A Difficult Path
“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.” (Genesis 22:6)
"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward..." (John 18:4)
Abraham had been commanded by God to go to the land of Moriah to sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More his beloved son Isaac on a divinely appointed mountain. He obediently set out with his son, two of his boys, and a donkey. When he saw the place from afar after three days, his servants and the donkey stayed behind, and he went on alone with his son. Abraham carried the fire and the knife, his son the wood. Isaac did not know that he was to be the sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More. On the mountain, he was laid down on the wood without offering any resistance and was ready to die. But God prevented the sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More – a ram died in his place.
We can see similarities and differences between the behavior of Isaac and that of the Lord Jesus. The Lord had always gone His way in communion with His Father. Sometimes, He was also accompanied by people. The hour came when He was left alone by them (Jn 16:32). But His Father walked the last difficult part of His path with Him when He carried the wooden cross to Golgotha.
Unlike Isaac, however, He knew everything that would come upon Him (Jn 18:4). And there was no substitute for Him. He endured the wrath of God (which is a consuming fire) on the cross because of our sins. There, He was struck by His sword of judgment.
Let us always give thanks to Him, who willingly became the perfect sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More and died on the cross in our stead!
