Genesis 22 - Part 3

The last time that we left off we ended with Genesis 22:5, with Abraham commenting that "we will worship and return to you." We now move on to the crux of the passage as Abraham and Isaac leave together to worship their God. Here is our verse:

Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.
Genesis 22:6

Notice that this again, is showing Abraham, as the one who prepared the wood for the offering and placing it on his son. We see the same mentioned in John 3:16, that shows that God loved us so much that He sent His Son to be sacrificed. In essence, God placed the cross on the shoulders of Christ for His Son to bear. Notice also that Abraham carries the fire and the knife, those things which actually slay the son. As we have seen before, in Acts 2:23 that Christ was delivered over by the predermined plan and foreknowledge of God. So, God sent Christ to the cross. We also see this more fully in Isaiah 53:4d

...smitten of God, and afflicted

The word for smitten means to be struck down, just as Abraham was to strike down His son.

Genesis 22:8 continues:

Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my
son." So the two of them walked on together.

God will indeed provide a Lamb.

saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power
and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."
Rev 5:12

Notice also that the two of them walking together to the place of the offering, showing a constant communion, as with our Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father. Their constant communion is one that cannot be fully shown on the pages of Scripture and we will never fully understand what it meant spiritually when Christ states on the cross:

Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani?
Mark 15:34

Continuing:

Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the
altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the
altar, on top of the wood.
Genesis 22:9

Two things of note here is to notice that it was Abraham who bound his son Isaac on the wood, showing once again that it was Abraham, just as God was, doing the sacrificing. But, one thing often missed is to know that Isaac is somewhere between the age of 17-35, the Jewish Talmud states that Isaac was in his early 30's, while Abraham was over the age of 100. So, not only did Abraham bound Isaac, but Isaac was old enough and strong enough to not allow this to happen. He could have very well decided that his father was in the wrong and not allow this to happen; but Isaac was a willing sacrifice. Just as Christ. Christ willingly gave up his life.

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set
before Him endured the cross,despising the shame, and has sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

As we conclude, Genesis 22:13 states:

Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in
the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up
for a burnt offering in the place of his son.

Notice that the promised Lamb was not yet sent to Abraham but it was a ram. Christ was yet to come, the Lamb, to take away the sins of not only Isaac but to Abraham and God's chosen people. Isaac, as Christ, was the sacrifice, the willing sacrifice. Notice also that Isaac never once complains to his father, but is submissive to him at all times. The only time he questions his father is asking, "Where is the lamb?" But the question is almost posed as if Isaac was saying I will go and get the lamb if we have none, the question was not to degrade his father. Isaac at all times was submissive to his father; just as Christ.

What great insights in the foreshadowing of the cross. What great promises we have in Christ, that in Him their is no sin and He exchanged that righteousness for those who will believe. Have you believed? Take a look at this site that explains God's great gift of salvation.

Know this. That God provided the ram for Abraham and even greater:

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

He is definitely the great and only, Jehovah Jireh. (Genesis 22:14)