Genesis 22

Genesis 22:1-18

Chapter 25 THE OF ISAAC “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.”Genesis 22:1-18 In Hebrews 5:8 we read that our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” And that which was true of our Redeemer, when he walked upon this earth as a man, is true of us. If we are the children of God, as long as we live in this body of flesh, we will be required to learn obedience. And we learn obedience by the things which we suffer by the hand of God’s wise and good providence. The life of the believer is a series of trials, by which his faith is tested, proved, and strengthened. Christian character is developed by discipline. And God will develop the character of his saints. It appears that frequently there is one great trial of faith, for which all other trials seem to be preparatory. Certainly, that was the case with Abraham and the great trial of his faith revealed to us in Genesis 22. This is one of the great chapters of the Bible. Here, for the first time, God shows us, in a vivid picture, the necessity of a human sacrifice for the ransom of our souls. Because it was a man who brought sin into the world, sin must be removed by a man. Because man had sinned, a man must suffer the wrath of God and die. The blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin. But the Man, Christ Jesus, “after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God…For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:4; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 10:14). Genesis 22 records Abraham’s greatest trial and the greatest revelation of the gospel which God made to Abraham. I am sure our Lord was referring to this chapter when he said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). This chapter is full of Christ and full of redemption. Someone suggested, “It could rightly be called, ‘The Gospel of Moriah’.” Many, with good reason, believe that Mt. Moriah and Mt. Calvary were the same place. Everything in this chapter portrays God’s great sacrifice of his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the place of sinners. We have before us examples of great faith in Abraham and in Isaac. God’s great purpose of grace in Christ is displayed in Abraham’s confident declaration, “God will provide himself a lamb,” and in his calling the name of the place “Jehovah-jireh.” However, the dominant theme of the chapter is the picture set before us of substitutionary redemption and God’s great provision for his people in Christ. As the ram caught in the thicket was sacrificed in Isaac’s stead and God provided in that ram everything Isaac needed, so Christ died in the room and stead of his people, and God has given his elect all we need for time and eternity in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). The Time Notice first the time when this trial was brought upon Abraham (Genesis 22:1). “And it came to pass after these things” - After all the other trials, hardships, heartaches, and difficulties he had already endured, perhaps Abraham had begun to think, “At last, the storms are over.” This is the man who had been called to leave his home and family. – This is the man who had buried his father, Terah, in Haran. – This is the man who had to endure the family strife with Lot. – This is the man who had to go to war with the heathen kings to save Lot. – This is the man who had to wait 25 years for God to fulfil his promise in giving him a son, the son he is now required to sacrifice. – This is the man who had seen his brother Lot’s family swept away in God’s wrath. – This is the man who had been required to cast his son out of his house. Abraham must have thought to himself, after all he had been through, “Now the worst is over. Now I will live in peace. Ishmael is gone. Hagar is gone. Lot is gone. But I have Sarah and Isaac. All is well.” But it was not so. “It came to pass after these things that God did tempt,” test, try, and prove, “Abraham.” Abraham had been tested again and again. But now the Lord seems to say, “My son, give me thine heart” (Proverbs 23:26). The Tempter The one who brought this trial upon Abraham was the Lord his God. – “God did tempt Abraham” (Genesis 22:1). The word tempt here means, “to try,” “to test,” or “to prove” (James 1:2-3; James 1:12). God brought this trial upon Abraham, not because he was angry with him, but because he loved him. The purpose of the trial was to prove to Abraham the reality of his faith and to reveal to Abraham the glory of God’s grace in Christ. When the trial was over, Abraham knew himself better than he did before; and he knew Christ better than he did before. All through his life God had been preparing Abraham for this event. Now, “it came to pass after these things.” Our great, sovereign God does all things “in due time” (Romans 5:6), “in the fulness of time” (Galatians 4:4). “After these things” - After the fall, the flood, the exodus, the tabernacle, the law, the prophets, the kings, and the priests had all run their course, it pleased God to fulfil every prophecy, pattern, and promise of Holy Scripture by the sacrifice of his only begotten Son. All that came before were preparatory events, picturing and pointing to the hour when Christ would die (Acts 10:43; Luke 24:27; Luke 24:44-46). God’s providence is always on time. “All things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18). God does all things well. Let us learn these three things, and we will learn to live in peace: Our trials always come from our heavenly Father. Our trials are brought upon us by God to prove and improve our faith. Our trials reveal Christ and make him more precious. Read Genesis 22:2 and try to realize something of the magnitude of this great trial, which God’s friend and faithful servant was here called upon to endure. “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.” The words of this verse, taken one by one, reveal the greatness of Abraham’s sacrifice, the love behind it, and the agony he endured through it. Can you imagine Abraham’s grief when he received this command? Who can enter into the sorrow he suffered as he contemplated the death of his son by his own hand? What great love he must have had for God to willingly sacrifice his darling Isaac? No mere man ever man such a supreme sacrifice to God.Every word in this verse must have been like a sword in his heart! Yet, there is a greater Sacrifice than that of Abraham. Here the Lord God himself is telling us what he has done for us. “Take now thy son” - The Lord Jesus Christ, whom God sacrificed for us, is himself the Son of God. “Thine only son” - Our Savior, whom God gave for the ransom of our souls, is God’s “only begotten Son” (John 3:16). “Isaac” - Isaac means “laughter”, or “delight.” And Christ is the one, the only one, in whom God is well pleased. “Whom thou lovest” - God said, “This is my beloved Son.” Yet, he sacrificed his darling for us, the very chief of sinners! “And offer him for a burnt offering” - Not just a sacrifice, “a burnt offering!” The Lord Jesus Christ is our burnt-offering, our sin-offering, sacrificed for us by the hand of God, according to the will of God (Isaiah 53:10; Hebrews 10:9-10). “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!” (1 Corinthians 9:15).

Try to imagine the difficulties Abraham had to overcome to obey God’s command. There were many things Abraham might have argued as reasons for disobedience; but he “consulted not with flesh and blood.” God called Abraham to sacrifice his son, but gave him no reason for requiring such a sacrifice - All Abraham had was God’s command. The commandment was contrary to nature, reason, and love; but it was crystal clear. The commandment appeared to be contrary to the promise of God; but it came from God who made the promise. If Abraham obeyed God, as he knew he must, he was sure to suffer much ridicule, persecution, and reproach for it. What would he tell Sarah? What would he say to the Egyptians? Matthew Henry correctly informs us that, “God’s commands must not be disputed, but obeyed. We must not consult with flesh and blood about them (Galatians 1:15-16), but with a gracious obstinacy persist in our obedience to them.” “Whatsoever he saith to you, do it!” (John 2:5). Now read Genesis 22:3-10. As you do, turn your thoughts away from Abraham. This is a picture of God’s whole purpose of grace and his work of redemption by the sacrifice of Christ. “Abraham rose up early in the morning,” and prepared everything with great care (Genesis 22:3-4). Abraham had three long days to think about what must be done. As they journeyed those days and slept through those nights, the burden and sacrifice constantly lay upon his heart. But our heavenly Father planned, purposed, and ordained the sacrifice of his Son for us, not three days, nor three thousand days, but from eternity, before ever the world was made (Revelation 13; Revelation 8; Ephesians 1:3-4). And he never thought about altering his purpose! Abraham carefully prepared everything for the sacrifice. And our great God carefully prepared everything for the sacrifice of his darling Son for us (Acts 2:23; Acts 4:27-28).“Abraham saw the place afar off.” So the Lord God, from everlasting set his heart and mind upon the place of sacrifice - Mt. Calvary. Abraham and Isaac went to the mountain of sacrifice together alone (Genesis 22:5-8). Redemption was the work of God alone, a transaction between God the Father and God the Son. “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). Twelve went with the Son of God to the Passover. Eleven went with him to the garden. Three went with him to pray. But when he went to the cross, our Savior was alone (Hebrews 1:3). The wood was laid upon Isaac’s back. Christ carried his cross. The instruments of death were in the father’s hands. In verse seven, Isaac asked, “Where is the Lamb for a burnt offering?” He knew that God could not be worshipped without a blood sacrifice (Exodus 12:13; Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22). His father answered, “God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). This is clearly a prophecy of Christ, the Lamb of God. Christ the Sacrifice for God. He is the Sacrifice from God. God requires only what he gives; and he will always accept that which he has given. Jesus Christ is here described as that Sacrifice who is God! At last Abraham and Isaac came to the place of sacrifice (Genesis 22:9-10). Abraham built the altar and laid the wood upon it. He bound his son and laid him on the altar. Isaac willingly submitted to his father’s will. Abraham stretched forth his hand to kill his Son. No explanation is needed. This is a picture of our great Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was delivered to death by the will of God, and put to death as our Substitute by the hand of divine justice (Acts 2:23; Isaiah 53:8-10; Zechariah 13:7). Yet, he freely volunteered to be our sin-atoning sacrifice (John 10:17-18; Hebrews 10:5-14; 1 Peter 2:24). Once Abraham’s faith was proved, God intervened to save Isaac; and the type changes. Genesis 22:11-13 reveal the beautiful, blessed picture of substitutionary redemption. When God spoke, Abraham looked . When he looked, he saw a ram caught in the thicket, which he offered “in the stead of his Son!” (2 Corinthians 5:21). That ram represents Christ. “Abraham called the name of that place, Jehovah-jireh” (Genesis 22:14). That name might be properly translated in three ways. Each translation reveals blessed, soul cheering, gospel truths by which the believer’s heart is encouraged and comforted throughout his earthly pilgrimage. Jehovah-jireh means, “The Lord will see.” He sees all our needs. Particularly, he sees our need for righteousness and atonement. Jehovah-jireh means, “The Lord will provide.” He who is our God provides all that we need in his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is made of God unto us, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). And, Jehovah-jireh means, “The Lord will be seen.” In the provision he makes for his people, in the substitutionary sacrifice of his dear Son for the salvation of his people, the Lord God reveals the glory of his great Being ((2 Corinthians 4:4-6; Romans 3:24-26; Psalms 108:6; Ephesians 2:7). When the whole work was done, Isaac, the object of his father’s love, was exalted (Genesis 22:15-18). He was promised a great posterity - “He shall see his seed!” He was made to be a great ruler, “possessing the gate of his enemies.” He became the source of universal blessedness. In all these things, Isaac portrays that greatness, glory, and exaltation given to our Lord Jesus Christ as our Mediator, when he had finished his work of redemption upon the earth and put away the sins of his people (Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 10:10-14; John 17:2; Psalms 2:8; Ephesians 1:3). In the light of these things, considering what the Lord God has done for chosen sinners in the sacrifice of Christ for the ransom of our souls, lets us lay to heart the following three question. What trial is too great for me to endure for him who endured such great agony for me? What sacrifice is too costly for me to make for my Savior, a sinner redeemed by the precious blood of Christ? What work is too demeaning or too demanding for one who has been purchased by a Savior so demeaned in obedience which demanded his death under the wrath of God as my Substitute?

Genesis 22:14

Chapter 26 Jehovah-jireh “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.” Genesis 22:14 Pay no attention to those who teach that it is never God’s will for his children to suffer, or that all suffering is an indication of God’s displeasure. Genesis 22 writes this message out in bold letters: TRUE FAITH MUST BE PROVED BY TRIALS. Here the Holy Spirit has recorded Abraham’s most severe trial. Abraham was the friend of God. But, in God’s wise and good providence, Abraham was called upon to endure the most heart-rending trial any man ever had to face in this world, other than the Man of Sorrows. Faith must be proved; and it is proved only when it is put to the test. However, the primary thing to be seen in this chapter is not Abraham’s trial, but God’s provision for Abraham and his son upon the mount. The Lord God provided a ram as a substitute to die in the place of Isaac. There Abraham raised up an everlasting memorial to his God. The name by which God revealed himself to Abraham, “Jehovah-jireh,” may be translated in three ways. It could be translated “The Lord will See,” or “The Lord will Provide,” or “The Lord shall be Seen.” However we translate this name of our God, Jehovah-jireh expresses the idea of God seeing and being seen. For God, to see is to provide. You know how we sometimes say, “I will see to it,” when we mean, “I will take care of it,” or “I will provide for it.” That is the meaning here. The truth contained in this name of God, Jehovah-jireh, ruled Abraham’s heart even before he uttered it and established it as a memorial in the place where God provided a substitute for Isaac. It was faith in Jehovah-jireh that sustained the old patriarch’s heart throughout this ordeal. Faith in Jehovah-jireh, the Lord who will provide, enabled Abraham to render the prompt and unswerving obedience that is recorded in this chapter. Many things must have crossed Abraham’s mind which might have caused him to disobey his God. As he took that painful journey to Moriah, he must have had many perplexing questions about Sarah, his relationship with her, the promises of God that were wrapped up in Isaac, Isaac himself, and the response of his friends and neighbors to his act of slaying his son in the name of God. Yet, the old man strengthened his heart, as he went up to Moriah.

Determined to obey God, regardless of cost or consequence, Abraham said to himself, “The Lord will see and the Lord will provide. He will not break his promise. He will not alter his word. Perhaps he will raise Isaac from the dead. But even if he is not pleased to do so, by one means or another, my God will justify my obedience and vindicate his command. His name is Jehovah-jireh.” This name of God, Jehovah-jireh, silenced every unbelieving thought and carnal objection. Do not miss the practical application of this to your own heart. If you believe God, if you follow the Lord’s bidding, he will see to it that you will not be ashamed or confounded (Romans 10:11). If you come into great need by following his command, the Lord will see to it that you lose nothing by your obedience. If difficulties rise like mountains before you, so that your way seems to be completely blocked up, your God will see to it that the way is cleared. Walk in the way of obedience and, as you walk, every obstacle will fall before you. “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5). Confer not with flesh and blood, and the Lord will make a way for you to do his will (Galatians 1:16).

The Lord will see us through the way of faith and obedience, if we are willing to walk in it. He will see to our way, if we dare to walk in his way (Proverbs 3:5-6). “The Lord will see and the Lord will provide.” That is what Jehovah-jireh means. We should not be surprised to find Abraham declaring this truth and attaching it to the spot that was to be forever famous. His whole heart was saturated with it. His soul was sustained by it. His trial taught him more of his God than he knew before or could have known in any other way. In fact, it gave him a new name for his God. And Abraham’s grateful heart desired to keep this name of God as a memorial to all future generations, to encourage all who believe God to obey his will and persevere in his ways. Abraham says to all, “The name of our God is JEHOVAH-JIREH, the Lord will see and the Lord will provide.” This was not the first time Abraham had used such language in speaking of God. In Genesis 22:14, “Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh,” because he had seen it to be the truth. This was something he had experienced for himself. The ram caught in the thicket had been provided as a substitute for Isaac. Not only had the Lord seen, but according to the promise made to Abraham’s faith, the Lord had provided as well. Even before he knew how this trial would end, Abraham confidently believed God, trusting him to provide what was needed (Romans 4:20).

Read Genesis 22:6-7. Isaac said, “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham answered with confident faith in his God, “My son, God will provide!” And in due time, God did provide. Then, in Genesis 22:24, Abraham honored God, repeating the words he had spoken to his son, with only one change. Instead of using the ordinary name for God, he used his special covenant name, Jehovah. He said, “Jehovah will provide.” As these words were spoken prophetically by Abraham concerning Isaac and his substitute, they were also a direct prophecy of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Substitute whom God has provided for sinners. He was, by the Spirit of prophecy, saying to us, as God provided a substitute for Isaac, so he will provide a Substitute for all his covenant people in whom the Lord will be seen. That Substitute is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. He was also telling us that, as God provided for him in his time of extremity, so he will provide for all who trust him. The God of Abraham lives today! He is the same today as he was in Abraham’s day.

In the hour of Abraham’s great need, when there seemed to be no possible way of escape, the Lord appeared for him and was seen in the mount. So it shall be with all the children of Abraham. We shall be tried and tested, but in the hour of our utmost need our God will see us. Seeing our need, he will provide for us. And he will be seen in the provision he makes. The name of our God is Jehovah-jireh. He is worthy of absolute trust and confidence. The Lord, Jehovah, is our preserver and our provider. Let this truth be firmly fixed in our hearts. God’s provision for Abraham and Isaac typified the far greater provision of his grace, by which all believing sinners are delivered from sin and death. And God’s provision for us in Christ, by his death at Mt. Calvary, has given us the sure guarantee that all our necessities, both carnal and spiritual, shall be provided by him for both time and eternity. A careful examination of the three translations of this name by which God revealed himself to Abraham, Jehovah-jireh, will clearly demonstrate that this name for our God reveals his glorious saving purpose toward his people. The Lord will see Jehovah-jireh means “the Lord will see.” Jehovah-jireh tells us that the Lord will see our great need. God constantly sees the needs of his children and provides for them. The provision of the ram to die in the stead of Isaac was the significant type before Abraham’s eye when he called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh. Our Lord tells us that “Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). Surely, if ever Abraham saw Christ’s day and was made to rejoice for it, it was at that moment when the Lord provided a substitute for Isaac. Whether he understood the full meaning of what he said is not important. He spoke by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, not for himself, but for us. Every word he uttered was for our instruction (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11). The teaching is clear: God, in the gift of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, made full provision for all the needs of his people. He sees us in our need, because of our own sin, and provides for all our needs in his Son. The Lord graciously beheld the needs of his sinful people long before we were even aware that we had any needs before him. The law of God demanded our punishment (Galatians 3:10). The gates of hell were opened wide, ready to swallow us up into perdition. We were all perishing, dead spiritually and condemned to die eternally. But our great and merciful God beheld our need and intervened to save us by his free grace (Ephesians 2:5-9; Ezekiel 16:6-8). Just when Isaac was in imminent danger of death, the Lord stepped in to deliver him. The knife was lifted up by the resolute hand. Isaac was but a second from death, when the angelic voice was heard, saying, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad” (Genesis 22:12). God provided when the need pressed urgently. So it was with us. When God saw that the world had come into a state of great danger and misery, he sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law. God sent his Son into the world that the world through him might be saved (John 3:17). “In due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). “When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son” (Galatians 4:4). The same thing is true in the experience of grace in conversion. It is not until men and women feel themselves lying at hell’s door, with the anguish of their guilt and sin crushing them down into eternal ruin, that God the Holy Spirit reveals Christ, the sinner’s Substitute. No man will ever be saved until he is lost. No one will ever be clothed until he is stripped. No one will ever be filled until he is empty. Christ comes only to those who need him. But he always comes to those who need him. The Lord will provide. Jehovah-jireh means “the Lord will provide.” If God sees our need, his provision is sure. This is what Abraham tells us by the name, Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide. Jehovah-jireh was Abraham’s testimony to the goodness and grace of God in providing a ram to take the place of his son, Isaac, upon the altar of sacrifice. This is the testimony of every sinner who sees Christ, as his Substitute, sacrificed upon the altar of divine justice at Mt. Calvary. God’s provision upon the mount was made spontaneously. It was altogether voluntary and free. And the provision God displayed in the fullness of time at Calvary, when he gave his Son to die in the place of sinners, was also voluntary, free, and spontaneous. Christ died for us freely, unsought, undesired, and unwanted. God sent his Son to redeem us, and Christ came to redeem us by his death, simply because he loved us (John 10:15-18; 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10). The provision God makes is always the very thing needed - “a ram!” Here is a substitute to take Isaac’s place. This is just what was needed, a bloody sacrifice to die in the place of Isaac upon the altar. God knew what we needed; and only he could provide the needed Sacrifice. We needed a Substitute; and Christ our passover was sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21). This provision for our need was made by God himself. Where shall a redemption be found by which it shall be possible for the vast multitude of God’s elect to be effectually redeemed from death and hell? Such a ransom could only be found by God himself; and he could find it only in himself. Since no one else could provide a ransom for our souls, God provided it and said, “Deliver them from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom” (Job 33:24). One other thing that must be noted is this: God’s provision is gloriously effective. Isaac did not die! Like the ram that was slain for Isaac, our Lord Jesus Christ is a burnt offering, acceptable and well-pleasing to God on our behalf (Ephesians 5:2). By his one sacrifice, Christ put our sins away. Therefore God’s elect, for whom he was slain, cannot die (Romans 8:1).The Lord will be seen. Jehovah-jireh means “the Lord will be seen.” He will be seen in the mount of sacrifice. He will be seen in the gospel of Christ, our crucified Savior. Go often to Calvary, for there the Lord will be seen. He will be seen in the mount of trial. Your trials may seem severe; but do not despair. In your greatest extremity, the Lord will be seen. He will be seen in Mount Zion. Look up to heaven, there the Lord will be seen in the person of Jesus Christ our Substitute. Would you know God? Then study Christ. Learn of him. Know him. Soon all who are born of God, all who believe, all for whom the Son of God died upon the cursed tree, will see him as he is, and shall be seen with Him (Hebrews 9:28). Jehovah-jireh shall see us with satisfaction; and we shall see him with satisfaction. Jehovah-jireh shall provide us with glory; and we shall provide him with pleasure. Jehovah-jireh shall be seen with us; and we shall be seen with him. The gift of the Lord Jesus Christ as our Substitute is a provision that secures all other provisions. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all things?” He will give us all things in providence. He will give us all things promised in the covenant. He will give us all things in heaven.