The Sacrifice of Isaac

This week sees the pinnacle of our Abraham study. "The Sacrifice of Isaac" encompasses Genesis 22:1-19. Abraham, living among cultures whose ultimate worship to their gods was human sacrifice--the sacrifice of the firstborn, it must have been a sacrifice that Abraham almost expected that his God would require of him.

Yet, the One True God, the God of Life does not will this sacrifice from Abraham:

"Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the angel. “Do not do the least thing to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you did not withhold from me your son, your only one.” Genesis 22:12.

Abraham does offer a sacrifice, but as he prophesied to his son, "God Himself will provide the lamb for the offering." And as we dive into the typology (the study of the connections between Old Testament, New Testament, and the future) of this event, we see the the Lord did indeed provide the offering--the final sacrifice: His own Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. He also bore the wood for the sacrifice on his own shoulders as did Isaac, and Jesus also showed the obedience of Abraham in his sacrifice.

Typologies always look to the future as well, though this one can be harder to see. One day, however, we will all offer perfect praise to God--as we offer our whole selves without reservation to his greater glory!

God's blessing on your families,

Mandie DeVries, CGS Catechist and Director of Religious Education