THE ASCENDING SACRIFICE – The LORD’s Provision

I want to invite us to look at something interesting

Genesis 22:10-14 [AMP]
[10]And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took hold of the knife to slay his son.
[11]But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham! He answered, Here I am.
[12]And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear and revere God, since you have not held back from Me or begrudged giving Me your son, your only son.
[13]Then Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering and an ascending sacrifice instead of his son!
[14]So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided.

What we see from the above text, is God, through Abraham, communicating to Isaac (the promised child), His eternal plan of redemption for mankind.

It’s a plan that Abraham had been made to be acquainted with (Genesis 12 & 15).

What Abraham said in Genesis 22:14, revealed that he understood the plan of God, thus, He had foreseen the resurrection of the Christ, very long before the Christ was even conceived in the womb of a virgin.

Genesis 22:14 [AMP]
[14]So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided.

So, from Abraham’s words in vs 14, there was something he knew, which God needed Isaac to also get acquainted with.
Thus, all the drama that ensued in Genesis 22, were figurative expressions, that were meant to reveal the LORD’s actual intention…

From our text, we see it written, that Abraham heard a holy voice which instructed him to do no harm to the boy.
The truth is that, Abraham knew that Isaac would not die. And if he died, he (Abraham) believed that he (Isaac) would be made to live again, because God had told him that the “Seed of Redemption”, would come through Isaac (or, be traced to Isaac). Gen. 21:12

Hebrews 11:17-19 [NKJV]
[17]By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
[18]of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”
[19]concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Hence, Abraham trusted God, that He would not take Isaac away from him, because as God promised, the Seed of Redemption would come through Isaac.

Summarily, The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, does not require human sacrifices, like any of the idol gods worshipped by those who are still in the darkness.

God’s actual communication in Gen. 22, was that He would be the One that would give the satisfactory Sacrifice for the eternal redemption of the human race. A sacrifice that would redeem man eternally, from the power, hold and influence of the devil.

Genesis 22:13-14 [AMP]
[13]Then Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering and an ascending sacrifice instead of his son!
[14]So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided.

Note how it is said in vs 13, “a burnt offering and an ascending sacrifice instead of his son“

That point to us, that, instead of US, to receive the due punishment and judgment for our sins, The Father’s Provision, which is His Lamb, Jesus Christ, would take our place, and thus, His righteousness and innocence and guiltlessness would be transferred to us.

Just as the supernaturally provided Ram was offered in place of Isaac, Jesus Christ, who is the fulfilment of the communication, would be offered up in the place of Mankind. However, it is those who believe in His work of Redemption, that come into the riches of God’s grace, which is the transfer of His (Christ) righteousness, His guiltlessness to us. And that, Paul the Apostle, calls, “A Gift”. (Romans 4, 5, & 6).

This is what Abraham foresaw and clearly understood, that made him say;

The Lord will Provide.

So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided. {Gen. 22:14 [AMP] }.

What would the Lord provide?

Answer: The Lamb – A Satisfactory Sacrifice that redeems the human race from the power of sin, and the devil.

John the Baptist also confirmed it.

John 1:29 [AMP]
[29]The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!

This is what Abraham saw, very many centuries before it was fulfilled.

Thus, Jesus says

John 8:56 [AMP]
[56]Your forefather Abraham was extremely happy at the hope and prospect of seeing My day (My incarnation); and he did see it and was delighted.

JESUS confirmed that Abraham foresaw Him.

JESUS, was the communication of Abraham to Isaac in Genesis 22.

He (JESUS) is the true Ascending Sacrifice that brings such a sweet odour on our behalf, satisfies the judgment, by making Himself the Offering for our sins, thereby making US accepted and received into the eternal Glory of God.

JESUS, is the Provision that Abraham prophesied about, in Gen. 22:14.