
The presence of Abraham's servants highlights the importance of community and support in our spiritual journeys. We are not meant to walk alone.

Returning to Foundations
Beersheba represents a place of covenant and foundation for Abraham. Believers should regularly return to their spiritual foundations and commitments.

God's Provision
The account of Genesis 22 as a whole, culminating in verse 19, reminds us of God's provision and faithfulness, encouraging us to rely on Him in times of testing.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Abraham's return to Beersheba after the test of faith reflect his relationship with God, and what can we learn from this about handling our own tests of faith?

2. In what ways does the location of Beersheba serve as a symbol of God's promises and faithfulness in your life?

3. How can the presence of Abraham's servants during this journey inform our understanding of the role of community in our spiritual walk?

4. Reflect on a time when you had to act in faith without knowing the outcome. How did that experience strengthen your relationship with God?

5. How do the New Testament references to Abraham's faith in Hebrews and James enhance our understanding of the events in Genesis 22, and how can they be applied to our daily lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 21:31-33
Beersheba is previously mentioned as a place where Abraham made a covenant with Abimelech, highlighting its importance as a place of peace and agreement.

Hebrews 11:17-19
This passage in the New Testament reflects on Abraham's faith, emphasizing his belief that God could raise Isaac from the dead, which connects to the faith demonstrated in Genesis 22.

James 2:21-23
James refers to Abraham's actions as evidence of his faith being made complete by his works, reinforcing the theme of faith and obedience.
Sermons
Man's First Hour in HeavenHomilistGenesis 22:19
The Great Trial and the Great RevelationR.A. Redford Genesis 22:15-19
People
Abraham, Aram, Bethuel, Buz, Chesed, Gaham, Hazo, Huz, Isaac, Jidlaph, Kemuel, Maacah, Maachah, Milcah, Nahor, Pildash, Rebekah, Reumah, Tebah, Thahash
Places
Beersheba, Mount Moriah
Topics
Beersheba, Beer-sheba, Dwelleth, Dwelt, Returned, Rise, Rose, Servants, Stayed, Turneth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 22:1-19

     5076   Abraham, life of

Library
Faith Tested and Crowned
'And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

If, Therefore, Even they who are United in Marriage Only for the Purpose Of...
22. If, therefore, even they who are united in marriage only for the purpose of begetting, for which purpose marriage was instituted, are not compared with the Fathers, seeking their very sons in a way far other than do these; forasmuch as Abraham, being bidden to slay his son, fearless and devoted, spared not his only son, whom from out of great despair he had received [1997] save that he laid down his hand, when He forbade him, at Whose command he had lifted it up; it remains that we consider, …
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

The Promise to the Patriarchs.
A great epoch is, in Genesis, ushered in with the history of the time of the Patriarchs. Luther says: "This is the third period in which Holy Scripture begins the history of the Church with a new family." In a befitting manner, the representation is opened in Gen. xii. 1-3 by an account of the first revelation of God, given to Abraham at Haran, in which the way is opened up for all that follows, and in which the dispensations of God are brought before us in a rapid survey. Abraham is to forsake …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Genealogy of Jesus According to Matthew.
^A Matt. I. 1-17. ^a 1 The book of the generation [or genealogy] of Jesus Christ, the son of David [the Messiah was promised to David--II. Sam. vii. 16; John vii. 42], the son of Abraham. [Messiah was also promised to Abraham--Gen. xxii. 18; Gal. iii. 16.] 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren [mentioned here because they were the heads of the tribes for whom especially Matthew wrote his Gospel]; 3 and Judah begat Perez and Zerah [these two were twins] …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jehovah. The "I Am. "
WHEN Moses in the desert beheld the burning bush God answered his question by the revelation of His name as the "I Am." "And God said unto Moses, I am, that I am: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exod. iii:14). He who spake thus out of the bush to Moses was the same who in the fullness of time appeared upon the earth in the form of man. Our Lord Jesus Christ is no less person, than the I AM. If we turn to the fourth Gospel in which the Holy …
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

The Fulfilled Prophecies of the Bible Bespeak the Omniscience of Its Author
In Isaiah 41:21-23 we have what is probably the most remarkable challenge to be found in the Bible. "Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen; let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods." This Scripture has both a negative …
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

Difficulties and Objections
"Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not My way equal? are not your ways unequal?" (Ezek. 18:25). A convenient point has been reached when we may now examine, more definitely, some of the difficulties encountered and the objections which might be advanced against what we have written in previous pages. The author deemed it better to reserve these for a separate consideration rather than deal with them as he went along, requiring as that would have done the …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
The Medes and Cimmerians: Lydia--The conquest of Egypt, of Arabia, and of Elam. As we have already seen, Sennacherib reigned for eight years after his triumph; eight years of tranquillity at home, and of peace with all his neighbours abroad. If we examine the contemporary monuments or the documents of a later period, and attempt to glean from them some details concerning the close of his career, we find that there is a complete absence of any record of national movement on the part of either Elam, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8

Conflict.
"Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against themselves, that ye …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

The Gospel of the Kingdom.
"This is He whom Seers in old time Chanted of with one accord; Whom the voices of the Prophets Promised in their faithful word." We have seen that, in the providence of God, John the Baptist was sent to proclaim to the world that "The Kingdom of Heaven" was at hand, and to point out the King. And as soon as the Herald had raised the expectation of men by the proclamation of the coming Kingdom, our Lord began His public ministry, the great object of which was the founding of His Kingdom for the salvation …
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it?

The Faith of Abraham.
"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God. By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

The Secret of Its Greatness
[Illustration: (drop cap G) The Great Pyramid] God always chooses the right kind of people to do His work. Not only so, He always gives to those whom He chooses just the sort of life which will best prepare them for the work He will one day call them to do. That is why God put it into the heart of Pharaoh's daughter to bring up Moses as her own son in the Egyptian palace. The most important part of Moses' training was that his heart should be right with God, and therefore he was allowed to remain …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

Motives to Holy Mourning
Let me exhort Christians to holy mourning. I now persuade to such a mourning as will prepare the soul for blessedness. Oh that our hearts were spiritual limbecs, distilling the water of holy tears! Christ's doves weep. They that escape shall be like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity' (Ezekiel 7:16). There are several divine motives to holy mourning: 1 Tears cannot be put to a better use. If you weep for outward losses, you lose your tears. It is like a shower …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Of Love to God
I proceed to the second general branch of the text. The persons interested in this privilege. They are lovers of God. "All things work together for good, to them that love God." Despisers and haters of God have no lot or part in this privilege. It is children's bread, it belongs only to them that love God. Because love is the very heart and spirit of religion, I shall the more fully treat upon this; and for the further discussion of it, let us notice these five things concerning love to God. 1. The …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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