123: Abraham and Isaac

Do you see Jesus throughout your Bible?

A great example of the typology of Jesus in the Old Testament is the story of Abraham laying Isaac on the altar.

Perhaps you’ve heard this spin on the story: “Abraham laid Isaac, the son that he loved, on the altar. Are there any idols in your life that are between you and God? Is God calling you to lay down certain relationships or things that are hindering your relationship with Him? You need to consecrate yourself to God. What are you holding back from God?”

There was a time when I used to teach this passage from that perspective. There is validity in that teaching, but we are missing the primary meaning of that passage when we only focus on our own sacrifices.

Many years ago, in one of our Bible study groups where I taught this perspective on Genesis 22, a woman in the group confessed that her “Isaac” was her collection of designer shoes. She had carried guilt for years because of her love for expensive shoes, and she “laid it down” that night in hopes that God would bless her because of her obedience.

But where is Jesus in all of that?

The problem with taking those stories from the Old Testament and making them man-centered is that we miss the whole point of the story! This account of Abraham offering Isaac is not about us! It’s about our heavenly Father offering His only Son for us. Isaac was a picture of Jesus!

Isaac:
“Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering …”” (Genesis 22:2)¹

Jesus:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Isaac:
“So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and LAID IT ON ISAAC his son.” (Genesis 22:6)

Jesus:
“He, BEARING HIS CROSS, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.” (John 19:17, emphasis mine)

Isaac:
“Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’” (Genesis 22:8)

Jesus:
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

Isaac:
“For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Genesis 22:12)

Jesus:
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

When God told Abraham to take his son, “the son that he loved” and put him on the altar, this is the first time the verb “to love” is used in the Bible. This was God saying, “I’m going to give My Son, My only Son, the Son that I LOVE and offer Him on a cross.” Abraham was willing to go all the way in trusting God. In Hebrews 11 in the “hall of fame of faith,” we see what was on Abraham’s mind when he was willing to offer Isaac:

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.” (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Not even the death of his only son could negate God’s promise! This is a picture of our heavenly Father who went all the way for us. Here we see Jesus on the cross, and Jesus being resurrected for us. God’s only Son, the Son that He loves! Now we can look at God in the same way the angel spoke to Abraham and declare, “For now I know that You love me, Father, since You have not withheld your Son, Your only Son, from me!”

(from pages 198-199 of Unveiling Jesus)

Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!

Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.

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¹All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®.  Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.  Used by permission.”