Genesis 22:15-24 - Because you have obeyed me

22:15-19

The Lord declares to Abraham. There is a repeat of the promises that Abraham will have innumerable descendants and will take possession of the land, and that all nations on earth will be blessed through his offspring. He is told that this will happen “because you have obeyed me”. Does this mean that Abraham has earned salvation? No. Rather, it is a demonstration of the effectiveness of God’s salvation. The heart of Abraham has been changed from a rebel to a man who trusts and obeys the Lord to the deepest level. Salvation is not a matter of a box being ticked so we go to heaven, it is a matter of our becoming a new creation. The incident has demonstrated that Abraham is a new creation.

22:20-24

We are now told about the fruitfulness of his brother Nahor. Several sons are mentioned. Perhaps the most important mention is that Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Rebekah would soon marry Isaac. So the little section is establishing the connection.