The Last Shall Be First

Genesis 13

In order to address the subject of our chapter, we must regress for a few moments.

Before we can discuss “Restoration” we must consider the important subject of “Declension”—a falling away, a deviation from an accepted standard.

God could have met Abraham’s need in the place of trial. God had not deserted him. This was the same God who, in later years, fed Elijah by the brook, rained manna from heaven, filled the disciples’ nets with fish, and fed a multitude from a few loaves and fish.

Abraham did have a problem—at this time Abraham was living in border country. To solve this problem he, in worldly wisdom, went down into Egypt. For this move he had no direction from God, and ultimately he had to pay the price.

While in Egypt several things happened to him:

1. He lost his sense of peace and security.

2. He resorted to lying in order to save his own life.

3. While there he engaged an Egyptian maiden who, through Abraham, became the mother of Ishmael, who is the progenitor of the Arab races.

The world today feels the impact of Abraham’s “declension”: the bitter conflict between the Jews and Arabs. Both claim to be the descendants of Abraham. Declension brings only sorrow and disappointment.

This brings us now to the “restoration” of Abraham.

verse 1—And Abraham “went up” out of Egypt. This was a clean break with Egypt—this was a work of God.

Verses 3 and 4—Abraham’s restoration was complete. Ashamed, rebuked, and repentant he returns. He was not just delivered from Egypt, he was brought back unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning—and there Abraham called on the name of the Lord. He built an altar and had full fellowship with God and His people.

God is only satisfied when the backslider is fully restored (i.e., the prodigal).

verse 2 reminds us that Abraham was “very rich.” Egypt made him very rich, with so many cattle and sheep it took an abundance of pasture and water. Because of the scarcity of these commodities it led to disputing, striving, and contention between the respective herdsmen of Abraham and Lot.

At this point Abraham is presented with a greater problem than that of the famine.

The conditions of the call of Abraham are clearly defined in 12:1. God asked him to leave country, kindred, and father’s home.

When he left his country, his father and nephew left with him.

To bring Abraham into line with God’s will his father must be removed at Haran. Lot continued to follow Abraham and deprived him from experiencing the full blessing of being in God’s will. God’s full blessing cannot be experienced until we are living within God’s perfect will.

The pressure brought about by the strife of the herdsmen revealed the true character of the two men. Abraham was a man of faith, while Lot was a man of the world.

Verses 8 and 9 is the revelation of the heart of the man of God.

In the interest of peace and harmony Abraham made a generous suggestion. Let there be no strife, we are brethren, separate thyself.

This introduces us to our third point: “Separation”.

Lot chose the well watered plains of Jordan. There was plenty for his flock and plenty for his flesh.

His ultimate sin was in three stages:

1. He looked toward Sodom.

2. He pitched his tent toward Sodom.

3. He lived in Sodom.

The world would say that he made the right choice, but it was a spiritual disaster.

verse 12—Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan. He was in the center of God’s will, the place of His appointing.

verse 14—While in this happy state/condition God spoke to him.

Note that it was after the separation from Lot that God spoke to him. There must be “separation” before there can be “compensation.”

When this separation was complete God said, “Lift up now thine eyes and look.” “All the land that thou seest I will give it to thee and thy seed ‘forever.’”

Lot, in the flesh, lifted up his eyes and chose accordingly without God. In the eyes of the world Lot was first, he did the right thing, he stood to prosper; but, he ended in spiritual bankruptcy. He chose to save his worldly assets.

When God chose for Abraham, he gave him the “title deed” for the land and its treasures. He also promised Him descendants more numerous than the dust of the earth. This prophecy must have amazed Abraham for as yet he had no son.

Lot’s choice was temporal—God’s promises to Abraham were eternal. Truly, “the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.”

Abraham was called by God from Ur of the Chaldees—God led him in the way.

When he tarried at Haran, God waited for him.

When he went down into Egypt, God restored him.

When he needed guidance, God guided him.

When there was strife and separation, God took care of him.

No wonder Abraham could say, “Oh how great is Thy goodness which Thou hast laid up for them that follow Thee.”

In Abraham we see the man of faith going forth, trusting Divine guidance, believing Divine promises, receiving Divine assurances, inheriting Divine blessing, undergoing great testing, and being counted righteous and the friend of God. The glorious “Consumation” of a life of faith.

Matthew 19:30—“And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife or children, or lands for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”

“But many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.”

Matthew 10:37-39—“He that loveth father and mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. He that loveth son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.”

The Assurance of Faith

Genesis 15; Romans 4:1-5

Paul is asking in Romans, “How was Abraham saved? Was it by faith, or by the works of the law?”

In the first three chapters of Romans, Paul has shown the utter depravity of man, and his complete helplessness to save himself by his own works, or by trying to keep the law.

How was Abraham saved? Quote v. 3—“Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

In modern language that would mean, “Abraham believed God absolutely, and God canceled his sins and declared him fit for heaven.”

Abraham was saved by faith, four hundred years before the law was given.

This was the principle of salvation in the OT, and it is the same today.

Discuss briefly her some people’s attitude, trying to work for salvation, etc.

Notice also the difference between believing God and believing in God.

Most people believe in God, but hardly believe a word He says.

Paul, in Romans 4, quotes from Genesis 15 when he says, “Abraham believed God.”

What did Abraham believe? (1) The word of the Lord, (2) Believed, (3) Fear not, (4) Reward.

Genesis 15 is the great faith chapter of the OT. In it God unveils His plan of salvation is all its fullness.

Consider verse 1—“Fear not, Abraham. I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

Chapter 14 reveals Abraham returning from his great victory over the four kings of the north. He has released Lot and his family, and the five other kings taken prisoner. With his three hundred and eighteen servants he had surprised the enemy by attacking at night. But in thinking of all this he becomes afraid, knowing that these kings will come back for revenge. Right at that point the Lord comes and encourages him saying, “Fear not, Abraham: I am thy shield.”

“Don’t be afraid, Abraham, for I will be your protector,” and also your exceeding great reward. This is the first thing that Abraham believed.

In verses 2 to 3 Abraham reminds God of a promise He had made thirty years before. 12:2—“I will make of thee a great nation.”

In vs. 4-6 God reassures Abraham that he will have a son whose offspring would be as numerous as the stars of heaven. Now God asked Abraham to believe that He would give a long promised, long delayed, miraculously born, supernaturally given son.

In other words, God asked Abraham to believe what was humanly impossible and naturally unreasonable.

Chapter 17 tells us that Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90.

Paul, in Romans 4, tells us that Abraham’s body was dead so far as pro-creation was concerned.

Sara was long past the time of life for childbearing, she was maternally dead.

18:11 informs us that they were “old and well stricken in years.”

That means that they looked and felt their age. Describe.

To have children at their time of life was impossible.

Paul said that Abraham did not even consider this, “He believed God.” “Somehow,” Abraham said, “God will bring it to pass.”

Faith is believing the unbelievable/impossible. Faith is confidence in another’s word.

God said unto Abraham, “I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life.”

In other words, God said, “I am going to set back the clock of time. I am going to make Sarah young again. I will put the clock back 50 or 60 years. She will become a beautiful, virile, healthy young woman again.” He also would do the same for Abraham.

Sara laughed at the very idea and brought forth the classic phrase, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”—verse 14.

Also in v. 14 the Lord confirms His promise to Abraham and Sarah. “At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

For the second time God says I will restore to Sarah the time of childbearing.

And God kept His promise. He brought about a transformation in Sarah which was wonderful. Describe this.

Do you believe this? Or do you think it is far-fetched?

Chapter 21 tells us of the birth of Isaac, God’s promise fulfilled.

Chapter 20 tells us of Abraham and Sarah’s visit to Gerar.

Verse 2, Abraham said, “She is my sister.”

Abimelech the king took one look at her and escorted her to his palace.

Would this be the old woman 90 years of age and well stricken in years of chapter 18?

The king had the choice of any beautiful maiden in the land, would he have chosen a decrepit old woman?

What God did for Sarah he also did for Abraham. Abraham’s youth was renewed, God made him a young man again.

Isaac is born and grows up into manhood.

Some 40 years pass by during which Sarah dies.

Then comes the amazing record of Abraham at the age of 140 years.

Genesis 25:1-2—Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Kenturah.

He was the father of 6 sons at least and probably a host of other children.

God’s promises were all fulfilled.

Abraham believed God concerning the son.

verse 6—“Abraham believed God and he was justified.”

Paul writing to the Romans declares that Abraham was saved by faith and not by works.

There is no salvation apart from Christ, “Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.”

“For there is no other name given among men, under heaven, hereby we must be saved.”

Soon after Abraham’s conversion, doubts began to arise in his mind. H wondered as to the absolute certainty of the promises God had made, and that he had accepted:

1. God had promised to give him a son.

2. God had promised to make his seed as numerous as the stars of the heavens and the sand of the seashore.

3. God had promised to give them a land to dwell in.

Abraham had God’s word for all this, but being human required a sign. “Lord if I just had some evidence, external evidence, something in addition to your word, I would feel better.”

“Lord God,” he prayed, “whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?”

Abraham wanted a sign.

Many of God’s servants have been like this. Take Gideon, for example. Despite the fact that God miraculously consumed the sacrifice on the rock, Gideon, when told to deliver Israel, asked to put the fleece out, and it was only when God soaked the fleece with dew in the first instance, and then kept it dry the second time, that Gideon was assured that God would be with Him.

We are not different from Gideon or Abraham—we want to se evidence also.

Back to Abraham—God says, “Your seed shall be like the stars for number.” “I will give you this land to inherit.” “But how shall I know for sure?”

God answers him in one of the most profound and marvelous pictures in all the Bible.

Read verses 9 and 10 and 17 and 18.

This was how God chose to establish Abraham’s faith, and also to make a covenant with him.

God told him to take a heifer, a goat and a ram all three years old, also a turtle dove and a young pigeon. He took those animals, killed them, and split them in two, then laid the pieces opposite each other with a space in between. The birds he laid opposite each other.

The stage is now set for the sealing of His promise and making of a covenant. There was nothing strange in this, the ancient orientals, when they came together to make an agreement, had different ways of confirming it. For instance:

1. The covenant of salt.

2. The striking of the hand.

3. The contracting parties would exchange a shoe.

4. For the more important and solemn transactions they would kill a calf, cut it in two, lay the pieces opposite each other, then the two parties would stand between the bleeding carcass, and joining hands would say, “Let it be done unto him who breaketh this covenant; as was done to this animal. Let him die the death.”

It was a serious thing to break a covenant. Jeremiah 34:18-20—“And I will give the men who have transgressed my covenant who have not performed the words of my covenant which they made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof.” God then pronounces judgment.

So here in Genesis 15 God is making a covenant with Abraham to assure him. Abraham wanted a sign that God would implement His word. In effect God says:

1. I will give you a son.

2. His seed will be as numerous as the stars.

3. I will give you this land to live in.

If there was any doubt in Abraham’s mind, it was removed now.

Now this picture is typical and topical and has a special application for us today. Some of us are like Abraham, wanting extra assurance of our salvation. How can I know? We believe God’s word when it says:

1. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, etc.

2. That whosoever believeth, etc.

3. He that heareth my word, etc.

Quote from John 3—the importance of believing.

verse 15—That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, etc.

verse 16—A repetition of the above.

verse 18—He that believeth on Him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the Son of God.

Give me a little more proof, someone cries.

We must return to Calvary and view again the slaying of the sacrifice.

We must witness God cleaving asunder His own Son.

We must hear the words of the savior.

“This is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many of the forgiveness of sins.”—Matthew 26:28.

The vision given to Abraham which ratified the covenant describes eloquently the cross-work of Christ:

The heifer—strength of manhood, perfection

The goat—sin offering

The ram—consecration

The birds—one from Heaven

Death passed upon them all, for without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. The death of the sacrifice.

“Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

On the basis of this wonderful sacrifice, God can forgive sins and give eternal life to them that believe.

What greater proof do you need of your salvation? Further more, He is in the glory bearing the wounds of Calvary—irrefutable evidence. John 10:28-29.

I give unto my sheep eternal life; and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Abraham the Intercessor

Genesis 18:22-33

Faith that is never tested will never grow strong. 1 Peter 1:7.

Faith must be put to work or it will always be weak.

This is the reason that God permits trials and testings, they sometimes test us to the very limit of our endurance, but they are meant for our good. Hebrews 12:11; 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Steel must be tempered by fire to become strong.

A tree must face the storms in order to become strong and be pruned if it is to bring forth fruit. When it is all sunshine it is all desert.

Silver must be constantly polished to remain bright.

The soil must be plowed and broken and crushed before it can bring forth fruit.

So the believer needs to be constantly tried and tested if he is to become fruitful for the lord.

Hebrews 12:6—“For whom he loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every Son whom He receiveth.”

Abraham’s life is a whole series of testings, trials, successes and failures, culminating in Genesis 22 with the offering of Isaac.

After each test Abraham’s faith becomes stronger. See Genesis 18:22-33.

Abraham becomes an intercessor for Lot, his backslidden nephew. The wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah has reached a peak, so God determines to destroy them.

Before he does so he tells Abraham (see verse 17)—“Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do.”

When Abraham sees that God is determined to destroy the cities, Abraham began to pray—he interceded (i.e., he stood between God and cities, for the sake of Lot and his family.)

Abraham commences to intercede—verse 24.

God’s answer—verse 26.

Abraham becomes bolder, and reduces the number of the righteous in Sodom to forty-five, then thirty, then twenty and finally ten.

“Per adventure,” he pleaded, “if ten shall be found there.” God said, “I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.” 18:32. Ten righteous people could not be found, only Lot, his wife and two daughters, so God destroyed the cities.

There are some interesting lessons to be learned from this incident.

1. The importance of believers in the world. God would not destroy the cities as long as there were a few believers there. As long as the true Church is in the world interceding, the hand of judgment will be stayed.

Sodom was spared for a time because one man, walking with God, interceded and stood in the gap. But when Lot and his family were safely out, God destroyed the cities with fire.

The Lord said in Luke 17:28-30, “As it was in the days of Lot—so shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”

The sins of Sodom are being repeated today with a vengeance. The wickedness, immorality, dishonesty, graft, violence, ungodliness of the world even surpass the days of Lot. Professing Christendom, like Lot are living in this, utterly blinded to the actual condition and the awful impending doom awaiting the ungodly.

Thank God for the faithful, who realizing the impending doom, stand as intercessors in the gap and stay the hand of God.

In Matthew 5:13 Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth.”

Salt retards corruption, but will not prevent corruption from setting in eventually, but it retards and delays it.

Faithful believers, little known and often despised, are the “salt of the earth.”

2. The second lesson I would draw to your attention is the power of intercession.

The first great example is Abraham. The second is Moses, he by his intercession for Israel was also able to hold back the judgment of God—the great sin of making the golden calf.

God said in Exodus 32:10, “Let me along, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.”

God says to Moss, “Let me alone,” stop praying, stop standing between me and them. You are preventing me sending my judgment and destroying the backslidden rebels.

Moses stood faithfully in God’s presence and said, “Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people”—Exodus 32:12.

Apply this to illustrate the power of prayer.

The Rapture in Genesis

The presence of the “Dead Sea” in Palestine and also the surrounding desert stand as a striking proof of the fact and severity of God’s judgment on the cities of the plain.

God could not destroy the cities as long as Lot was living there. So God took them out. When they were safely away God destroyed the cities.

The reminds us of a great NT doctrine: The Rapture—1 Thessalonians 4.

This is when the Lord will remove believers from the earth, and after this will come judgment.

The Rapture In Genesis

Genesis 19:12-26

verse 22—“Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou become thither.”

Paraphrased it would read, “Hurry up, escape for your life, because I cannot destroy these cities until you get out.”

These words were spoken to Lot, who was carnal and worldly.

The cities had been good to Lot and his family. They loved the cities. Even at the risk of losing their own lives they lingered loathe to break or sever connections. The messengers took him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand and led them out of the city.

He was loathe to go despite the fact that he was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked, and that his righteous soul was vexed from day to day with their unlawful deeds. 2 Peter 2:7-8. But despite the unsatisfactory spiritual condition of His children, God could not destroy the cities so long as they were there.

There is a lesson here for the worldly Christian.

1. When Lot finally escaped he took nothing with him.

His works, his goods and possessions were burned though he himself was saved.

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 2 that we are builders. Spiritual builders are building upon a foundation of gold, silver, and precious stones. Worldly believers are building upon wood, hay, and stubble. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, where our works will be tried by fire. If any man’s work shall stand the test he shall receive a reward. If perchance one’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss. Although he himself shall be saved by the skin of his teeth.

2. The second lesson is of a broader character.

The Lord Jesus used this incident to illustrate the times and the occasion of His coming, prior to the sending of the great tribulation. That is his judgment upon those who have rejected Him, both Jew and Gentile.

“And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it reigned fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”—Luke 17:26-30.

The teaching here is plain.

The judgment of God did not and could not fall on the ungodly until Noah and his family were safely in the ark and Lot was safely out of the city.

Unbelievers, in the last day, will scoff at the idea of the Second Coming of Christ. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming?” 2 Peter 3:4. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. 2 Peter 2:10.

He is coming soon, suddenly and silently.

People often wonder what happens when He comes and what happens after he comes.

Let us take what happens to the Christian first. (1) The Rapture—1 Thessalonians 4; (2) The Judgment Seat of Christ; (3) The Marriage of the Lamb—Revelation 19; (4) The coming with Christ in glory to the earth—Revelation 19.

What happens to the unbeliever after the Rapture? There is ushered in a period of time (approximately 7 years) called the Tribulation. This in some places is called “the Day of the Lord.” It is a period of judgment and of great suffering. The flood-gates of God’s wrath are opened upon a world without believers and without the Spirit. These are described for us in Revelation 6-19. At the end of this period every unbeliever is resurrected to stand before the Great White Throne. See Revelation 20:11-15.

Romans 3:23—“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Climax of Faith

Genesis 22

Read verses 1 and 2.

In this chapter we come to the climax, the acme and the goal of Abraham’s faith.

It took the Lord 60 years to prepare Abraham for this climactic event. Prior to this incident God passed Abraham through the fires of trial. He embarked on the life of faith when he left Ur of the Chaldees. He was 70 years old then, and now he is 130 years.

In Genesis 12 we have the beginning of the journey of faith.

In Genesis 22 we have the climax of this life of faith.

Abraham’s whole life appears to have been a preparation for this faith experience. Each trial, each test, each victory and each failure was in the over-ruling providence of God preparing Him for final victory. The veiled purpose of God in all this was to conform Abraham unto His own image. The first picture released from this type is that Abraham became like God in that he offered up his only son.

This to me is a tremendous commentary on Romans 8:28—“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.”

God is never in a hurry. One of the few times we do find Him in a hurry is when the father welcomed back the prodigal—he ran.

Normally God is not in a hurry. To young Timothy Paul wrote, “Lay hands suddenly on no man.” He also wrote that leaders in the church should not be novices. When God is preparing someone for His service, He takes His time and does the job thoroughly. The finished product is for His glory.

To you who are passing through deep waters, the road is rough, it is almost overwhelming and sometimes you cry out in your distress. Never forget that in it all God has one purpose and that is to conform us unto the image of Christ.

verse 1—“And it came to pass after these things.” After these things recorded in Genesis 12-21.

verse 1—And God said unto him, “Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.” Abraham is ready at last.

There is no quibbling, no arguing, no asking questions. He did not say now, “O that Ishmael might live before Thee.” Abraham finally became completely submissive, wholly yielded and a totally prepared vessel at the feet of God. That is the meaning of, “Behold, here I am.”

verse 2—“Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and get you into the land of Moriah.” In the Hebrew language this appears much more tender. “Take now your son, your only Isaac, whom you love.” Nowhere in all the realm of Scripture will we find a clearer picture of Calvary than in this chapter. Linked with Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, which are elaborations of this chapter, it gives us a marvelous prophetic picture of the love of God fulfilled at Calvary.

The Willing Father

Verse 2 continues, “Take now your son, your only Isaac…and offer him…for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains that I will show you.”

The first type or shadow we have here is of the Father’s willingness to give His only Son. Abraham, in the fullness of mature faith, was willing to make the supreme sacrifice, in order to please god Who had called him from the darkness of Ur of the Chaldees into the light of His presence and favor. I believe this but I cannot understand it. Neither can I understand how, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,” etc.

This mystery deepens when we consider Isaiah 53:10. “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief.” As we stand in holy reverence and contemplate this mysterious truth, may our hearts cry out, “My Lord, and my God.”

The Only Son

Isaac is called Abraham’s only son. What does this mean, for Abraham had other sons? Ishmael was born 13 years prior to Isaac. He also had other sons subsequently by a future marriage. Isaac was the only one that God recognized, and all the blessing that came upon the other sons came through Isaac.

In a sense God had other sons. Job speaks about a great host of angelic beings called the “sons of God.” Adam is called by Luke the “son of God.” We by our new creation are “sons of God.” Not one of these were able to meet God’s requirements. There was only One, God’s only Son who was fit to become our substitute and satisfy God’s righteousness.

The Well-Beloved Son

Isaac was Abraham’s well-beloved son. “Take now your son, your only Isaac, whom you love.”

God, also, had a well-beloved Son. We as parents know what human love is. We would give our lives for our children if occasion demanded it. All this is so shallow compared with the love which God had for His Son. It was hard for Abraham to give his well-beloved son. It was much more difficult for God to give His Son. Abraham gave his son because of his love for God; but God gave His Son out of love for His enemies.

Romans 5—helpless, sinners, enemies.

The Mount of the Lord

We are next told where Abraham is to go.

verse 2—“And get you into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will show you.”

Practically all Bible students agree that the land of Moriah embraced the land of Palestine, and that the mountain where Abraham was told to go was Mount Calvary. This was the same mount on which God had ordained that His well-beloved Son should die. Abraham, by the Spirit, designated this place “Jehovah-Jireh”, which means “the mount of the Lord.”

verse 3—“And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him.”

“Abraham rose up early in the morning.” Here we see in type “The Father setting apart His Son for sacrifice.” The Passover Lamb was separated from the flock four days before it was to be killed. Exodus 12:3. So here Isaac is taken by Abraham three days before he was to be offered upon the altar.

“Abraham rose up early in the morning.” There are two possible fulfillments of this type:

1. It was early on Wednesday morning that He was taken and tried then sent to His crucifixion.

2. The crucifixion of our Lord was something more than the frenzied act of those who hated Him without a cause. The cross of Christ was according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. Acts 2:3. Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and Jews only did “whatsoever” God’s hand and counsel, “determined before to be done.” Acts 4:28.

“Christ was the Lamb foreordained before the foundation of the world.”—1 Peter 1:20.

The Lord Jesus was marked out for sacrifice from all eternity. He was in the purpose of God “slain before the foundation of the world.”—Revelation 13:8.

These things are suggested in our type, “Abraham rose up early in the morning.”

verse 5—“And Abraham said unto his young men, ‘Abide you here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.’”

What took place on the mount of sacrifice was a transaction between the Father and the Son. Nothing is said of Sarah here. The mount came within the range of vision of the young men. Having come thus far they were left behind: “Abide you here.” These two men watched Isaac carrying the wood on his back but what took place between him and his father they were not permitted to see. No human eye was to witness that.

How significantly all this fits into the offering of Christ. The two thieves followed our Lord, Abraham’s greater Son so far, but they were not permitted to see what transpired between the Father and the Son. The three hours of darkness concealed from every human eye the Divine Transaction between Father and Son.

The meal offering—baked in a pan or an oven.

Bearing the Wood

verse 6—“Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son.” Isaac carried the wood on which he was about to die. This is an unmistakable picture of the Lord bearing His cross to Calvary.

“Through the gate of the city they led Him bearing His cross,” etc.

Men placed the cross of wood upon Him—symbol of the curse. God placed the curse of sin upon Him.

The second picture we have presented here is the perfect obedience of Isaac. Isaac was no half-grown boy, but a full grown man who could easily have resisted his father. But instead of resisting, Isaac quietly follows his father. This immediately focuses our attention on our blessed Savior.

Hebrews 10:7—“Lo, I come to do Your will, O God.”

Psalm 40:8—“I delight to do Your will O My God.”

Christ and the Father were of one accord. Note how beautifully this is brought out in the type “and they went both of them together”, twice repeated.

verse 6—The next thing we notice is that Abraham, “Took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.”

As Abraham and Isaac walked toward the place of sacrifice Isaac carried the wood upon his back, Abraham carried the fire and the knife. Isaac is a picture of the Lord carrying His cross to Calvary, and Abraham is a picture of God the Father Whose judgment would fall upon His Son.

Fire and a knife speak of judgment (Divine). Fire expresses Divine holiness and Divine disapproval of anything contrary to the nature and character of God.

1. It was a flaming sword which turned every way that guarded the way of the tree of life. Genesis 3:24.

2. God’s disapproval and judgment was manifested against Sodom and Gomorrah when He burned them with fire.

3. God’s final judgment against sin will be exhibited eternally in the Lake of Fire.

In our type here the fire pointed forward to the judgment which would fall on the Lord Jesus, the Sin-Bearer, when He hung on the cross.

As Isaac’s father took the fire in his hand, so the Beloved Son of God was smitten of God and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4.

“They went both of them together.”

Abraham and Isaac were in perfect agreement. Abraham did not have to force Isaac to carry the wood or climb the altar. See verse 9. There was no struggle, no murmuring, no objection. It is the eloquent picture of a son obedient unto death.

Abraham is a man of 130 years. Isaac is a young man approximately the age of the Lord Jesus. The old man ties the young man, in the prime of life, hand and foot, and places him upon the altar without one word of protest from the son. How well Isaiah describes this very scene, and also describes Him of whom Isaac is the type. Isaiah 53:7. “He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” Perfect agreement between Abraham and Isaac also between the Father and the Son: “they went both of them together.”

verse 7—Isaac asks the question, “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Describe the scene here.

These two men are going to worship on Mount Moriah. Isaac was carrying the wood, Abraham had the fire and the knife, and as they walked along Isaac asked the question, “Where is the lamb?” Isaac knew that to worship God meant an offering, but where was it?

The answer that Abraham gave is also remarkable. My son, “God will provide Himself a lamb.” Abraham was not thinking of the ram caught in the thicket, he knew nothing of that. This answer expresses the quiet confidence that Abraham had in God and His purpose. He did not know at this time that Isaac would be spared, but he knew that God was able for the situation. This answer seemed to have satisfied Isaac.

The answer of Abraham was also prophetic—“God will provide Himself a lamb.”

John 1:29—“Behold the Lamb of God,” etc.

Romans 8:32—“He that spared not His own Son,” etc.

verse 9-10—Alone with his son.

When they reached the appointed place the father and son were alone. The transaction was a very personal thing, it was not for human eyes to behold. When the awful moment of sacrifice came and Abraham raised that glittering knife to plunge it into the heart of Isaac, there was no one around. The scene was too sacred and holy.

Do you see the picture? When the moment of sacrifice came, God snuffed out the lights of heaven, and pulled down the shades of the sky, and for three hours in total darkness God was alone with His Son. We do not know what took place thee. Of this we are sure, that God forsook His Son, this drew from His lips the heart-broken cry, “My God,” etc.

verse 11-12—So far as Abraham was concerned, his son was dead. How long had he been dead? Three days.

Twice in Hebrews 11:17 the writer says, “He offered up Isaac” and “He offered up his only begotten son.”

This offering actually took place three days before Isaac was put on the altar.

“Lay not thy hand upon the lad,” etc. Isaac is delivered from actually death.

This ordeal was a severe test of faith for Abraham. On the one hand, there were the promises of God invested in Isaac. On the other, God said offer up your son as a burnt-offering to Me.

Humanly speaking this was an impossible situation. Deep down in his heart Abraham was convinced that in order for God to accomplish in Isaac his plans, then God must act, and even though he slay his son in obedience to God’s request, He would raise him from the dead.

verse 13—The ram, the substitute.

The type passes from Isaac to the ram offered up. Our text says, “offered up in his stead.” This is a beautiful picture of Christ dying in the place of sinners who, like Isaac, are “bound” and have the wrath and justice of God suspended over them.

See John 3:36—“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Galatians 3:8—“The Gospel was preached unto Abraham.” This is where God preached it to him.

The Resurrection

“Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from whence also he received him in a figure”—Hebrews 11:19.

Ascension of Christ

First of all let us consider Isaac. We read nothing more of him in this record after he was bound to the altar. He disappears from the story.

Verse 19 tells us that Abraham returned to the young men. Isaac metaphorically is left up in the mountain. The next time he appears in the Divine record is when he meets his bride in Genesis 24:62.

This is a tremendous picture of the ascension of the Lord Jesus. Isaac disappears after his resurrection, and so does our Lord. During Isaac’s absence Eliezer, the servant, type of the Holy Spirit, is sent by the father to seek a bride for his son. So, during our Lord’s absence the Holy Spirit is sent by the Father to call out a Bride from among the nations, for His Son.

In closing let me review briefly this wonderful picture of God’s program beginning with the birth of Christ. In Genesis 21 we have the birth of the promised son. Isaac is supernaturally, miraculously born against the laws of nature. In Genesis 22 we have the death of this son on Mount Moriah or Calvary.

In the close of this chapter we have the resurrection of this son, Isaac, then follows the ascension in type as he disappears from view.