Types and Shadows - The Binding of Isaac: A Living Sacrifice

"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." - Genesis 22:6 KJV

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 8:34 KJV

The knife represents: Circumcision of the heart, which is water baptism in the name of Jesus. "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." - Colossians 2:11-12 KJV

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 KJV "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." - Acts 2:3-4 KJV

The altar represents: Sacrifice. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service [This is truly the way to worship him]." - Romans 12:1 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 ram represents: Christ that took our place as a blood sacrifice. "…For it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." - Leviticus 17:11b KJV

The thicket represents: The tree. Christ was caught on the tree by love, shedding His blood for the world. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…" - 1 Peter 2:24 KJV "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." - Ephesians 5:2 KJV

The ram's horn represents: The Jubilee year. (יובל) (yo•bāl') This Hebrew word literally means BOTH "ram's horn" AND "Jubilee year" (blown at the end of the Day of Atonement - Leviticus 25:9).

"And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family." - Leviticus 25:10 KJV

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. (Acts 2:38).

Isaac represents: Laughter. The name 'Isaac' means “He will laugh, he will rejoice.” Laughter was set free.

"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 KJV

The seed represents: Christ, descendent from Abraham. The nations of the world are blessed by the sacrifice of Christ that set us free from spiritual death, for he was "an offering for sin." (Isaiah 53:10).

"And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." - Genesis 22:18 KJV

Because thou hast obeyed my voice represents: The test. Abraham's greatest test was God asking him to sacrifice his own flesh. Abraham passed the test by his willingness to bind his flesh (not my will, but thy will) and offer it as a sacrifice to God. (His flesh and blood – his son Isaac).

Abraham had faith in God. "And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering..." - Genesis 22:8 KJV "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 We, like Isaac, allow our flesh to be bound (carnal nature) as a living sacrifice to God. (Romans 12:2).

“R. Abbahu said: Why do we blow a ram’s horn? The Holy One, blessed be He said: Sound before Me a ram’s horn so that I will remember on your behalf the binding of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and to account it to you as if you had bound yourselves before me.”