Things always work out for people who have faith.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Day the Cowboys Quit)
“Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.”
–Psalm 89:2 (NLT)
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The child of promise–Isaac. There was a celebration at his birth, but then he brought havoc to the family of Abraham. Ishmael, who was fourteen began to mock the boy causing Sarah to tell Abraham to get rid of the boy. At fourteen, there had to be a fairly strong relationship between Abraham and Ishmael, but Abraham did indeed send Hagar and Ishmael away.
The child of promise–Jesus. When He was born there was a celebration in the heavens, but also in the lowly stable where He lay. Upon the birth of Jesus, He brought problems that Joseph and Mary did not perceive, but also brought havoc upon the community and the people. Herod had the male children under two in Bethlehem killed, and Joseph had to flee with his family to Egypt.
The day came, it must have greatly concerned Abraham when God told him to take Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice to Him. Most likely Abraham’s life revolved around Isaac, especially now that Ishmael was no longer on the scene. “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.'” (Genesis 22:1-2, NKJV)
God is omniscient, so why did God ask Abraham to do this? We are not given a glimpse into the spiritual realm at this time. James Whitelaw says that, “many events are going on behind the scenes in spiritual realms, about which we know nothing.” But also, we are to see Abraham and Isaac as a type of the Father and the Son. Abraham knew God’s plan revolved around Isaac.
I never really thought about it much, the age of Isaac that is. I never thought of him to be a child or a very young person because of the load he was to carry. There is much speculation regarding his age at this time. Most scholars believe he was an older teenager, 17-20 years old. Josephus states that Isaac was twenty-five years old, while Adam Clarke states, “It is more probable that he was now about thirty-three.” We know he was a young man, but that takes in a lot of years. The Bible says this, “And Abraham said this to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.'” (Genesis 22:5, NKJV) These words, “young lad” literally mean “young man.”
But also, in this verse, we see the faith of Abraham. “We will come back to you.” He knew in his heart of hearts that God would provide. At this time Isaac did not know of the plan or situation that he was soon to find himself. He was told that God would provide the sacrifice, and though it was to be Isaac, Abraham knew that something had to happen–wasn’t he the child of promise? God is faithful, He cannot lie or break His promise. The wood for the sacrifice is laid upon Isaac’s back–Christ bore His cross made of wood.
This father was willing to obey the heavenly Father. We see the idea of God the Father offering His Son as a sacrifice just as Abraham was willing to do. But what of Isaac? There is no sign of struggle. We see that he is obedient to the will of his father. He submitted unto death. His thoughts are unknown as he lay upon the altar, bound. He did not question, he did not cry out or object. His life seemed to be one of obedience and accommodating. Did he want to die? Surely not, “let this cup pass from me,” he may have thought, but nevertheless as my father wills.
Knife in hand, ready to offer up his only son, Abraham prepared to make this extreme sacrifice. There would be suffering, both on the part of Isaac, but also upon Abraham, the father. Then the words, “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’ (Genesis 22:10-12, NKJV) It was then that Abraham saw the ram in the thicket that was to be the sacrifice.
The father was ready to give his all to the Lord. This son of promise was to be the sacrifice. How much does that show us of our heavenly Father who was to provide the ultimate sacrifice of His only Son. The difference here is that the Father carried out the sacrifice for us. Jesus willingly gave His life for our redemption. Both Abraham and Isaac knew that God would be faithful and trusted Him. Jesus, while on the cross, also knew that He would not be left in the tomb. While God, His Father, did not provide another sacrifice, another means, Jesus would rise in glory.
One more little note that I just recently noticed in this bit of reading. In verse 11, there is the term “Angel of the LORD.” This is referred to as a theophany, and most often to the preincarnate Christ. The Son of God gave the order to Abraham to stay his hand from slaying Isaac. That thought overwhelms me! God is indeed, faithful and true! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, NKJV)
———————————-
The child of promise–Isaac. There was a celebration at his birth, but then he brought havoc to the family of Abraham. Ishmael, who was fourteen began to mock the boy causing Sarah to tell Abraham to get rid of the boy. At fourteen, there had to be a fairly strong relationship between Abraham and Ishmael, but Abraham did indeed send Hagar and Ishmael away.
The child of promise–Jesus. When He was born there was a celebration in the heavens, but also in the lowly stable where He lay. Upon the birth of Jesus, He brought problems that Joseph and Mary did not perceive, but also brought havoc upon the community and the people. Herod had the male children under two in Bethlehem killed, and Joseph had to flee with his family to Egypt.
The day came, it must have greatly concerned Abraham when God told him to take Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice to Him. Most likely Abraham’s life revolved around Isaac, especially now that Ishmael was no longer on the scene. “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.'” (Genesis 22:1-2, NKJV)
God is omniscient, so why did God ask Abraham to do this? We are not given a glimpse into the spiritual realm at this time. James Whitelaw says that, “many events are going on behind the scenes in spiritual realms, about which we know nothing.” But also, we are to see Abraham and Isaac as a type of the Father and the Son. Abraham knew God’s plan revolved around Isaac.
I never really thought about it much, the age of Isaac that is. I never thought of him to be a child or a very young person because of the load he was to carry. There is much speculation regarding his age at this time. Most scholars believe he was an older teenager, 17-20 years old. Josephus states that Isaac was twenty-five years old, while Adam Clarke states, “It is more probable that he was now about thirty-three.” We know he was a young man, but that takes in a lot of years. The Bible says this, “And Abraham said this to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.'” (Genesis 22:5, NKJV) These words, “young lad” literally mean “young man.”
But also, in this verse, we see the faith of Abraham. “We will come back to you.” He knew in his heart of hearts that God would provide. At this time Isaac did not know of the plan or situation that he was soon to find himself. He was told that God would provide the sacrifice, and though it was to be Isaac, Abraham knew that something had to happen–wasn’t he the child of promise? God is faithful, He cannot lie or break His promise. The wood for the sacrifice is laid upon Isaac’s back–Christ bore His cross made of wood.
This father was willing to obey the heavenly Father. We see the idea of God the Father offering His Son as a sacrifice just as Abraham was willing to do. But what of Isaac? There is no sign of struggle. We see that he is obedient to the will of his father. He submitted unto death. His thoughts are unknown as he lay upon the altar, bound. He did not question, he did not cry out or object. His life seemed to be one of obedience and accommodating. Did he want to die? Surely not, “let this cup pass from me,” he may have thought, but nevertheless as my father wills.
Knife in hand, ready to offer up his only son, Abraham prepared to make this extreme sacrifice. There would be suffering, both on the part of Isaac, but also upon Abraham, the father. Then the words, “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’ (Genesis 22:10-12, NKJV) It was then that Abraham saw the ram in the thicket that was to be the sacrifice.
The father was ready to give his all to the Lord. This son of promise was to be the sacrifice. How much does that show us of our heavenly Father who was to provide the ultimate sacrifice of His only Son. The difference here is that the Father carried out the sacrifice for us. Jesus willingly gave His life for our redemption. Both Abraham and Isaac knew that God would be faithful and trusted Him. Jesus, while on the cross, also knew that He would not be left in the tomb. While God, His Father, did not provide another sacrifice, another means, Jesus would rise in glory.
One more little note that I just recently noticed in this bit of reading. In verse 11, there is the term “Angel of the LORD.” This is referred to as a theophany, and most often to the preincarnate Christ. The Son of God gave the order to Abraham to stay his hand from slaying Isaac. That thought overwhelms me! God is indeed, faithful and true! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, NKJV)