Genesis 22 - Part 2

In Part I we went through the first 2 verses of Genesis 22 and so I want to pick up on Genesis 22:3.



Genesis 22:3

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

Most people skip over this verse, when pertaining to Christ, but I want us to notice that Abraham was the one who split the wood for the burnt offering. He was the one who “created” the altar. He was the one who was providing the way his son was to die. Just as, God made the seed that made the tree That made the cross that saved me. (taken from a song from Caedmon’s Call).

God provided the way for Christ to die, not man. We must understand this and be ready to defend this. The Emergent movement (or more specifically Steve Chalke) would have us believe that this is “cosmic child abuse” for God to have foreordained the cross. But we must understand Peter’s words in his sermon:

this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

Acts 2:23

(for a more descriptive illustration of understanding the word "foreknowlege" click here.)

Just as Abraham provided the way of Isaac’s death so God did the same in even a more direct way and creative purpose, being that He is God, in the crucifixion and death of Christ.

Genesis 22:5

Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you."

Here is a great gem of the Word of God. We have to notice the small wording and intents of the writer and in this case the one who speaks, Abraham. Notice he says, “I and the lad will go over there, and WE will worship and (WE) will return to you.” (emphasis, and the use of the second “we” mine) Abraham, even though there had been no resurrection to this date, at least recorded in Scripture, believed that Isaac, the promised son, would be resurrected from the dead. He believed that both himself and Isaac would be returning from the altar. You want proof? Take a look:

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED." He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

Hebrews 11:17-19

We see here the complete faith of Abraham in the resurrection of the dead. Abraham knowing that God said that Isaac was to be the promised son, whom his descendants would be like the sands of the shores and the stars in the sky, trusted God even through death. Abraham knew that God’s plan was higher than his and he turned over his own will to the sovereign will of God.
Just as Christ prayed: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me, yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

Luke 22:42

May we also trust in the promises of God, even to death, to know that His ways are higher than our ways and His ways cannot be thwarted.

Soli Deo Gloria!