Genesis 22

Genesis 22 – February 19

In Genesis 22 we find one of the clearest examples of Old Testament foreshadowing of the gospel. Consider the amazing parallels set forth for us. In both cases, there was a child who was promised for many years who was finally born through miraculous means. Both of these sons were required to carry the sacrificial wood up to the top of the mount. (Although we don’t know the precise location, we do know that the mount that Abraham and Isaac ascended is in the same range where Jesus was crucified, possibly the exact same place.) Both of these sons humbly submitted to the will of their fathers, even to the point of death. Both of them viewed their ‘death’ as a sacrifice that would be pleasing to the Lord. This is not accidental symmetry. The Lord was painting a picture of the true and better Isaac who would one day die for the sins of many.

Even so, this chapter leaves many people uneasy. There is no greater pain for a parent than the loss of a child. How much more devastating would it be if the Lord asked you to carry out the task that was given to Abraham? (To be clear, He never will!) Abraham had finally received his child after a century. He had been blessed with joy and laughter only to be told that the child must be sacrificed. Many who read this ask the question, how could Abraham do this? The answer is simple: Abraham knew that the Lord would bring Isaac through alive. Do not overlook what Abraham told his two traveling companions in verse 5. “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” Abraham knew that both of them would come back down that hill alive. 

Just in case you think that I am reading too far between the lines, look forward to Hebrews 11:17-19. “ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” Consider just how incredible that is. Abraham had failed to trust God on multiple occasions. But now, the Lord has grown Abraham’s faith to such an extreme degree that he believed God would resurrect his son in order to keep the covenant. He knew God would never fail to honor His promises. This is all the more stunning when you consider that death had reigned from the time of Adam, and to this point in the world’s history there had never been a single person who had been raised from the dead. Even so, Abraham believed in the coming resurrection of the child of promise.

When Isaac asked, “where is the Lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham responded, “God will provide for Himself a lamb…” When the sacrifice was halted by the Lord, Abraham looked up and saw a ram in a thicket. The Lord did not provide a lamb that day. But, one day Jesus walked over a hill and John the Baptist declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” 

Perhaps the Hebrew name that Abraham gives this place will be more familiar than the English – “Jehovah Jireh.” This is often the name that is invoked by people who are asking the Lord for temporal good. They will say, the Lord is my provider, it is in His very name! But be sure to notice that this is in the future tense, “The Lord WILL provide.” This is then clarified for us that “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” It was there, on the Mount of the Lord, that Jesus was made to be our perfect sacrifice. “But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:26)

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