GOD RESTRAINS ABRAHAM

James wrote that Abraham was justified by works when he offered up his son. But wait just a minute.

Did Abraham offer his son?

Does your Bible say that Abraham plunged the knife into his son?

No, and mine doesn’t read that way either.

Genesis 22:11-14 KJV

[11] And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

[12] And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

[13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

[14] And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah–jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Genesis 22:11 KJV

And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

It was not God’s intention that Isaac should actually be sacrificed, yet nobler blood than that of animals, in due time, was to be shed for sin, even the blood of the only begotten Son of God.

Genesis 22:12 KJV

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

• But in the mean while God would not in any case have human sacrifices used.
• Reference must be had to the promised Messiah, the blessed Seed.

Genesis 22:13 KJV

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

• Another sacrifice is provided.
• Christ was sacrificed in our stead, as this ram instead of Isaac, and his death was our discharge.

Genesis 22:14 KJV

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah–jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

• And observe, that the temple, the place of sacrifice, was afterwards built upon this same mount Moriah; and Calvary, where Christ was crucified, was near.
• A new name was given to that place, for the encouragement of all believers, to the end of the world, cheerfully to trust in God, and obey Him.
• Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide; probably alluding to what Abraham had said, God will provide himself a lamb.
• The Lord will always have his eye upon his people, in their straits and distresses, that he may give them seasonable help.

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,