04/05/2022 – Day 037 -Genesis 20 – 23 // Chapter 22 – “Abraham Tested” , both 1) a foreshadowing of Christ’s substitutionary atonement and 2) Abraham was saved through his faith in His Savior.
When Isaac asks in v7: “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”, Abraham answers in v8 with: “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” The Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur is the highest holy day of the Jewish calendar. For nearly 1000 years, the High Priest made an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the people on the Day of Atonement. This act of paying the penalty for sin brought reconciliation (a restored relationship) between the people and God. That symbolism was realized in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus through his crucifixtion and reconciliation. We celebrate the sacrament of the Eucharist, which Jesus instituted on Maundy Thursday.
Let’s looks again at the angel of the Lord’s call to Abraham from heaven in verses 16 through 18: “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.” So, God the father offered his only Son, the only possible atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. As believers, we accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of Yom Kippur, the full and final atonement for sin. (*)
- – see concluding sentence in this article explaining the Day of Atonement:
https://www.learnreligions.com/day-of-atonement-700180
And as Paul notes in Romans, it was Abrahams faith that was credited to him, not his works.
The sublime Truth continues, for Abraham and Isaac were called to share in the sufferings of Christ, to God’s glory! And I might add, so are we! Let scripture testify to scripture; Check out the following verses:
1 Peter 4: 12:-13. : “Dear friends, when the fiery ordeal arises amonst you to test you, don’t be surprised by it, as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead , as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah rejoice, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory.”
1 Peter 4:1: “Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same resolve — because the One who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin — in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.
2 Timothy 3: 12 – “In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
James 1: 12: “Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him.” (Jimmy insert: From the example of Abraham , who “passed the test”)
Philippians 3:10: “My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.”
I am going to add three footnotes to my Apologetics Study Bible , that may help answer some common questions on this chapter:
“22:2 “If it seems barbaric to command Abraham to offer his beloved son Isaac, God did not ask any more than He would do in sacrificing His beloved Son for the sins of the world. (John 3:16)”
“22: 2, 5: SInce God ordered Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice (v. 2), some have charged that Abraham lied in telling his servants, ‘ The boy and I will… come back to you” (v. 5). However Hebrews 11: 17, 19 clarifies that Abraham’s response to God’s test of his faith was to believe that, if necessary, the Lord would raise Isaac from the dead.”
“22:12: God certainly ‘knew’ beforehand what Abraham would do in this predicament (Psalms 139: 1-6). The language here simply indicates that it was a test or demonstration of Abraham’s complete loyalty to God.”
Soli Deo Gloria!