Hidden Treasure

Look at the parallels here! Two promised little boys with miracle births – one called Isaac who would become the father of the whole nation of Israel, and through whose line would come the second child, called Jesus – born of a virgin and destined to become the supreme sacrifice to redeem us all. Genesis 22:6, says “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son.” KJV. John 19:17 – KJV, says: And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of the skull, which is called Golgotha. Two young men, both following their father. Isaac would have been at least fifteen years old – his father at least 115. When he realized the real purpose of this long journey, he surely could have run, but he did not. He willingly obeyed his father, allowed himself to be bound and placed on top of the altar and braced himself for the thrust of the knife that would take his life, held in the hand of a father who loved him. Jesus. The only begotten son of a father who loved Him, willingly faced the cruelest execution and went forward silently, as a lamb to the slaughter. He said in Matthew 26:53, …Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels?” He asked in verse 54:. “How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” He knew from the time He could comprehend it that this was the reason He was born. He had come to do the will of His Father. In John 10:18 Jesus said of His life, No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.”

Isaac had asked his father in Genesis 22:7-8, “..Look, the fire and the wood are here – but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” and Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering.” NKJV. How his heart must have been breaking! But now, just as Abraham lifted his arm to plunge the knife into his son, God called out and stopped him in verse 12-14 , And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him: for now, I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.’ Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So, Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The- Lord-Will- Provide as it is said to this day in the mountain of the Lord it shall be provided.” NKJV

This ram, provided by God Himself to die in Isaac’s place was to represent the lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world – Jesus, the perfect beloved only son of God, provided for us, to die in our place on that very same mountain. “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.” John 3:16 KJV