3248. 'While he was still living' means to whom he was able to impart life. This is clear from the meaning of 'while he was still living', or while he still lived, as imparting life; for 'Abraham' here represents the Lord as regards the Divine Human. Regarding the Lord's Divine Human being the source of life for those who are spiritual, see 2661, 2716, 2833, 2834. When that is the source of their life the Lord is said to live with them, as also in everyday speech. Consequently 'while Abraham was still living' means in the internal sense imparting life. Life is imparted to those who are spiritual through the good of faith, which is what the words that follow next are used to mean.

2834. 'And offered it as a burnt offering instead of his son' means their sanctification and adoption. This is clear from the meaning of 'offering as a burnt offering' as being sanctified, dealt with in 2776, and from the meaning of 'instead of his son' as being adopted, that is to say, by the Lord's Divine Human, meant here by 'Abraham', 2833. The adoption of those who were spiritual is described in John,

Jesus said, I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5.

'The vine' is the spiritual Church, see 1069.