The Great Sacrifice

"So 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 the two of them went together". (Gen 22:6)


The wood represents: The cross. Jesus said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Mark 8:34b)

The knife represents: Circumcision of the heart, which is water baptism in Jesus name. "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Col 2:11-12)

The fire represents: The baptism of the Holy Ghost. "John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:" (Luke 3:16) "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them”. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance". (Act 2:3-4)

The altar represents: Sacrifice. "Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service". (Romans 12:1)

"Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son". (Genesis 22:13)

The ram represents: Christ that took our place as a blood sacrifice "...for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul". (Leviticus 17.11b)

The thicket represents: The tree. Christ was caught on the tree by love, shedding His blood for the nations.

The ram's horn represents: The Jubilee year. (יובל) (yo•bāl') This Hebrew word literally means BOTH "ram's horn" AND "Jubilee year" (marked by the blowing of cornets).

"Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land". (Leviticus 25:9)

"And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family". (Leviticus 25:10)

Hebrew slaves (bondmen) were set free the year of Jubilee.

By Christ's death on the cross, those that have been in bondage to sin are set free.

Christ came proclaiming the year of Jubilee. "To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD". (Luke 4:19 see: Isaiah 61:1-2)

Isaac represents: Laughter. The name 'Isaac' means 'laughter'. Laughter was set free.

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross", (Hebrews 12:2)

"A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world". (John 16:21) (- by His travail, Christ enabled man to be born again of the Water and Spirit.)

"And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement". (Romans 5:11)

"And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy". (Jude 1:24)

"In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." (Genesis 22:18)

The seed represents: Christ the Messiah, descendent from Isaac. The nations of the world are blessed by the sacrifice of Christ that set them free from spiritual death, for he was "an offering for sin". (Isaiah 53)

'Because you have obeyed My voice' represents: The test. Abraham's greatest test was God asking him to sacrifice/kill his own flesh. Abraham passed the test by his willingness to bind his flesh (selfish ambition) and offer it as a sacrifice to God.