The sacrifice of Isaac

Genesis 22:1-14

God blessed Abraham with his promised son. He was named Isaac, which means ‘he laughs’. In due course God spoke to Abraham saying, ‘Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you’ (v2).

At first reading this is a shocking commandment for God to give and on a human level is pretty much impossible to make sense of. However, God is testing Abraham (v1) and He is about to give one of the clearest indications yet of His future plans. Abraham does as God requests and makes his way to the place where he plans to sacrifice Isaac.

The language of God’s command to Abraham reminds us of the sort of language God uses about Jesus. At Jesus’ baptism God says, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’ (Matthew 3:17). In one of the best known verses of the Bible John summarises the incarnation as follows, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…’ (John 3:16). So both Jesus and Isaac are described as the son, the only son, and the son who is dearly loved.

It is also worth noticing that Isaac has to carry the wood that was to form the basis of the fire for the burnt offering (v6). This too, is echoed in the experience of Jesus who had to carry the wood of His own cross, on which He would be killed (see John 19:17).

Not only that, but Isaac realises that there is no animal for the sacrifice and asks, ‘Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ (v7). Abraham responds with, ‘God will provide for Himself the lamb’ (v8). Ultimately Abraham was spared sacrificing his son because God intervened and provided a ram.

In Jesus, God does provide His one and only beloved Son as a sacrifice. Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:36).

Further reading: John 1:36    John 3:16    John 19:17-18

Worship Video

To think about:
In what areas have you been tested by God?
Has God ever asked you to give up something that was going well because although you didn’t know at the time he had something better planned for you?

Creative Response:

Photo by Bernice

Please remember to go back to previous blog posts to see the creative responses that have been added. Click on the thumbnail pictures to view them.

Please share your creative response using the linky below. To use the linky click on 'Click here to enter'. You will need the URL from your own blog or from a photosharing website like Flickr. Alternatively share your response in the Facebook group.