Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, September 07, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

JESUS, GOD’S ISAAC OFFERED FOR US

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Genesis 22:1-19

Text: Genesis 22:8

Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Introduction: I have told you that Isaac is one of the best pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.

In Isaac we see pictures of the
Supernatural Birth of Christ
Submissive Spirit of Christ
Sacrificial Offering of Christ
Successful Resurrection of Christ
Sending for a Bride for Christ

In our scripture reading today we see three of those pictures described in one of the most moving stories of the Bible. No parent can read Genesis 22 without being touched by the emotional trial of Abraham and Isaac. However, there is something more important than that. This chapter is a prophecy in “type” of JESUS, particularly of His death, burial, and resurrection.

There are actually two clear types of the Lord in this passage, that of Isaac and that of the ram, but I’m going to combine both into this one message.

The clearest description of the crucifixion in the Old Testament is Psalm 22. The clearest explanation of the crucifixion in the Old Testament is Isaiah 53. The clearest TYPE or FIGURE of the crucifixion in the Old Testament is here in Genesis 22.

This is ANOTHER of the passages I believe our Lord and Savior referred to when he said:

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

and again in that chapter:

John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

This could very well have been one of the passages the Lord Jesus Christ used after His resurrection, when He met with two discouraged disciples:

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

First notice,

I. THE DEMAND

Genesis 22:1-2 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

A. The demand for the sacrifice was the will of God

Jesus did the will of the Father
Remember His prayer in the garden: “if it be possible … not my will, but thine be done”
It WASN’T possible! Jesus HAD to die!

B. The demand for the sacrifice was the way of God

II. THE DISTINCTION

Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Hebrews 11:17-18 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Abraham already had a son before Isaac: Ishmael, but in Hebrews 11:17 God calls Isaac Abraham’s “only begotten” son! Compare with John 3:16 to see the importance of this.

A. Isaac was the son of PROMISE

B. Isaac was the son of POWER

He was brought into the world by the supernatural power of God!

III. THE DEVOTION

Luke 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

This reminds us of God’s love:

A. For His Son

B. For sinners

Romans 5:8
Such love! Such wondrous love! Such love! Such wondrous love! That God should love a sinner such as I, How wonderful is love like this!

IV. THE DEVICE

Genesis 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

A. The placing of the wood

First on the back of the son
Then the son on the wood
Remember Calvary and the cross!

B. The piercing of the sacrifice

The knife – remember the soldier’s spear

C. The passing of the sacrifice

1. The fire finished the sacrifice.
2. Jesus said, “It is finished!” He said, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave UP the ghost.”

V. THE DILEMMA

Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

Isaac knew what some lost religionists don’t:

A. A sacrifice was needed

B. Shedding of blood was needed

Hebrews 9:22

VI. THE DEITY

Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

A. Notice the phraseology – “himself”

B. Notice the partnership – “together”

VII. THE DELIVERANCE

Genesis 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

A. A reliance

B. A replacement

C. A resurrection

Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

D. A return

Abraham had told the young men that he and his son would “come again to you.”
Genesis 22:19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba
This reminds us of both the post- resurrection appearances AND the return of Christ to this earth in the future!