How does Genesis 22:7 foreshadow Christ's sacrifice as the Lamb of God? Setting the Stage on Mount Moriah “Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘My father.’ ‘Here I am, my son,’ he replied. ‘The fire and the wood are here,’ said Isaac, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’” (Genesis 22:7) Isaac’s Question: A Child’s Wonder, a Prophetic Inquiry • Isaac notices everything necessary for sacrifice—except the sacrificial victim. • His innocent question pierces the moment, exposing the tension between obedience and provision. • Unwittingly, Isaac asks the very question that will echo through redemptive history: “Where is the Lamb?” Foreshadowing the Lamb of God • Isaac’s words anticipate the ultimate answer God gives centuries later in Jesus Christ. • Scripture identifies Jesus as “the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:6). • John the Baptist announces, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). • Isaac’s question highlights humanity’s need; Christ is God’s provided solution. Parallels Between Isaac and Jesus • Only Son: Isaac is called Abraham’s “only son” (Genesis 22:2); Jesus is God’s “one and only Son” (John 3:16). • Beloved: Both sons are deeply loved by their fathers. • Voluntary Submission: Isaac carries the wood (Genesis 22:6); Jesus carries the cross (John 19:17). • Sacrifice on a Mountain: Moriah later becomes the site of the Temple mount and, nearby, Calvary (2 Chronicles 3:1). • Resurrection Expectation: Abraham believes God can raise Isaac (Hebrews 11:19); God actually raises Jesus on the third day (Matthew 28:6). God Will Provide: Abraham’s Reply and God’s Ultimate Provision “Abraham answered, ‘God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’” (Genesis 22:8) • Abraham’s prophetic statement reaches beyond the immediate ram caught in the thicket (Genesis 22:13). • The verb “provide” (Hebrew ra’ah, “to see”) points to God’s foresight and foreordination of Christ’s sacrifice (Acts 2:23). • Calvary fulfills the promise: God does not spare His own Son but gives Him up for us all (Romans 8:32). Seeing Jesus in the Details • Three-Day Journey (Genesis 22:4) mirrors the third-day resurrection theme. • Wood on the son’s shoulders prefigures the cross-beam. • The substitute ram (Genesis 22:13) typifies substitutionary atonement (1 Peter 3:18). • The naming of the place “The LORD Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14) fixes the spotlight on God’s definitive provision: Christ crucified. New Testament Confirmation • 1 Peter 1:18-19: “You were redeemed … with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.” • Revelation 13:8: “The Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world.” • Isaiah 53:7 anticipates Him: “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.” Living in the Light of the Lamb • Isaac’s question invites us to behold God’s answer—Jesus, the spotless Lamb. • Confidence grows as we see God’s consistent purpose: He both demands and supplies the sacrifice. • Worship flows from recognizing that the Lamb has taken our place, once for all (Hebrews 10:10). |
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