“So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”

And he said, “Here I am, my son.”

Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together” (Gen 22: 6-8)

Mount Moriah and Mount Calvary stand together as a wall around Jerusalem. Their destinies are connected. This story in Gen3sis 22 is a symbol of the Cross. Abraham stands for God the Father. Isaac stands for God the Son. In this chapter Isaac is not a small boy. His particular age is not given but he should be a man in his thirties. A boy cannot carry enough wood on his back to burn a human body. In the next chapter, when his mother Sarah dies at 127, he was 37 years old. Both Isaac and Jesus were born miraculously. Both Isaac and Jesus died in their thirties. God tells Abraham to leave Hebron city and to go towards Jerusalem, on the top of Mount Moriah. That was a three days journey. The events on Mount Moriah happen on the third day. Jesus rose from the grave on the third day. Abraham takes two servants. Not three or four, just two. He tells them to remain some distance away. They represent the two thieves crucified along with Jesus. But the last part of the journey is done by father and son alone. Salvation is of God alone. No man can take the credit. Abraham lays on Isaac’s back the wood for the burning sacrifice. The word ‘wood’ appears 5 times in this chapter. It stands for the burden of sin and death. Jesus carried his wooden cross to Mount Calvary. The same word ‘to lay on him’ appears in Is 53:6!

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all”

Both Isaac and Jesus were obedient unto death. They accepted the plan of their father even when it was very difficult. They were both persecuted by their brethren.

Isaac questions his father: “Where is the lamb?’ Abraham wisely answers: “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” He did not say ‘a lamb’ but ‘the lamb’. The ram found in the thicket was not a lamb.

The question “Where is the Lamb?’ was answered more than a 1000 years later; It is not any sacrifice, but a particular Lamb approved by God that could take away the sins of the world. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God was crucified on Mount Calvary. The first man to recognize the Lamb of God was John: “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29).

You have to use your imagination and see Isaac carrying away on his back the pile of wood that could have killed you. Do you know the Lamb of God? Has He taken away your sins? Are you free from the punishment and shame of sins? Do not look around at the circumstances. Look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith! You may have heard this invitation but the Word of God never changes! Come to Jesus and become a child of God!

God provided His Beloved Son as a sacrifice for my sins. His provision is my protection forever! I am saved to the uttermost. I shall not lose my salvation for it is too deep in my spirit to be removed. He that started a good thing in me shall perfect it until that wonderful day when we shall see face to face! Hallelujah!

“Forever You will be

The Lamb upon the throne

And I gladly bow my knees

To worship You alone!”

In Christ I declare:

I am born again!

I am free indeed!

In Jesus name

Amen!