How must the angelic hosts have watched this illustrious father from stage to stage of his wondrous journey, until at last they beheld his hand stretched forth for the knife to slay his son, that son for which he had so long and ardently wished, and for which he had so steadily trusted God. Then again, what an opportunity for Satan to ply his fiery darts! What abundant room for such suggestions as the following: “What will become of the promises of God with regard to the seed and the inheritance, if you thus sacrifice your only son? Beware that you are not led astray by some false revelation; or, if it be true that God has said so and so, does not God know that, in the day you sacrifice your son, all your hopes will be blasted? Further, think of Sarah; what will she do if she loses Isaac, after having induced you to expel from your house Ishmael?” All these suggestions, and many beside, the enemy might bring to bear upon the heart of Abraham. Nor would Abraham himself have been beyond the region of those thoughts and reasonings which, at such a time, would not fail to arise within him. What then was his answer to all such dark suggestions? Resurrection!

Resurrection is God’s mighty remedy for all the mischief and ruin introduced by Satan; when once we arrive at this point, we are done with the power of Satan, the last exercise of which is seen in death. Satan cannot touch the life that has been received in resurrection, for the last exercise of his power is seen in the grave of Christ; beyond that he can do nothing. Hence the security of the Church’s place: her “life is hidden with Christ in God.” Blessed hiding place! May we rejoice in it more and more each day!