ABRAHAM

promises offered up his only begotten son, 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; from whence
also he received him in a figure.”
Abraham believed God’s promise to him. He believed that even if he plunged that knife into his son
and watched the flames consume his body that God would be true to His word and if necessary raise
Isaac up out of the ashes in order to fulfill His promises to him.
Here was a proof of how much mortal man will do for the love of God. Here was an
evidence of childlike faith which must have thrilled the heart of the Eternal God, and
moved Him in the very depths of His being. Do you and I love God like this? Is He more
to us than our nearest and dearest? (15e)
2. THE COMMUTING OF THE SACRIFICE. Verse 11.
At that critical moment, with the knife clasped in Abraham’s hand over Isaac’s throat, God
intervened and stayed the hand of His obedient servant. God was satisfied that now there was
nothing in Abraham’s life that did not belong to Him.
3. THE CONSUMMATION OF THE SACRIFICE. Verse 13.
a. THE LORD’S OFFERING.
Not by coincidence but by the providence of God, there is a ram nearby to take the place of Isaac.
God had provided a substitute for Isaac.
b. THE LORD WHO PROVIDES.
Abraham makes a very sweet confession. He called that place, “Jehovah-Jireh,” which means the
Lord will provide. God saw Abraham’s faith and provided the ram as a substitute.
It is very important that we take special note here that God did not do the same for His own Son, His
only begotten Son whom He loved. In fact, the unbelievable truth is that His sinless Son became the
Lamb of Sacrifice that was provided for our need.
Jesus carried the wood of His own cross. He was bound hand and foot and there was to be no
reprieve for Him. There would be no last moment substitute for Him. No, beloved, He was the
substitute for us. There are many that believe (and I among them) that this is the exact location of
Mount Calvary where Jesus became our substitute for sin. It may well be that on this very spot the
Lamb of God shed His blood for man’s sin.
III. THE REWARD OF ABRAHAM’S FAITH. Verses 15-19.
A. GOD’S RECOGNITION OF ABRAHAM’S FAITH. Verses 15-16.
Very simply, very bluntly, the God of glory swears an oath to Abraham because he did not hold back
his beloved son from Him.
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