Abraham’s Ultimate Test
In our last episode–#10 of Biopic #1—we discussed at length the three important events that took place in Abraham’s life in Genesis 21. These were…
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- The birth and weaning of Isaac—which, while bringing joy and laughter into the lives of Abraham and Sarah, brought out the green-eyed monster in Ishmael;
- The expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael—which, while eliminating the source of much of the strife in Abraham’s household, was a source of great pain to him; and,
- The non-aggression treaty between Abraham and Abimelech—which provided Abraham with some assurance that the place where he was living was going to be a relatively safe and secure environment in which to bring up his son, Isaac.
In this episode from Genesis 22, having followed Abraham through his many previous tests of faith, we will see how he handles the most challenging one yet—that is, the sacrifice of his son—a test which will prove to be nothing less than a Dress Rehearsal for Calvary…
It has been said that this place in the Bible, where we see Abraham preparing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, is the only place where we can observe God’s side of Calvary.[1]
Episode #10 of Biopic #1
Cast: God, Abraham, Isaac, the Angel of the Lord
All on the Altar
Narrator: Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him…
God: Abraham!
Abraham: Here I am.
God: 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 on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.
Narrator: So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men…
Abraham: Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.
Narrator: So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said…
Isaac: My father!
Abraham: Here I am, my son.
Isaac: Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Abraham: My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.
The Anguish of the Father
Narrator: So the two of them went together. Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said…
Angel of the Lord: Abraham, Abraham!
Abraham: Here I am.
Angel of the Lord: 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.
Narrator: 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.’
Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said…
Angel of the Lord: By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.
Narrator: So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying…
‘Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” And Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.
On this rather unusual note, the curtain closes, marking the end of this episode and leaving us to begin our review of this monumental even in Abraham’s life.
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A Somewhat Lengthy Review
Our Review
In order to demonstrate the real significance of the events in this story, I have listed the most important points here, elaborated on them somewhat, and then tried to show how each one provides us with a spiritual picture of God’s sacrifice of His Son on the Cross.
Part 1–The Command
The Command
Part 2–The Journey
The Trek
Part 3–The Reward
The Turnabout
In Summary
Here in this one episode, we have been given an Old Testament preview of God’s sacrifice of His own Son that would take place one day in the future on this very same spot. Through this testing of Abraham, the Gospel Message was being acted out, not only for the benefit of Abraham and Isaac but also for the saints in every generation who would come to faith through it. It also serves as a reminder to us that God’s One Big Story is, from beginning to end, all about the Love of the Father, the Faithfulness of the Son, and the price they were willing to pay for the Redemption of Mankind.
There was a substitute for Isaac but not for Christ
Be sure to join us for our next episode, where we will be traveling along with Abraham’s servant as he searches for a Bride for his Master’s Son.
[1] Anderson, Don, Abram: Delay is Not Denial (Loizeaux Brothers: Neptune, New Jersey, 1987), 185.
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