Today we are doing our final look into Genesis 22:1-19. If you haven’t read the passage yet, or it has been a bit since you did, I recommend reading through these quick 19 verses one more time (link)!

The best part of this story by far, is how it foreshadows the greatest sacrifice ever made – Christ’s death on the cross!

Just as Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his only son – Isaac - out of his love and obedience to God, God the Father sacrificed his one and only son Jesus out of His love for us.

Isaac was not chosen as a sacrifice by any fault of his own, similarly, Jesus was the pure and perfect sacrifice – undeserving of death, but died to pay the price of your sins and mine.

Abraham’s response to Isaac (verses 7 & 8) when he asked where the lamb for the burnt offering was “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” As we discussed Monday, this may have been an indication of Abraham’s hope that God would spare him from truly having to sacrifice his son. But Abraham’s words were true in 2 senses. #1 God did step in a provide a ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac (Verse 13). #2 God sent Jesus – the pure & spotless lamb (Isaiah 53) – to be the sacrifice in place of us. The punishment for sin is death, and Christ stepped in our place as a sacrifice to conquer sin & death!

Hebrews 11:17-19 as we discussed Monday, indicates that Abraham believed in his heart even if God would make him sacrifice Isaac (his only son) God could raise him back to life. Now if that doesn’t trigger an “A-Ha!” moment for you, I don’t know what will! Just as Abraham had hoped for a miracle if God asked him to sacrifice his son and all hope at future descendants, Christ miraculously rose from the grave on the third day, conquering sin and death, making a way for us to be adopted into God’s family of believers.

When it comes down to it – Genesis 22:1-19 is a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice ever made – Christ’s Death on the Cross - and that story is so well summarized in a very famous scripture passage John 3:16-17

^“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”