In the Beginning: A Study in Genesis 15-26Muestra

What Does Faith Look Like as a Parent?

Genesis 21 ends with the serene portrait that Abraham’s life has finally all come together under God’s perfect blessing. Despite nearly losing his wife twice, Abraham still has Sarah. Despite waiting for 25 years, Abraham finally has Isaac. After residing near the Philistine king Abimelech for some time, the land he had been using at the kindness of the king was given to him complete with a well to provide fresh water for his large household. The serene scene ends with Abraham planting a tree as a sign of rest, as it appears the drama and uncertainty of his life has come to an end as he settles down to enjoy his days with his son and wife.

However, Genesis 22 is then a brilliant literary contrast to the portrait at the end of Genesis 21. Sometime later, when Isaac was likely a young man, Moses tells us that God tested Abraham. This statement clues us in that God intends not to lead Abraham into sin, but rather prove Abraham’s faith as our old English word for test means. Perhaps the point of this test was not for God to see if Abraham had faith, but rather for Abraham to demonstrate the depth of his faith in front of his son Isaac so that he too would learn to walk in faith as his father had.

Echoing God’s initial call to Abraham in Genesis 12, God commanded Abraham to “go” and sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering. This would have required that Abraham slaughter his son, dismember him, and burn his body. Such a taking of a child’s life was directly forbidden later by God. Obediently, Abraham awoke early the next morning without any noticeable hesitation and set out on the roughly 50-mile trek with his son to do as the Lord commanded.

Just before he murdered his son with the knife in the air above him, the angel of the Lord (again, likely Jesus Christ pre-incarnate) called to Abraham from Heaven commanding him not to harm his son. God then provided a ram to be sacrificed. The angel of the Lord again spoke from Heaven reiterating God’s covenant promises to give Abraham blessing, descendants, land, and blessing to all nations of the earth. Of course, these promises would later be fulfilled when the Father would have His long-awaited, only, beloved Son put to death in our place for our sins.

The comparisons between this account and the death of Jesus are many. Here are some examples through which we see that Isaac is a type of Jesus Christ pointing toward the future fulfillment of what is prophesied in this scene:

Jesus is the Greater Isaac (Genesis 22)

1. Isaac and Jesus were both born in accordance with promises given many years before

2. Isaac and Jesus were both born at God’s appointed time after years of waiting

3. Isaac and Jesus were both born of miracles

4. Isaac and Jesus were both firstborn sons

5. Isaac and Jesus were both loved by their fathers

6. Isaac and Jesus both left their father’s home (Beersheba/Heaven)

7. Isaac and Jesus both journeyed three days (Beersheba/Moriah, cross/empty tomb)

8. Isaac and Jesus were both escorted by two men to their sacrifice (2 servants, 2 thieves)

9. Isaac and Jesus were both young men who carried wood upon their back to their sacrifice

10. Isaac and Jesus both willingly submitted their lives to their father

11. Isaac and Jesus were both laid down as an offering for sin

12. Isaac and Jesus both asked their father a question: “Where is the lamb?”, “Why have you forsaken me?”

13. Jesus is the Angel of the Lord who spared Isaac and died as the sacrifice for sin

14. Isaac was promised that God would provide, and Jesus was that provision

15. Isaac was raised from death figuratively, and Jesus was raised from death literally

16. Isaac and Jesus went forth to get their bride (Rebekah, Church)

According to Hebrews 11:17-19, Abraham’s faith was so great that, “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’” Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

After having walked with God for many years and seeing God provide in very difficult situations, Abraham had apparently learned to trust God no matter what. And his faith in God was so resolute that he believed that even if he killed his son, God, who gave him the son through a miracle, could give him back through yet another miracle. After all, Abraham had also lost his wife on two occasions only to see God bring her back to him, and Abraham believed that God would do the same with Isaac.

Perhaps God brought this test not to discover what was in Abraham’s heart, as God would have already known that. God may have waited for this test until his son Isaac was a young man so that Isaac could see that Abraham loved God more than even his own son whom he dearly loved and trusted God with that which was most dear to him. Also, Isaac could see this event, experience the depth of his father’s faith, and learn to love and trust God as his father did.

Questions:

1. Carefully read aloud Genesis 22:16-18 as they are the last words God speaks to Abraham. Why are these words so critical for Abraham to hear and believe?
2. For those who are parents, could you imagine having the depth of faith that Abraham did, the willingness to sacrifice your only son you had waited 25 years for? What comes to mind as you emotionally consider being in the place of Abraham or Isaac?