Isaac: A Picture Of Jesus And A Picture Of Sinners

Genesis 22:1-19

Verse 1 …God tempted Abraham and said to him, “Abraham.”

Abraham said, “Here I am.”

“Tempt” means to test, try, prove

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The Lord called Abraham, and Abraham responded, “Behold, Here I am,” meaning Lord, I’m ready. Lord, I’m willing.

How do you response when the Lord lays on your heart something for you to do?

When He calls you for a service/ministry, do you say “here I am” or do you try to hide or say “I can’t”?

I heard a preacher talking about lazy Christians. He said we can do anything we want to do. But if it isn’t convenient, if it isn’t on our way, if it takes some time or some effort, we use the “I can’t.” “I don’t have the ability.” “I am not talented, gifted in that way” excuses.

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Verse 2 - And God said, Now take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.

Abraham was to offer Isaac as a burnt offering.

The ceremony of the burnt offering is described in Leviticus 1.

The name of the mountain was Mount Moriah.

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Verse 3 - Abraham rose up early in the morning, saddled his donkey. chopped the wood for the burnt offering Abraham took with him two of his young men, Isaac his son, and went to the place of which God had told him.

Abraham rose up early to carry out what the Lord had told him.

He didn’t put if off.

He didn’t pray about it for a year or two.

He obeyed immediately.

Maybe you are willing to do what the Lord has asked you, but you say "not now, I need to prepare. I don’t feel like I’m ready."

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Verse 4 - On the third day of the journey, Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place far off.

Three days’ journey. It wasn’t convenient, and it wasn’t on his way somewhere else.

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Verse 5 - Abraham said to his young men, “You stay here with the donkey. I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.

The lad and I will go worship and come again to you.

I have heard sermons saying this statement shows Abraham’s faith.

He tells the two young men that he and Isaac will go and they will come again.

Both of them would come again.

He believed even if he sacrificed Isaac, God would resurrect Isaac.

The Lord had promised Abraham that through Isaac there would be a great nation.

Abraham believed God's promise.

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Verse 6 - 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 they went both of them together.

Abraham took the wood and laid it upon Isaac’s back.

Isaac wasn’t just a small child.

He may have been as old as thirty, but for sure, he was at least in his late teens.

He was at least strong enough to carry the load of wood to “the place far off.” (verse 4)

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Verses 7-8 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father.”

Abraham said, “Here am I, my son.”

Isaac said, We have the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

Abraham said, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.”

So they both of them went together.

My Father “Here am I.”

Where is the lamb? “God will provide a lamb.”

They had offered sacrifices before. Isaac knew the routine.

He realized the sacrifice (the lamb) was missing.

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Verse 9 - They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built an altar there, laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar on the wood.

They came to the place which God had told him of…

What if Abraham had not gone to the place where God would have him be?

You know the story, so it won’t ruin the ending when I tell you that God provided a ram.

If Abraham had not gone to the place where God had told him to go, the ram would have been provided but Abraham wouldn’t have found it because he would not have been where the ram was.