GENESIS CHAPTERS 22 THRU 24 :: ABRAHAM OFFERS ISAAC AS A BURNT OFFERING

Here Abraham represents a type of “God the Father” and Isaac a type of “God the Son”.  What is the importance of God saying to Abraham “whom you love”?  That phrase epitomizes the test he would undergo.  A parent looking at the loss of a child can’t help but bring to mind their love for that child and the child’s obedience and love for the parent.  Then there are memories of all of the good times you have had together such as birthdays, travels together and family get togethers.  Abraham was facing a monumental emotional struggle between the love he had for his son and his obedience to God.  It was not enough that he was asked to be deprived of his only son, but he was called upon by God to inflict a violent death upon his son by his own hands.  Also, Abraham’s life had been one of constant exile filled with many enemies and he had endured a miserable and nervous existence, in constant fear of his life clear into his late 80’s and finally Isaac was his one consolation.  Now he was being asked to give him up.

Why was Abraham able to move forward with God’s command to offer Isaac as a sacrifice?

The writer to the Hebrews tells us this, “19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type”. (Hebrews 11:19) It was Abraham’s belief that God would raise Isaac up from the dead.