In the Binding of Isaac, while Isaac is like the People of God, the Ram is like Christ

 

(Continued)

In the Binding of Isaac, while Isaac is like the people of God, the ram is like Christ. (Genesis 22:1-19).

Abraham prophesied when he answered Isaac’s question,

"…Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" - Genesis 22:7 KJV

"And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." - Genesis 22:8 KJV

There were two fulfillments to this prophecy, as there usually are two fulfillments to prophecies: the first fulfillment at that time, and the second fulfillment in the distant future.

The first fulfillment was at the point Abraham built an altar, bound Isaac his son, laid him on the altar on the wood, and picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.

"And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." - Genesis 22:11-12 KJV

"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son." - Genesis 22:13 KJV

The second fulfillment to Abraham’s prophecy occurred years later.

God did indeed provide Himself a Lamb, robing Himself in flesh to die in our place, taking away the sin of the world.

"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." - John 1:29 KJV

Peter wrote to the church,

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you," - 1 Peter 1:18-20 KJV

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree..." - 1 Peter 2:24 KJV

Just as the ram died in place of Isaac, Jesus, the Lamb of God, died in our place.

To be continued…