Isaac: A Type of Christ (Genesis 22)
It is interesting that when we look at Isaac here in Genesis 22, we find that he was a type or a picture of Jesus Christ. This is seen by comparing them both. There are a number of similarities between the binding of Isaac and the crucifixion of Christ. 1. Both were offered or given by their fathers. Abraham gave his son and God the Father gave His Son to be a sacrifice. Genesis 22:2, “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” Hebrews 11:17, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son”. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 2. Both Jesus and Isaac took a donkey to the place where they were to be sacrificed. Genesis 22:3, “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.” Matthew 21:2, “Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.” 3. Both Jesus and Isaac carried wood on their back up a hill to the sacrifice. Genesis 22:6, “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.” John 19:17, “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha”. 4. God provided for Himself the lamb to be sacrificed. God provided the lamb for the sacrifice. The Lamb was provided by God for it had to be acceptable to Him. The Lamb had to meet God's requirements. It had to satisfy Him. That is why Christ was the only One who could die for the sins of mankind. Genesis 22:8, “And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” 5. Both Jesus and Isaac were fastened and placed on the wood to be sacrificed. Genesis 22:9, “And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.” Luke 23:33, “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” 6. Both Isaac and Jesus were obedient to their father even unto death. Abraham laid Isaac down and Isaac stayed there. He did not try to get away or fight his father. He laid down in submission to His father's will. Christ laid down His life for us, too. Genesis 22:9, “And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.” Matthew 26:39, “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” John 10:17-18, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” 7. Both men were released from death on the third day. To Abraham, Isaac was as good as dead. Yet, Isaac was released from death on the third day. Jesus was released from death on the third day as well. Jesus had conquered death and Hell. Genesis 22:4, “Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.” Luke 9:22, “Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.” In Genesis 22, we see the offering of Isaac at Mt. Moriah. Isaac was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ being offered up by His own Father. He is also a type of a sinner being punished for his sins, but finds substitute in the Lord Jesus Christ, represented by the ram caught in the thicket. The journey to the mount was a three-day walk. Jesus was in the tomb for three days. What is also interesting is that in order for there to be worship to the Lord, there needed to be a sacrifice offered (Genesis 22:6). We find he carried wood. In this we see the cross of Calvary. He carried a knife, the sacrifice had to be killed and offered. Jesus had to die. He carried the fire for the offering of the sacrifice. This was God’s judgment on sin. Isaac asked Abraham a very important question. Where is the lamb for the sacrifice? Abraham’s answer was God Himself will provide a lamb. Isaac was taught since childhood that the innocent had to die in the place of the guilty in order for God to save them. Isaac asked his father why they were trying to worship without a lamb. You can’t come into the house of God and worship God without the Lamb of God. When we worship Him, we must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24). When the God of the universe is rightly worshipped, powerful things happen. When Jesus is passionately adored without shame or charade, without entertainment or needless comedy, God shows up. We were created and saved for the sole purpose of bringing glory to God. True worship recognizes that I am for Him. I breathe for Him. I live for Him. I spend my life for Him. The essence of worship is proclaiming God’s rightful worth and position. God leads us to the place of worship because that is the place where we rightly belong. The word worship in the Old Testament means “to bow before.” It’s the picture of pressing your forehead to the ground in extreme humility and recognition of the infinite superiority of the one who is worshipped. That is our rightful place. The amazing thing is not that God invites our worship, it’s that He would care about what we as sinful people would say about Him at all, and even more, that He would seek it. Prayer: You are so worthy of all my worship and praise, yet I rarely take the time to allow myself to ponder all You have done for me. Help me to live constantly in a spirit of adoration, praise, and worship. In Jesus’ mighty and precious name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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