GENESIS CHAPTER 22 ------------------ Verse 1, The word "temp" means to "test, try, or prove." It was not that the Lord did not know what Abraham would do but it was a testing that proved or tried Abraham, just as gold is tried in the fire. As we saw the birth of Isaac was a type of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and so too the offering of Isaac by Abraham, his father, is a type of the offering of the Lord Jesus Christ by His Father. The offering up of Isaac on the altar points to the cross of Calvary. Pink says, "Here it was that God first revealed the necessity for a human victim to expiate sin, for as it was man that had sinned, it must be by man, and not by sacrifice of beasts, that Divine justice would be satisfied." Verse 2, God gives the command to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice (a burnt offering) upon a mountain in the land of Moriah. Notice the words, "thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest." Abraham did have another son, Ishmael, but he was sent away and in type, Isaac is his only son. In this we see the Father's heart for the Son (Jesus). The Lord Jesus was His only Divine Son. Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Ro 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Verse 3, Abraham "rose up early in the morning" without delay. He had learned to obey God. What good would pondering over the situation do? In this verse not only do we see the prompt obedience of Abraham to the Lord, but we also see in type the Lord setting apart the Son before he is to be offered. The passover lamb was separated from the flock 4 days before it was to be offered (Ex 12:3-6). (In the 10th day to the 14th day is probably 3.5 days). The fact that Abraham rose up early in the morning to offer his son, shows us in type that the Father had intended to offer the Son very early, that is from the very beginning. Re 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Verse 4, Three days had passed which may be typical of the 3.5 years of the Lord's ministry before He was offered up on the cross. Verse 5, We see in this verse in type that the Father and the Son were alone in this transaction. Abraham and Isaac are alone in the offering of Isaac. The two men (2 = a witness), witnessed Abraham and Isaac carry the wood to the place of sacrifice but did not witness what transpired at the altar. We see here in type how the "two thieves" along with the world witnessed the Lord Jesus going to the altar, but were not allowed to behold the Lord Jesus during the three hours of darkness (Lu 23:44). Also in this verse we see that Abraham believed that God would raise his son from the dead, because he says that they will both "come again to you." Heb 11:17 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. Verse 6, Isaac was no little lad but a grown young man. The Lord Jesus was 33 years old and was no boy but a man. Here we see that the wood is laid upon Isaac's shoulders, just as the cross was laid upon Christ's shoulders. Just as Isaac was willing to obey his father, this too, in type, points to the Lord Jesus Christ's obedience to His Father in going to the cross. Notice that Abraham and Isaac went "together." The Father and the Son were ONE in what happened at Calvary. Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. It was Abraham that took the fire and the knife in his hand, which in type shows that the judgement which was put upon the Son as a substitute for His people was the "divine judgement" of the Father. Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ... 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Verses 7-8, "God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." These words show us that the offering was FOR God himself and ALSO that it would be God that would provide HIMSELF a lamb. The lamb was not only supplied FOR God but it was supplied BY God, and in the case of the Lord Jesus, He WAS God wrapped in human flesh for the purpose of dying. Nothing in man could meet the divine requirements necessary to expatiate sin. God himself must supply the sacrifice. It must be His only begotten Son. Verses 9-14, We see in these verses that the type shifts from Isaac to the ram. Isaac is bound and in the place of death with judgement hanging over his body. So too, the sinner is bound by his nature, with the wrath of God abiding over him. Here we see the substitutionary death of God's Son in the place of or in the stead of sinners. The ram was offered up in the stead of Isaac (vs 13). The ram was caught in the thicket by his horns, which is probably typical of the crown of thorns that was placed on the Lord Jesus' head. The angel of the Lord, must be the Lord Jesus Christ in pre- incarnate form. Notice the words of the angel: "seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from ME." Jehovahjireh = "The Lord will see, or, provide." Verses 15-18, In these verses we see that because Abraham was willing to offer his only son that a great multitude would be his seed. So too, in type, this points to the Father willing to offer His Son and the Son's willingness to do His Father's will, which resulted in a great multitude being the children of God. Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. It is in the Lord Jesus Christ that all nations of the world are blessed, for he hath redeemed men out of every nation, kindred, tongue and people (Re 5:9). By this experience in these verses, the Gospel was preached to Abraham. Ga 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed. Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad. Verse 19, Abraham returned unto the two men. Perhaps Isaac stayed in the mount, which would be typical of the Lord Jesus ascending into heaven, or perhaps Isaac is just not mentioned returning with Abraham. Verses 20-24, An account of the children born unto Nahor, Abraham's brother.