–Kenneth Pratt (A Love to Die For)
“Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.”
“Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.”
–Galatians 4:28(NKJV)
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Isaac–the son of promise. I would like to take another look at the event that confirmed the faith of Abraham. By this time Abraham was relatively old, and notice that he placed the wood for the sacrifice upon the back of the one who was to be sacrificed. Isaac was to carry the burden, yet while they were walking up the mount the heart of Abraham, the father, must have been tremendously burdened.
Isaac was somewhat confused because he asked his father, “‘Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’ So the two of them went together.” (Genesis 22:7-8, NKJV) Isaac was to be the “lamb” that was provided. He did not fight against his father, he did not struggle. It seemed that he completely trusted his father and willingly allowed himself to be bound and laid down upon the altar. “He bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.” (Genesis 22:9, NKJV). Such faith! Such trust! Not only on the part of Abraham, but also with Isaac.
There is so much symbolism and types in this story. Now, let’s look at another one. “God will provide for Himself the lamb…” The Father, from before the foundation of the world knew that He would provide the “Lamb” for the ultimate sacrifice. The one that would redeem mankind. We know that “without shedding of blood there is no remission” of sin. There was to be a Lamb provided for this sacrifice.
Abraham and the child of promise were together all the time. They had a special bond; they had developed a deep trust in each other. To see one was to see the other. Jesus said that He always does those things that please the Father (John 8:29) as did the earthly Isaac with his father. Jesus sought to please the Father just as Isaac sought to please his father.
The sacrifice had to be made. Abraham understood that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), but, oh what faith. But look again. The knife was in the air, the heart of the father was breaking; he began to lower the knife to make the blood flow when the voice from heaven came. “Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13, NKJV)
Isaac, the son of promise, was spared. However, it was not so with Jesus, the Son of promise. God gave His only begotten Son to be the sacrifice, the propitiation for our sins. His blood flowed down upon that wooden altar that we call the old rugged cross. There was to be no reprieve for the Father, the sacrifice had to be made, blood must be shed for the redemption of mankind and to appease the justice and wrath of God.
We do not read it, but I’m sure that both Isaac and Abraham rejoiced around the burnt offering on the altar. I wonder what they talked about as they went back down the mountain to meet up with the servants? When Jesus was placed upon the altar of sacrifice, the earth shook, the sun darkened; it was not a time and place of rejoicing. The Father turned His back on the sacrifice–and, the Child of promise died, alone, with ALL the sins of humanity now touching His being.
But wait! We no longer mourn, we do rejoice. We might tremble with the awesomeness of it all, but now we can lift our heart with thanksgiving. The Lamb has come to redeem the world, and though once dead, He broke the chains of death and overcame sin and the grave rising victoriously. Yes, this Friday, do not get caught up in the mourning, the emotion of the Lamb dying, but look deeper to realize that His death brought life. Do not mourn for Him–He is risen, and through Him we are too.
—————————————
Isaac–the son of promise. I would like to take another look at the event that confirmed the faith of Abraham. By this time Abraham was relatively old, and notice that he placed the wood for the sacrifice upon the back of the one who was to be sacrificed. Isaac was to carry the burden, yet while they were walking up the mount the heart of Abraham, the father, must have been tremendously burdened.
Isaac was somewhat confused because he asked his father, “‘Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’ So the two of them went together.” (Genesis 22:7-8, NKJV) Isaac was to be the “lamb” that was provided. He did not fight against his father, he did not struggle. It seemed that he completely trusted his father and willingly allowed himself to be bound and laid down upon the altar. “He bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.” (Genesis 22:9, NKJV). Such faith! Such trust! Not only on the part of Abraham, but also with Isaac.
There is so much symbolism and types in this story. Now, let’s look at another one. “God will provide for Himself the lamb…” The Father, from before the foundation of the world knew that He would provide the “Lamb” for the ultimate sacrifice. The one that would redeem mankind. We know that “without shedding of blood there is no remission” of sin. There was to be a Lamb provided for this sacrifice.
Abraham and the child of promise were together all the time. They had a special bond; they had developed a deep trust in each other. To see one was to see the other. Jesus said that He always does those things that please the Father (John 8:29) as did the earthly Isaac with his father. Jesus sought to please the Father just as Isaac sought to please his father.
The sacrifice had to be made. Abraham understood that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), but, oh what faith. But look again. The knife was in the air, the heart of the father was breaking; he began to lower the knife to make the blood flow when the voice from heaven came. “Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13, NKJV)
Isaac, the son of promise, was spared. However, it was not so with Jesus, the Son of promise. God gave His only begotten Son to be the sacrifice, the propitiation for our sins. His blood flowed down upon that wooden altar that we call the old rugged cross. There was to be no reprieve for the Father, the sacrifice had to be made, blood must be shed for the redemption of mankind and to appease the justice and wrath of God.
We do not read it, but I’m sure that both Isaac and Abraham rejoiced around the burnt offering on the altar. I wonder what they talked about as they went back down the mountain to meet up with the servants? When Jesus was placed upon the altar of sacrifice, the earth shook, the sun darkened; it was not a time and place of rejoicing. The Father turned His back on the sacrifice–and, the Child of promise died, alone, with ALL the sins of humanity now touching His being.
But wait! We no longer mourn, we do rejoice. We might tremble with the awesomeness of it all, but now we can lift our heart with thanksgiving. The Lamb has come to redeem the world, and though once dead, He broke the chains of death and overcame sin and the grave rising victoriously. Yes, this Friday, do not get caught up in the mourning, the emotion of the Lamb dying, but look deeper to realize that His death brought life. Do not mourn for Him–He is risen, and through Him we are too.