Old Testament Persons
Isaac as Type of Christ
The Beloved Son Offered Up
Description
Isaac, the son of promise, miraculously born to aged parents, pictures Christ in remarkable ways. Abraham offered up his only begotten son, figuratively receiving him back from the dead. Isaac willingly submitted to his father's will, carrying the wood for his own sacrifice up Mount Moriah. God provided a substitute—a ram caught in the thicket. The place was named Jehovah-jireh: 'In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.' Isaac's near-sacrifice foreshadows Christ, the beloved Son, willingly offered on that same mountain region, with no substitute provided—for He Himself was the substitute.
Key Verses
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the 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.
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.
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son... And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.
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. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh.
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.