The Sacrifice of Isaac
Gospel Prompt
Do you think we can learn about Jesus from the story of how Father Abraham must sacrifice his unique and beloved son, Isaac?
Read the Passage
Genesis 22:1-19
1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 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.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said 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.” 6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” 12 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.” 13 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. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” 15 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
Find the Gospel in the Story
LISTEN TO THE STORY OF ISAAC
Isaac was the unique and beloved son of Abraham; he was the covenant son of promise (Gen 22:2; Heb 11:17). But there came a terrible day when Father Abraham was required to offer his beloved son as a bloody sacrifice on a hill outside Jerusalem called Mount Moriah (Gen 22:2).
On the third day after hearing God's decree, Abraham and Isaac arrived at the mount. Abraham placed the wood for the sacrifice on the back of his son. The father then looked on in grief as his beloved son was made to carry the wood for his own sacrifice up the hill.
"Where is the lamb for the sacrifice?" Isaac asked his father. Abraham assured his son that God would provide a lamb for the sacrifice. But atop the mount, Abraham revealed that Isaac would be the sacrifice that day. Isaac could have resisted. But instead, in obedience to his father, the beloved son submitted to be bound upon the wood of the sacrifice and receive the lethal piercing.
However, this was the third day since Isaac had first come under God's decree of death. This was the day that God had ordained for Isaac to finally escape from death! At the last moment, God sent an angel to deliver Isaac! God provided a ram for the sacrifice in the place of Isaac, and the beloved son was restored to his father's love on the glorious third day!
DID YOU HEAR THE STORY OF JESUS?
Jesus was the Unique and Beloved Son of God; he was the Covenant Son of Promise (Gen 22:2; Heb 11:17). But there came a terrible day when Father God was required to offer his Beloved Son as a bloody sacrifice on a hill outside Jerusalem called Mount Calvary (Gen 22:2).
On that fateful day, Jesus arrived at the mount. The Roman soldiers placed the wood for the sacrifice on his back, and the Father looked on in grief as his Beloved Son was made to carry the wood for his own sacrifice up the hill.
Atop the mount, Jesus could have resisted the Roman soldiers. But instead, in obedience to his Father's will, the Beloved Son submitted to be bound upon the wood of the sacrifice and receive the lethal piercing.
Although God had provided a ram to take the place of Isaac, this time, God did not provide a substitute for Jesus. Jesus was the Lamb of God. He was the substitute sacrifice that God had ordained to take our place. Unlike Isaac, Jesus suffered actual death in our place. But on the third day after Jesus laid down his life for us, God sent his angels to deliver him from death! The Beloved Son was restored to his Father's love on the glorious third day!
