Continuing where we left off in Genesis 22:
Genesis 22:13
"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him for a burnt offering in the stead of his son."
In both these instances, was there any opposition? From Isaac or from the ram? No. Scripture would have told us. But Abraham could just simply walk to the thicket, take that ram, probably with Isaac’s help and they put it on the altar without a struggle, without opposition and again it was a beautiful picture of the Lamb that finally did take away the sin of the world. He didn’t fight the cross. He did not raise His voice to the Sanhedrin or the high priests whom He stood before. He didn’t oppose any of the beatings and the misuse of the Romans. He went meekly as a lamb. So all this is just a preview of that which would be fulfilled there at the cross. All right, and so now verse 14.
Genesis 22:14
"Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: (which means that Yehovah-yireh will provide, also a symbolic name for mount Moriah) as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen."
And so what a glorious statement of trust and at the same time a preview of the cross - in fact as you go back to Hebrews, stop at Philippians chapter 2. And this is just simply the fulfilling of all that we’ve seen back in Genesis. Lets begin with verse 5:
Philippians 2:5-8
"Let this mind be in you, (now remember, Paul is writing to Gentile believers like you and I) which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, (image is what it states but He was God, totally, He was and is El) thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (because He was God, I can’t emphasize that enough but was also in mans flesh) But (as God, as the Creator God of the universe) made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, (or a bond slave under commandment and Levitical Law) and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Remember that for anyone to be hung in a tree meant that he was a disgrace to his parents and cursed of all men and God (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). So the picture is, in the Old Testament even as Isaac was obedient unto death, Christ was obedient to death, even the death of the cross for our sins. Now remember that the cross and the empty thumb are our source of redemption and salvation.
That’s another tremendous lesson that we glean from these patriarchs and their walk of trust, trust being the point of beginnings for us. Until we can believe, then receive, then the trials ie...crisises, which develop His faith in us as He proves His faithfulness through our trails then we have faith. Just as we saw with Abraham, Isaac and even Jesus as the son of man. All right, come back to Hebrews chapter 11, and let’s read verses 18 and 19 again just to confirm everything that we’ve said as we looked at Genesis 22.
Hebrews 11:18-19a
"Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead;…"
You see that? Scripture tells us that if Abraham would have carried out the killing of Isaac, God would have raised him from the dead - but of course, He did the alternative. He provided the sacrifice. Now what's our sacrifice? Praise, even in the thick of the trial. A thought just came to me so before we move on lets look at what Peter records about trials.
1Peter 1:7-9
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."And then another....
1Peter 4:12-14
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified."
Do you hear or see the centrality, of Christ, in what Peter here says?
Hebrews 11:19b
"…from whence also he received him in a figure." (or a type)
So I was scripturally A-OKay by taking you back to Genesis 22 and showing how that the offering of Isaac was the beautiful picture of the obedience of the One that was to be put to death, and Christ fulfilled it. All of Scripture, we are taking all of Scripture and allowing them or showing just how they fit from cover to cover.
And it does, it just thrills me when people are beginning to see that this isn’t a bunch of jumbled up legends and stories and so forth. It’s a composite that fits from cover to cover. And you don’t see it until you study it. The casual reader will never get it and that is what most people are, just casual readers. They're not hearing because they're not listening and therefore they don't see. Just as the Hebrews didn't and still don't. Neither does the average Religious "Christian" because with Religious Israel a partial blindness covers their eyes, ears and heart. Why? Because of idolatry and an evil heart because idolatry is in mans heart. Its a heart condition.
All right, let’s go on to verse 20.
Hebrews 11:20
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come."
No comments:
Post a Comment