11.18.2015

Lessons from Abraham Sacrificing Isaac



Genesis 22:11-14
But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

So he said, “Here I am.”

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.”

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.

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.”
Comment: Image source: Abraham Sacrificing Isaac (1650), Laurent de La Hyre (1606–1656)

Lessons: Here God teaches His people

  1. That there is no higher test of covenant loyalty than to give up one's beloved son for another (consider John 3:16-17)
  2. That God will preserve the seed of His promise so that it will certainly be fulfilled. 
  3. That a substitutionary offering is nevertheless necessary (Genesis 22:8)
  4. That God thus provides for His people in all of their needs, their greatest being the forgiveness of sins. Cf  Mark 2:8-10



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