Hebrews 11:17
The New Testament unfolds a vast amount of Divine teaching that could not possibly be known in Old Testament times. One dispensation is like a starlight night; the other like the sun shining in its strength. Christ came as the Light. He Himself said, “I am the Light of the world.” There is no doubt that the New Testament believer is in a position to understand the Old Testament more fully than even Old Testament believers, who first received it. Because of this, shallow Christians often believe they are vastly superior to the Old Testament saints. But careful study of the Scriptures will reveal the splendid characters of many of these saints, and that their faith stretched far into the dawn of the coming day.
Perhaps one of the best illustrations of this will be found in the story of God telling Abraham to offer up his only son Isaac in sacrifice. For a father to be told to sacrifice his son with his own hand is a trial too poignant for words to express. Only God had a right to make such a demand, and Abraham rose to great heights of faith in his obedience. For Isaac was no ordinary son. He was the direct gift of God, and that miraculously, for Abraham’s body was dead, and Sarah long past the age of conception when the child of promise came to cheer their hearts. No wonder they called him Isaac, which means “Laughter.” And further, God had told Abraham that his seed should be as the stars of the heaven and as the sand of the sea shore, that in his seed should all the nations of the earth be blessed (Gen. 22:18). Isaac was the first link in the chain of fulfilment as our blessed Lord was the last; the only One who could and will fulfil the promise.
Was there ever such a test of obedience as this? Was there ever such a trial of faith?
Abraham rises early in the morning, cleaves the wood for the burnt offering, takes Isaac and two young men with him, and sets forth for Mount Moriah, the future site of the Temple at Jerusalem, within sight of which our Lord died on Calvary's cross.
When in sight of his destination he bade the young men tarry whilst he and the lad would go yonder and worship. Does this not let in a flood of light as to Abraham’s faith and trust in God? Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son, but he had the sublime faith to say with assurance that he and Isaac would worship and then return to the young men. One stands in amazement at such a statement in such circumstances. Even as highly blessed New Testament believers we may well feel spiritual dwarfs in the presence of a moral giant. Abraham believed that, if even he carried out the bidding of God and sacrificed his son, his son would be given back to him in life, for God could not break His promise that in Isaac should his seed be called.
We have New Testament warrant for this statement. We read, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, EVEN FROM THE DEAD: from whence also he received him in a figure” (Heb. 11:17-19). Is there not something sublime in this, in sharp contrast with the feeble faith we New Testament saints evidence oftentimes? Could faith at that time go further?
As Abraham and Isaac journeyed along, Isaac, evidently unaware of the fate that lay before him, asked a question of his father, a question like a poisoned dagger plunged into his very heart: “My father … behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Staggering question! How it must have caused him intense anguish of spirit! Again Abraham stands out pre-eminent. Listen to his answer, “My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” Was Abraham looking at his son when he made this answer, or was he looking far, far ahead to an event that would be manifested after many centuries had run their course?
Again Scripture, indeed our Lord Himself, gives us an answer. When our Lord told the Pharisees that the one, who believes on Him, should never die, they answered that Abraham and the prophets were dead, and how could He say that the one, who believes on Him, should never die? He replied, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56).
Is this not confirmed? When God restrained Abraham's knife as it was poised to descend with a fatal blow upon Isaac bound on the altar, and the ram caught in the thicket by its horns was substituted for him, he exclaimed, calling the place Jehovah-jireh, “In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”
Abraham and Isaac die. Over eighteen long centuries roll by, and behold three crosses with three victims impaled upon them. The central cross upheld a Victim that was none less than the fulfilment of Abraham's Jehovah-jireh. The Son of God was the fulfilment of all these Old Testament types. If God demanded that Abraham should offer his son, it was to set forth His mighty love in sending His well beloved Son. There was no last minute withholding in pity as on Mount Moriah in Abraham's day.
Our Lord, indeed, died a Sacrifice for sin. There was no ram caught in a thicket by its horns in the case of our adorable Saviour. His was the only sacrificial death to put away sin, that has ever taken place. Isaac did not know what lay before him when he asked, “Where is the lamb?” Our Lord knew in all its terrible meaning what lay before Him. This was witnessed when in Gethsemane He prayed in the anticipation of it, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt” (Matt. 26:39). As He prayed, sweat as great drops of blood fell to the ground, so past our comprehension was His anguish of spirit. If He had not died no promise could have been given to Abraham, and it could only be fulfilled in the Person of the One, who was capable of satisfying God’s holy claims by His atoning death on the cross. He was indeed God’s Jehovah-jireh.
So remarkable as this, was the faith of an Abraham.