Substitution
Paulette Fraticelli
(Gen 22:13 CEV) Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he took the ram and sacrificed it in place of his son.
This morning we continue Genesis 22 opens with the Lord instructing Abraham to take his "only" son Isaac to the land of Moriah to sacrifice him. Let's think about this for a minute. Isaac was the child of promise and Abraham and Sarah had to wait 25 years for that promised to be fulfilled.
However, they did have a lapse in patience that caused Abraham to have another son (Ishmael) with his servant Gomar. This really made Isaac his second son, but God referred to him as the "only" son, because he was the son of promise. Incredibly enough, Abraham looked past the awesomeness of the request and set out the next morning to kill the son that he loved for the God that he served. He got up early in the morning and took off with his donkey, the materials for the sacrifice, his servants, and his son.
After a three day journey Abraham was able to see the place the Lord led him to. It was still afar off when he told his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." Notice that he said, "...we will come back to you." He had faith in God that somehow they would both be back together.
Abraham built the altar and arranged the wood. He then bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar. Imagine that for a moment. Imagine preparing to sacrifice your only son, based on a request of your loving God. When Abraham lifted up his knife to shed the blood of his promised son the angel of the Lord stopped him and pointed out a ram that was stuck in a nearby thicket. The Lord honored Abraham's faith and provided the ram for the sacrifice in the stead of the boy. This is chock-full of application about faith, promises, and provision; but our focus this morning is a seldom talked about subject: substitution.
(Gen 22:13 CEV) Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he took the ram and sacrificed it in place of his son.
This morning we continue Genesis 22 opens with the Lord instructing Abraham to take his "only" son Isaac to the land of Moriah to sacrifice him. Let's think about this for a minute. Isaac was the child of promise and Abraham and Sarah had to wait 25 years for that promised to be fulfilled.
However, they did have a lapse in patience that caused Abraham to have another son (Ishmael) with his servant Gomar. This really made Isaac his second son, but God referred to him as the "only" son, because he was the son of promise. Incredibly enough, Abraham looked past the awesomeness of the request and set out the next morning to kill the son that he loved for the God that he served. He got up early in the morning and took off with his donkey, the materials for the sacrifice, his servants, and his son.
After a three day journey Abraham was able to see the place the Lord led him to. It was still afar off when he told his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." Notice that he said, "...we will come back to you." He had faith in God that somehow they would both be back together.
Abraham built the altar and arranged the wood. He then bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar. Imagine that for a moment. Imagine preparing to sacrifice your only son, based on a request of your loving God. When Abraham lifted up his knife to shed the blood of his promised son the angel of the Lord stopped him and pointed out a ram that was stuck in a nearby thicket. The Lord honored Abraham's faith and provided the ram for the sacrifice in the stead of the boy. This is chock-full of application about faith, promises, and provision; but our focus this morning is a seldom talked about subject: substitution.
Let's take a closer look:
1. Isaac was the second son, but he was the child of promise.
2. God instructed the 'Father of Faith' to sacrifice this second and promised son.
3. At the point of sacrifice, the Lord stopped it and provided a ram to die in the stead of the man.
God tested Abraham's faith, but stopped him before human sacrifice. God would reserve the shedding of human blood to that of His only begotten Son and the Old Testament would continue to riddled with the blood of animals for the actions of man. The ram in the text and all other animals sacrificed after it had nothing to do with the circumstances surrounding the sacrifice, but they died so that humanity could live. This is called substitution.
Remember that the Old Testament is but a foreshadow of the New. Let's take a look at the New Testament revelation of this text:
1. Like Isaac, Jesus was the second (Adam was the first) and promised Son of God.
2. God instructed Jesus to offer Himself as a sacrifice, thereby shedding human blood and ending the requirement for the shedding of animal blood.
3. Jesus was the only human to never commit sin and was therefore not required to pay the penalty for it; but He substituted His righteousness for our sin. He became the innocent Lamb that paid the price for the guilty man. He took on our guilt and gave us His innocence so that we could take on His innocence and give Him our guilt. This is substitution.
4. We can now face this day with the peace and assurance that we have been redeemed. Jesus died a substitutionary death so that we could live a substitutionary life. He died for you so that you could live for Him. What are you going to do today that will honor His sacrifice?
2. God instructed the 'Father of Faith' to sacrifice this second and promised son.
3. At the point of sacrifice, the Lord stopped it and provided a ram to die in the stead of the man.
God tested Abraham's faith, but stopped him before human sacrifice. God would reserve the shedding of human blood to that of His only begotten Son and the Old Testament would continue to riddled with the blood of animals for the actions of man. The ram in the text and all other animals sacrificed after it had nothing to do with the circumstances surrounding the sacrifice, but they died so that humanity could live. This is called substitution.
Remember that the Old Testament is but a foreshadow of the New. Let's take a look at the New Testament revelation of this text:
1. Like Isaac, Jesus was the second (Adam was the first) and promised Son of God.
2. God instructed Jesus to offer Himself as a sacrifice, thereby shedding human blood and ending the requirement for the shedding of animal blood.
3. Jesus was the only human to never commit sin and was therefore not required to pay the penalty for it; but He substituted His righteousness for our sin. He became the innocent Lamb that paid the price for the guilty man. He took on our guilt and gave us His innocence so that we could take on His innocence and give Him our guilt. This is substitution.
4. We can now face this day with the peace and assurance that we have been redeemed. Jesus died a substitutionary death so that we could live a substitutionary life. He died for you so that you could live for Him. What are you going to do today that will honor His sacrifice?
Father, with my whole heart I seek You and I declare, by faith, that I will never cease to give You praise for sending Your Son to die so that I could live. You substituted Your Son for my sin and I now substitute my life for His. I will be Your legs to walk and Your mouth to talk this day. Use me as an instrument of Your anointing. I honor You Lord with my life and service. I live my life in the name of the one who died so that I could have it. I owe You everything and I will seek to honor Your sacrifice by living the life You desire for me to live. In declare this in the name of the one who died for me! In Jesus' name. Amen.
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