But where is the Lamb?

And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”. Gen 22:8

God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac on a mountain in the land of Moriah (Genesis 22:2). Abraham did not hesitate to carry out this difficult task (verse 3). After a three-day journey, when he saw the mountain that God had chosen, he left two servants and a donkey behind and walked the final stretch alone with his son (verses 4-5). Isaac carried the wood, while Abraham took the fire and the knife in his hand (verse 6).

During the journey to Moriah, Isaac broke the tense silence by asking his father, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (verse 7). Abraham gave a wise and faithful answer: “God will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (verse 8). His faith was rewarded when God showed Abraham a sacrificial animal after the patriarch built the altar on the mountain and bound his son to it. Instead of sacrificing Isaac, Abraham slaughtered the animal designated by God and named the mountain “The LORD will provide” (Hebrew: “Yahweh-Jireh”).

Isaac’s question about the burnt offering has resonated with all his descendants through the centuries. Although the Israelites brought many sacrifices, the question remained: Where is the sacrifice that truly satisfies God? Faith answers that God will provide the true lamb for a burnt offering.

The New Testament reveals that God recognized this lamb before the foundation of the world and that it was revealed at the end of time through the person of Christ (1 Peter 1:19-20). When John the Baptist saw Jesus approaching one day, he expressed this truth with the words: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The next day, he called out in adoration, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36). Isaac’s ancient question about the sacrifice and Abraham’s words of faith found their perfect and final answer in the Lord Jesus: He was the Lamb whom God had chosen.

On the hill of Golgotha—the true Yahweh-Jireh—this spotless and flawless Lamb died for our sins. Through the precious blood of Christ, we have been redeemed and brought back to God. That is why we give glory to God and the Lamb today!

“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’… ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’” (Revelation 5:9, 12-13).