Biblia

409. GEN 21:3. ISAAC A TYPE OF CHRIST

409. GEN 21:3. ISAAC A TYPE OF CHRIST

Gen_21:3. Isaac a Type Of Christ

"And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare unto him. Isaac."’97Gen_21:3.

The piety and faith of Abraham;n surrendering his beloved son, at the demand of Jehovah, has ever been held up, as an extraordinary act of love and devotedness to God. In scripture the event stands forth as one of peculiar interest; and we are not only to admire the patriarch, but to imitate his self-denial and resignation; and to follow him, as one who now through faith and patience inherits the promises. But I fear in contemplating the subject we forget that the piety and faith and resignation of Isaac could not be greatly inferior to that of his father, for Isaac might have rebelled and refused to have submitted to a death so apparently unnatural and cruel, for at this time he was twenty-five if not thirty years of age. But at present let us glance briefly at the leading points of resemblance between Isaac and Jesus.

We see it,

I. In the Appropriateness of his Name.

Isaac signifies "laughter" or "rejoicing." Jesus, as the Messiah, was to be the consolation of Israel. As the Redeemer, the joy of the whole earth. No name so full of gladness to a disconsolate world as that of Christ’s:

"’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,

‘Tis life and health and peace."

II. In the peculiar Circumstances of his Birth.

(1) His birth was specially predicted. God had communicated this both to Abraham and Sarah, Gen_17:10, and Gen_18:13. To the birth and coming of Jesus most of the prophets bare witness. Every event connected therewith had long been written on the roll of prophecy by the finger of God. (2) His birth was extraordinary When his mother was past age, Heb_11:11. The birth of Jesus was still more extraordinary. Born of a virgin. According to the prediction of Isaiah,Heb_7:14 Luk_1:34. (3) His birth was connected with great joy, Genesis 21. Still greater rejoicing was associated with the birth of Christ. A host of angels descended to celebrate it in songs of rapturous joy. "And suddenly here was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host," &c. Luk_2:13, Luk_2:14.

III. In being intentionally offered as a Sacrifice.

Observe,

1. The description of the sacrifice which was given,

"Thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest." How naturally our thoughts are led by this language to Jesus, the only-begotten son of God, the son of his delight, his dearly beloved son.

2. He was to be presented as a sacrifice.

"Offer him there for a burnt-offering," Gen_22:1-2, &c. Here again we are directly led to Jesus. He came to be a sacrifice. The apostle says of him, "For by one offering," &c., Heb_10:14, evidently referring to the death of Jesus.

3. He was to be devoted and sacrificed by his father.

To Abraham God said, "Take now thy son," &c. Jesus was God’s gift to the world. He so loved the world, that "he gave" &c., "He spared not his own son," &c., Rom_8:32. The prophet Zechariah presents this before us in a form peculiarly striking, when Jehovah speaks, "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd," &c., Zec_13:7. See also Act_3:18.

4. He was to be offered on mount Moriah.

To this spot with his father he travelled for three days, &c. Near the same spot,’97on Calvary, Jesus was sacrificed for the sin of the world.

5. Isaac bare the wood, which was designed to burn the offering.

Christ also bare the cross on which he was to be crucified.

6. Isaac freely submitted to be bound and tied upon the altar.

Jesus voluntarily went forth to death, and freely surrendered his spirit into the hands of his Father. But here the typical resemblance terminates. For Isaac a substitute is provided. The uplifted hand is stayed: God orders a ram to be bound and slain by Abraham in the stead of his son, Gen_22:13. For Jesus there was no substitute. It behooved him to suffer. He was sent and appointed of his Father to his end He was born and lived that he might give himself a sacrifice for the sin of the world In the return of Isaac to his father’s house, we have shadowed forth the resurrection of Christ from the dead, and his ascension to heaven, where he now appears at the right hand of the majesty on high.

Application

1. Let the subject lead us to contemplate the true desert of sin’97which is death. And to this death as sinners all men are exposed.

2. Consider the necessity of an atoning sacrifice, "Without shedding of blood," &c.

3. Consider the infinite merit and preciousness of that sacrifice which God has provided,’97his own son. The precious blood of Christ.

4. The necessity of a believing personal interest in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

5. The awful consequence of neglecting the propitiation the love of God has provided’97eternal death.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS