Jesus is the very essence of the Scriptures
To read a prophecy in the Old Testament and then to see how Jesus perfectly and completely fulfilled it provides strength, confidence, and security for the Christian's soul and mind.
Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, King of kings and Lord of lords, our Savior and Redeemer! We've seen Jesus from the beginning – God’s Word spoken in Genesis 1:1 (see also, John 1:1); the promise of a Redeemer in Genesis 3:15; and throughout the book of Job; and now we find Him here in the life of Isaac.
The entire Old Testament points to Jesus and the New Testament reveals Him. So it’s no surprise to find a picture of Jesus here in the life of Isaac.
Few types, pictures, or foreshadows are more poignant than the one found in Genesis 22 of Abraham, the father willing to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. What a precious picture of our Lord, willingly dying on the cross.
I hope you're blessed as you read through this comparison of Isaac, Abraham’s son and the fulfillment in Jesus, God’s Son. This is just a sampling of what verses could be shared, so add your own verses and comparisons as you seek Jesus with all your heart!
Isaac was conceived miraculously
But Sarai was barren; she had no child. Gen 11:30
And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. Gen. 21:1-2
Jesus was conceived miraculously
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Matt 1:18
Isaac’s birth was promised before he was born
Approximately 20 years before Isaac’s birth, God gave Abraham the promise of a son.
And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. Gen 17:2
And He said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son... Gen 18:10
Jesus’ birth was promised long before He was born
Immediately following Adam and Eve’s sin, God promised a remedy through His Son, a Redeemer for the world. This promise was given approximately 4,000 years before the birth of Christ.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Gen 3:15
Throughout the Old Testament God reaffirmed His promise and reminded His people that their Redeemer was soon coming.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isa 9:6
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isa 7:14
Isaac was the only begotten son of Abraham
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Gen 22:2
What about Ishmael? Here’s a wonderful example of God’s forgiveness and our justification! Because Ishmael was a result of Abraham’s lack of faith, God doesn't even recognize him here in Gen 22:2. God not only covers our sins, but remembers them no more! “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Heb 10:17) In faith, we stand justified = just as if I’d never sinned!
Jesus was God’s only begotten Son
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Isaac was offered on Mt. Moriah (later called Mt. Calvary)
…Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Gen 22:2
Jesus was offered as the perfect sacrifice on Mt. Calvary
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Luke 23:33
Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. Gen 22:6
Jesus carried His cross
And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called [the place] of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha John 19:17
Isaac was promised that God Himself would provide Himself a lamb
And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. Gen 22:8
Jesus was the Lamb
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29
Isaac was obedient to the point of death
And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. Gen 22:9
Jesus was obedient and died for the sins of the world
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Phil. 2:8
Isaac was spared as God provided a ram in the thicket
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 up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. Gen 22:13
Jesus spared us as He wore a crown of thorns
And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe John 19:2
Isaac had taken a 3 day journey to the place of sacrifice
Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. Gen 22:4
Jesus was in the grave 3 days
…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures 1 Cor 15:3, 4
Isaac returned home, alive and unharmed
And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. Gen 22:12
Jesus rose from the grave and will return to take us home
…Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ... For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thess 4:14, 15-16
God has given us the greatest gift in His Son, Jesus.
Before accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we were held captive by our sin (Rom 8:6-8). We owed a debt we could not pay (Rom 6:18-20). But God, who loves us, sent His only Son. Jesus ransomed our life by laying down His own. This was a costly ransom. Jesus paid the price for our sin (Rom 3:24) so we could escape eternal death and live eternally with Him
All Scripture points to this TRUTH...
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16, 17
Amazing love!
by Sharon Kaselonis / All right reserved ©