Genesis 22-23

Notes compiled with my BSF group

ABRAHAM IS A TYPE OF FATHER; ISAAC IS A TYPE OF SON (Genesis 22:1–19)

We can learn a couple of things from God's test for Abraham:

1. Abraham's faith in God was greater than his love for his son
We are taught to put God first, above EVERYTHING else, including family (Matthew 22:37), and Jesus warned us that when we follow Him with all our heart, we will cause a rift between us and loved ones (Luke 14:26).

From a secular perspective, it is very difficult to imagine loving God so much, we are able to sacrifice our own sons or daughters. It is very easy to take that command and distort it into viewpoints like, "How could God tell us to leave behind our family and friends? How loving could God be?" And to proponents of such blasphemous statements, I would encourage you to take a step back and first understand the greatness of God's love before unknowingly/unwillingly condemning yourselves.

Our faith in God needs to so great that it exceeds our fear. This is the big idea. Why? Because when we are afraid, and we do not lean on God but to depend on ourselves, that is when we are the most vulnerable to be led astray. And when our future is no longer based in God, what future would we have? By being solidly planted in God and being able to depend on Him regardless of our fears, we will remain in His protection, and we can rest assured in His promises.

Our faith will be tested, whether by God or by Satan. This is to show what is truly in our heart. Only true heart that has great faith in the Lord will survive the test (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

It wasn't that Abraham didn't love Isaac. It was that Abraham loved God so much, his love for Isaac was minuscule in comparison. Abraham trusted God, and he trusted Isaac in the hands of God. This is the kind of faith that saves.

2. Abraham and Isaac were a foreshadow of a greater Father and a greater Son

John 10:17–18; 18:11
Philippians 2:8


Throughout the Bible, we see God works in PATTERNS. In this case, the pattern that God has Abraham set was to show what God was ready to sacrifice. On that same mountain, God, the Father, will sacrifice His Son, the Perfect Lamb, to atone for the sins of people. 

Isaac carried the wood that would have been used to burn him. Jesus carried the cross that He would be crucified on.


Isaac obeyed Abraham, even though he knew he was being offered up as sacrifice. In the same way, Jesus obeyed God, offering Himself up as sacrifice, drinking the cup of wrath for all mankind.

It is important to note that Isaac was not a little boy when this happened. He was an adult of about 30 years old. He knew what he was doing, and he still did it. 

Both Abraham and Isaac showed great faith in the Lord. Abraham is a picture of God the Father, one who had to offer up his son for the sins of his people. Isaac is a picture of God the Son, one who had to WILLINGLY die for the sins of the people.

When Isaac asked Abraham where the lamb was, Abraham replied, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering" (Genesis 22:8). This shows tremendous amount of faith. Why? First, God told Abraham that through Isaac, a great nation will be born, his offspring will be as numerous as the number of stars (Genesis 15:5). Yet, God also told Abraham that he needed to sacrifice his son (Genesis 22:2). Any other person facing this request would be bewildered. I would be scared. How could we possibly bear to sacrifice our own child? However, Abraham had great faith. He knew that what is impossible for man is not impossible for God. He KNEW that God is faithful. And so, if God promised him that Isaac would be the father of numerous offspring, and if God also required him to sacrifice Isaac, then God will also have a way of bringing Isaac back to life (Hebrews 11:19)! This is why Abraham didn’t answer Isaac's question by telling him that God required to sacrifice him. Instead, Abraham told Isaac that "God will provide the lamb!" Because Abraham knew God will not let Isaac die. And if Isaac was sacrificed, God would raise him from the dead!

When our faith in God is so much greater than our fear, we can then allow God to work His miracles in our lives!


Hebrews 11:17-19
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Abraham’s faith saved Isaac, and so there is joy. Abraham’s faith is greater than his love for Isaac, so there is joy. Abraham’s love for God is greater than his love for Isaac, so there is joy. Abraham knew that God is the only way. If we die a part from God, then nothing we hold dear in this world would matter, because all materialistic things will perish, and we will perish in Hell. However, if we die IN God, the God is faithful, and He will keep His promise. By having faith in God, Abraham can rest. He may not be able to save Isaac, but he KNOWS God can. This is why despite not knowing what would happen, Abraham was still able to follow God with joy – because he KNEW God would protect him and Isaac, despite what had been asked of him.

Similarly, Jesus knew He died for mankind. He knew that with His death, He would restore everyone to God. And that is a joyful thought. This was why Jesus died with joy, even though His death was very brutal.


ABRAHAM TOOK GOD LITERALLY (Genesis 23)

In Genesis 23, Abraham bought a burial site for him and his wife (and family) in the land that had been promised to him by God. By purchasing a portion of the Promised Land, Abraham ACTED on the faith he had in God’s promise -- He had no doubt God would fulfill His promise, and he did not think God was speaking metaphorically about the land. He acted on God's promise literally by making sure his family had a place in the land of God's provision.