“…for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” (Genesis 22:12b)

The story that the writer of Genesis 22:1-14 tells is an unbelievable story – without eyes of Faith.

Without eyes of Faith – this story presents God as a “deceiver”; cruel and without compassion. What kind of god would have his servant offer up his only son as a sacrifice?

Without eyes of Faith – one might wonder: What kind of cult was this man Abraham involved in? What kind of deception would cause a man to offer up his only son as a blood sacrifice?

But with eyes of Faith – you can see what Abraham saw, as the writer of Hebrews relates in Hebrews 11:17-19:

“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,” (Hebrews 11:17)

“Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:” (Hebrews 11:18)

“Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” (Hebrews 11:19)

Note especially verse 19, Abraham knew that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead. Also Abraham saw, by faith, that Isaac was a figure (or type) of Christ, the Substitute, the Sacrifice (even the Lamb of God), who would be offered up on the Cross as the Offering for sin, the Burnt Offering, totally consumed by the Wrath of God, for us. (See Isaiah 53:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:21.)

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

It is not the purpose of this devotion to point the reader to every type presented in this story of Genesis 22:1-14.

However, the primary purpose is to point out three things:

1) God was revealing to Abraham His Plan of Redemption; Ratifying (confirming) His Covenant by a Burnt Offering, a Blood Sacrifice, “…My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering…” (verse 8).

a) Not only did Abraham see that God had a plan to provide a burnt offering; but also, He would provide Himself as that Offering. According to Hebrews 11:19; Abraham saw Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as the Burnt Offering; God in the Flesh offering Himself on the Cross as the Offering for sin.

b) Therefore, God was not only the Sovereign Author of the Plan of Redemption; He also was the Sacrifice of Redemption.

2) God was also revealing the Doctrine of Substitution (the innocent for the guilty), the Ram in the thicket:

“And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13)

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1:7)

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

a) John called Jesus “…the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

b) Isaiah pointed to Christ as the Lamb of God; the Offering for sin (Isaiah 53:1-12; especially verses 6-11):

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” (Isaiah 53:10)

“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:11)

3) Abraham’s surrender, submission, and obedience to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering proved Abraham’s Righteous Standing in God. See Genesis 22:12, “…for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”

a) Abraham’s actions did not make him a righteous man; but it proved he was a man of faith (Hebrews 11:17-19).

b) Abraham could not have performed this act without Faith; knowing God was able to raise Isaac from the dead, as Isaac was a type of Christ and His Resurrection (Romans 1:4).

c) And it revealed that Abraham knew of God’s Provision in Christ, by the name he called this place, “Jehovah-jireh”; or “God will provide.”

Reader, if you can see this story as typing out Christ, your Provision – then confess Christ today – if you have not done so prior to now.

Confess Christ as your Sin Offering, the Burnt Offering for your sin; that Christ was your Substitute on the Cross; that He took your punishment; that you are free from the Law of sin and death in Him (Romans 8:2).

Confess Him today:

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10)

Then follow Christ in believer’s water baptism to publicly show your knowledge of your Salvation in His Death, Burial, and Resurrection. Read Romans 3:24-25; 5:1-21; 6:1-23; 7:15-25; 8:1-16. And then confess Him as your Lamb, the Sacrifice for your sin debt, your Savior.