“And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son” (Genesis 22:6 ESV).
God told Abraham to sacrifice his son on a mountain in the land of Moriah. Early the next morning, Abraham took his son Isaac and his servants and headed out. As they approached Mt. Moriah, Abraham told his servants to stay behind and taking the wood from their donkeys, he laid it on Isaac’s shoulders. Isaac would carry the wood on his shoulders up the steep mountain as Abraham followed, carrying the fire and knife for the sacrifice.
Can you see it? Abraham’s beloved son carrying the wood on his shoulders, sweat dripping from his brow as he carried the load. Isaac was no longer a child. He was near manhood, yet completely obedient to his father, even unto death. When Isaac asked about the sacrifice, Abraham told him that God would provide the lamb for it.
Centuries later, the Promised Seed of Abraham (See Gen. 12:7; Gal. 3:16), the Son of God, Jesus Christ walked up that same hill bearing a wooden cross on His shoulders, obedient to the Father even unto death. He was the promised Lamb of God. For God the Father “did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all” (Rom. 8:32).
Just as Abraham put the wood on Isaac’s shoulders, so the Father sent His Son to carry the wooden cross on His. For the Genesis story foreshadows the Gospel story that God’s only begotten Son would willingly die as an atonement for our sin.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for the Scriptures that point us page after page to Jesus. Holy Spirit, always help us look for Jesus, for He is the key to knowing You and understanding Your Word. In Jesus name, Amen.