Throughout the OT, we see many pictures and types of Jesus Christ. None of them are more beautifully displayed than Abraham’s test of faith.
Gen. 22:1-2 “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,”
1. He was Abraham’s only begotten (unique) son.
“Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest,”
2. The same place as Jesus’ death on the cross.
“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.”
3. He carried the wood for his sacrifice like Jesus.
V6 “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.”
4. God provided Himself (Jesus) the sacrificial Lamb.
V7b-8a “And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:”
5. Where Abraham stopped, God continued and poured out our wrath on Jesus.
•Abraham
V10-12 “And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him:”
•God the Father
Is. 53:6b-7a “the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,”
6. God provided an acceptable sacrifice of worship for sin.
V13 “And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.”
more beautifully displayed than Abraham’s rest of faith.
LESSON - We have evidence to believe that Abraham was fully prepared to slay his son Isaac on the altar before God. He knew that God would fulfill his promise and raise him from the dead. This is without a doubt the ultimate depiction of Jesus Christ. God did indeed offer Jesus Christ up as a sacrifice for sins. But he was so please with Jesus’s sacrifice that God the Father raised Him from the dead three days later.
Heb. 11:17-19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”
Abraham’s actions revealed an undeniable faith in God to keep His promises to Abraham. What do your thoughts, speech, & actions reveal about YOUR faith in God?
~Mike