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A Dress Rehearsal For Calvary

June 7, 2018 Save Article

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Hebrews 11:17-19, Genesis 22:1-14

(RA-2394, Program: 2318, Air date: 06.10.18)

  1. INTRODUCTION
    1. There is no other book like the Bible.
      1. It is one book, yet contains 66 books.
        1. 39 Old Testament books
        2. 27 New Testament books
        3. These books were written over a period of about 1500 years by at least 40 different authors in three different languages.
        4. Yet, together, they are not 66 separate books; they make one complete book.
        5. The Bible has one hero: the Lord Jesus Christ.
        6. The Bible has one villain: the devil.
        7. The Bible has one theme: salvation.
        8. The Bible has one purpose: the glory of God.
    2. Wherever you read in the Bible, you will find the Lord Jesus standing in the shadows.
    3. We see the Lord Jesus in the life of Abraham, centuries before Jesus Christ was born upon the Earth.
    4. Hebrews 11:17-19
      1. The word figure means a type, an illustration.
      2. God gave in the Old Testament illustrations, prophecies, figures of that which was to come in the New Testament.
        1. This is one of the great confirmations of the inspiration of the Scriptures.
        2. This is also a confirmation of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
    5. When Abraham and Isaac went up Mount Moriah in Genesis 22, it was a dress rehearsal for Calvary.
    6. This account in Genesis 22 is a prophecy and an Old Testament portrait of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
    7. John 8:56
    8. Galatians 3:8
  2. THE SPECIAL PERSON WHO IS DESCRIBED (Genesis 22:1-2)
    1. The person who is described is Isaac.
      1. Genesis 22:1-2
    2. Isaac, the son of Abraham, was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.
      1. Isaac’s miracle birth was prophesied.
        1. Genesis 18:9-14
        2. Jesus Christ was born of a miracle, and His birth was also prophesied.
          1. Isaiah 7:14
      2. Isaac’s birthday was preset.
        1. God told Abraham and Sarah that Isaac would be born at a set time.
          1. Genesis 21:1-2
        2. The Lord Jesus also came into this world at a set time.
          1. Galatians 4:4
      3. Isaac’s name was divinely given.
        1. Genesis 17:19
        2. Jesus’ name was divinely given.
          1. Matthew 1:21
      4. Isaac was conceived of a miracle.
        1. Genesis 18:14
        2. Jesus was conceived of a miracle.
          1. Luke 1:34, 37
      5. Isaac was loved of his father and was counted as Abraham’s only beloved son.
        1. Genesis 22:2
        2. Genesis 22:16
        3. Jesus is the beloved and only begotten Son of God.
          1. John 3:16
          2. John 5:20
      6. Isaac was offered up as a sacrifice.
        1. Genesis 22:2
        2. God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for our sins
          1. John 3:16
      7. Isaac was figuratively raised from the dead.
        1. Genesis 22:4
          1. Three days passed from the time that God told Abraham to sacrifice his son until he saw Mt. Moriah.
          2. For three days in the heart and mind of Abraham, Isaac was as dead.
            1. Hebrews 11:19
        2. The Lord Jesus Christ was three days and three nights in the grave.
          1. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
  3. THE SPECIFIC PLACE THAT IS DESIGNATED (Genesis 22:2)
    1. God directed Abraham to take Isaac to a particular place, Mt. Moriah.
      1. Genesis 22:4
      2. Psalm 24:1
      3. Psalm 2:6
    2. This place, Mt. Moriah, was not incidental or accidental; is the same place where Jesus would one die on the cross for our sins.
      1. Moriah means Foreseen of the Lord.
      2. Luke 23:33
  4. THE PURPOSE THAT IS DESIGNATED ( Genesis 22:2)
    1. This speaks of the cross.
    2. God instructed Abraham to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice in the same place that Jesus was to die.
    3. Genesis 22:4-8
    4. As they started up Moriah, father and son came to a point beyond which the others could not go.
      1. This pictures dark Gethsemane as the Lord Jesus went alone to commune with the Father.
      2. Isaac’s heart and mind must have been exceedingly troubled.
    5. Genesis 22:9
      1. This was to be a burnt offering.
      2. Isaac saw that his father had the fire or a torch, the wood and a knife.
      3. Yet, there was no lamb for the sacrifice.
      4. Isaac likely began to understand that he was to be the sacrifice.
        1. Isaac at this time was no longer a young child, but most likely a teenage boy.
        2. Abraham was well over 100 years at this point.
        3. Isaac could have easily outrun his father or overpowered him, but he presents himself to be bound.
          1. John 10:18
          2. Matthew 27:42
            1. The scoffers were wrong; Jesus chose not to save Himself.
    6. Genesis 22:6
      1. The wood is a symbol of humanity.
        1. The wood of our wickedness was laid upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
      2. Isaac bore the wood going up this mountain that Jesus would one day die on.
        1. John 19:17
      3. Abraham carries with him a knife, a torch and ropes.
        1. The knife speaks of the bleeding power of sin.
        2. The torch, or fire, speaks of the burning power of sin.
        3. The cord speaks of the binding power of sin.
  5. THE PROMISE THAT IS DECLARED (Genesis 22:11-14)
    1. At this point, the figure changes.
      1. Isaac was not sacrificed because one day Jesus Christ would be.
      2. Isaac now represents us, and there is a ram caught in the thicket.
      3. Isaac gets up off the altar, and the ram is slain in his stead.
      4. God provided a ram whose horns were caught in a thicket of thorns.
        1. A ram crowned with thorns.
    2. God provided Himself a lamb.
      1. John 1:29
      2. God did not provide a lamb for Himself; He provided Himself a lamb.
      3. God becomes the lamb.
    3. When Abraham saw what God did, he named the place Jehovah-Jireh meaning “The Lord will provide.”
    4. Romans 8:32
      1. If God gave Jesus for us, there isn’t anything He would withhold from us.
      2. He is the God who provides.
      3. If God gave the one great gift, He’s going to give all of the other good gifts.
  6. CONCLUSION
    1. God loves us so much that He did not spare His own Son on our behalf.
    2. Acts 16:31
    3. God desires that you be saved today.
    4. Do you know Jesus personally? If not, you can pray to Him today by asking Him to come into your life.
    5. Call upon Jesus today. Repent (turn) from your sins, and turn to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and acknowledge Him as Lord of your life.
      1. Romans 3:23
      2. Romans 10:9-10
      3. Romans 10:13
      4. Acts 16:31

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