Jesus in GenesisSample

THE PROVIDED SACRIFICE (Genesis 22)

God told Abraham to take Isaac, the son of promise, up to a mountaintop to sacrifice him. It had to be an excruciating experience for both father and son, first as Abraham accepted the instruction, and then as Isaac realized what was happening. But the experience is also full of faith. Abraham first tells his servants, “We will come back to you” (Genesis 22:15). Then, when Isaac notices the wood and fire but asks where the sacrifice is, his father replies that God will provide. And as the story unfolds, God does provide. He dramatically stops Abraham and turns his attention to a ram caught by his horns in the thicket. Abraham was willing to offer his greatest treasure: his son. And that willingness was what God was looking for.

It’s hard not to notice the parallels between Abraham offering his son and, centuries later, God offering His Son on the same mountain. Isaac was led up the mountain and bound, like a lamb to the slaughter. So was Jesus. A multitude of descendants would come through this son, but only after his father gave him up. Same with Jesus. Even though Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, he expected to receive him back by resurrection (Hebrews 11:19). So did God in His sacrifice of Jesus. In this story, God painted a startling preview of the cross nearly two millennia later.

Not only does Isaac represent Jesus in this story, but so does the ram caught by his head in the thicket, a kind of crown of thorns, as it were. Unlike other ancient stories of gods and sacrifices, this one shows us a God who not only demands the sacrifice but also provides it. He issues the requirements and then proceeds to satisfy them. The only response He asks for from Abraham is faith. God completes the assignment Himself.

That’s a beautiful picture of the gospel. Our sin put us in a position of paying an excruciating cost. God provided a sacrifice so the cost would be on His shoulders rather than ours. We may climb His mountain in obedience, but we find Him there with a provision that accomplishes righteousness on our behalf. God actually did what Abraham was asked and then excused from doing. He gave us His Son.