Advent – Day 3

“When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, 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 as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
– Genesis 22: 9-14, emphasis mine

Today we’re diving into a difficult passage. As a mother, it hits me especially deep. I can’t fathom the weight of the burden upon Abraham. How could a good God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son? To fully answer this question, it’s important to look at this passage through the lens of Advent. This wasn’t merely a historical event, this was another Old Testament prophecy that clearly pointed to the coming of Jesus. Like so much of the Old Testament, these verse are filled with prophetic symbolism intended to point readers to the coming Savior.

Genesis 22 starts with God commanding Abraham, “‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’” (Genesis 22:2) Abraham immediately obeys. He rises early and takes a donkey, two young men, Isaac, and the wood for the sacrifice. Then verse 3 tells us “On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.” Are you starting to see the prophecy already emerging? It was the third day. 

Abraham then proceeds to prepare for the sacrifice. He takes the wood and places it on Isaac. Issac responds, saying “‘Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.’ So they went both of them together.” (Genesis 22:7-8) At this point, Isaac is carrying the wood for the sacrifice in the same way Jesus would later carry his cross, and Abraham is confident God will provide a substitute … but not just any substitute, a lamb. Abraham’s faith is spectacular! Even as he lays Isaac on the altar, he fully trusts God will provide a sacrificial substitute. And what about Isaac? Many experts believe Isaac was likely 20 or 30 years old at this time; the Jewish historian, Josephus, believed he was 25. Abraham was over 100 years old; thus Isaac was capable of resisting his father, and yet he didn’t. Isaac went as a willing sacrifice, just as Christ went as a willing sacrifice to the cross.

And then, just as Abraham reaches out his hand, the angel of the LORD (who some theologians believe was actually Jesus before he took on flesh) intercedes and stops him. “And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, 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 as a burnt offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13, emphasis mine) This one verse is so rich with prophecy, it gives me chills when I read it. Abraham trusted God would provide, and he did! God provided a very specific, prophetic sacrifice: a ram—a male lamb—who just so happened to have his head ringed by the growth of a thicket. 

Two thousand years later, God would provide another substitute for you and I. This substitute would be God’s only beloved son, who would also be referred to as the lamb of God. He would carry his own cross; his head would be ringed by thorns; and he would die as a substitute for you and I upon or near the same hill where Abraham offered Isaac.

This entire ancient narrative points directly to the coming of Jesus, and yet it would be two millennia before the promised one would arrive. This is the incredible mystery and miracle of Advent. This is why we observe it with such sacredness and celebration. As we wait to celebrate Christmas morning, we reflect upon the ancient years of waiting for the arrival of the promised Messiah, and we see how the story of redemption was foretold and unfolded over hundreds of centuries. And today it’s still unfolding, because one day there will be a second coming. So we remember the first coming, and we look forward to the second with anxious anticipation, because we’ve seen God always keeps his promises.

Today, take some time to reflect on the promises God has kept in your life and trust him to keep the promises that have yet to come to fruition. He has always been faithful, and he always will. Dear Lord, remind us of your faithfulness in our own lives. Bring to mind the times you have fulfilled your promises to us, and help us to trust you for promises yet unfulfilled. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, help us to see the faithful thread of your sovereignty and goodness throughout history and into today.   

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