The Book of Genesis
Part 37
Our last study in the life of Abraham in chapter 22 brought us to the consideration of his sacrifice as viewed typically; we shall continue our examination of this matter, and notice.
Character Of The Sacrifice
It is interesting that all the offerings mentioned by name in Genesis are burnt offerings. There is no mention made of the sin, trespass, or peace offerings. “For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law” (Rom. 5:13). Consequently, there is no mention of non-sweet savour offerings before the giving of the law at Sinai.
The burnt offering emphasizes the acceptance of the offerer in his offering rather than the substitutionary suffering of the sacrifice because of his sins. A study of the burnt offerings of Genesis reveals the true character of this particular offering. In Abel’s, we see the type of offering demanded by God; it is an offering in blood and death rather than one of human effort and strength. In Noah’s, the character of the victim is intimated, it had to be a clean animal, a fit type of Christ Who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners.
Now, in Abraham’s offering up of Isaac, we have the intrinsic value of the sacrifice brought before us. As all of Abraham’s hopes lay in his unique son, Isaac, and all of God’s blessings to the nation were to be channeled through that son, and that, therefore, Isaac was of primary importance in the purposes of God; even so, the sacrifice of Christ is of infinite value.
A little child could not understand how she could purchase 12 large juicy oranges with one small piece of silver. Her father explained to her that it was because of the superior value of the silver coin. Silver was much rarer than oranges; moreover, it had first to be found in the earth, dug up, separated from the rock in which it was discovered, purified, and finally shaped into money. The one small piece of money surpassed in value 1 orange, 2 oranges, 3 oranges, even up to 12 oranges. Feeble picture indeed; nevertheless, we see the meaning of intrinsic value. The intrinsic worth of the sacrifice of God surpasses everything known to man.
Elements Of The Sacrifice
There are three important and symbolic features to be noted here: First, the wood which speaks of the humanity of our Lord. Of the Lord Jesus, it is stated, “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground” (Isa. 53:2). Moreover, Psalm one fittingly describes Him as “A tree planted by the rivers of water.” The wood that had grown in Canaan and was about to be placed upon the altar at least illustrates the humanity of the perfect Man Christ Jesus.
In the second place, there was the fire. In Scripture fire is frequently used as the symbol of God and His infinite holiness, “Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29). He is also described by Isaiah as a devouring fire (Isa. 30:27. 33:14-15). Because of His infinite holiness, God cannot permit sin in His presence; furthermore, the very nature of His holiness demands the punishment of sin.
Finally, there was a knife, a reminder of a sword that appeared to guard the tree of life from sinful man’s approach. The knife and sword might symbolize God’s righteousness in judgment.
Eventually, the nations are to be destroyed by the sword that goes forth from the mouth of the King of Kings (Rev. 19:15).
From these symbolic materials, we may learn that Christ in all His perfection is made sin for us, and that God in His infinite holiness decrees that He, therefore, must suffer for sin. Furthermore, this suffering we learn is imposed by the absolute righteousness of God.
There is one more salient point to be discussed here, and that is Isaac, although placed upon the altar ready for sacrifice, lived. Abraham received him in a figure from the dead (Heb. 11:17-19).
The entire preparation and movement of Abraham and Isaac on this occasion reveal, pictorially, the sacrifice of God Who gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16), and that Son Who offered Himself a sacrifice for sins (Heb. 10:12).
Here, then, we have foreshadowed Christ suffering because of our sins through infinite holiness, and yet a-rising from the dead in resurrection.
Universal Blessing
The Lord said to Abraham after these things, “Because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing, I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of Heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore: and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed.”
While it is true that these words have a prophetic application, let us remember that Abraham’s Seed which is Christ passed through in reality what Isaac did in a figure, and He did so that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles (Gal. 3:10-17).
Christ is the First-begotten from among the dead (Col. 1:18); the Firstborn among many brethren who, eventually, will bear His image (Rom. 8:29).
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Raise thy thoughts to Heaven above,
There at God’s right hand
Sitteth One Whose Name is Love,
Who doth understand.