Christians know the story of Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice in Genesis 22. We typically see the foreshadowing of Jesus in Isaac. Isaac was the “only son” of Abraham and he willingly laid upon the wood that he carried. The events likely happened on the mount that would one day be the area of the Jerusalem. Abraham passes the test of faith marvelously, so committed to obedience that he believed God would raise Isaac from the dead (Heb. 11:17-19).
In so focusing on the parallels between Isaac and Jesus, we may often miss another lesson in the story. Abraham told Isaac, when questioned about the whereabouts of a lamb, that God would provide for himself the lamb (v. 8). Later, when the angel stopped Abraham from slaughtering his son, a ram is caught in the thicket. A ram is a male lamb, that was a suitable sacrifice. Abraham named the place, “The Lord will provide.”
The ram is typically just a side character given little attention. But let me encourage you to consider the ram. From this perspective let us envision the ram as representing Jesus. Us, as sinful humanity, who deserve to be on the altar are Isaac. We should die for our sins, but God provided a lamb! Just like Isaac, who was granted freedom and walked away, so you and I walk away free in Jesus! Jesus took our place on calvary’s mountain!
So we say with Abraham, “on the mount of the Lord it shall be provided” (Gen. 22:14).
