While we clearly see the life and passive obedience of Christ foreshadowed in the story of the binding of Isaac (see my previous post here), the narrative’s astounding significance does not stop at its connection to Jesus’ suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. For those living today who have come to believe in Israel’s Messiah, we Christians find something truly worth immolating in Genesis 22. In the words that follow, I will describe two ways in which Abraham’s submission to the will of God should typify our own walk with the Divine.
The Lord’s Belongings
All good things that we hold dear are not our possessions, but the Lord’s. Even in the most extreme cases, as in our own bodies and the lives of our children, these creations are God’s and He will use them in whichever manner that He sees fit. The psalmist declares “Behold children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. (Ps. 127:3) Abraham knew this truth and, because of the miracle of his son’s birth, he was more keenly aware that his offspring was a gift from God than most. But at the same time, he believed that, as we read in Romans 11, from God, and through Him, and to Him are all things.
The patriarch received his son as a gift, but the Lord never abdicated His right as the primary owner of Isaac. Therefore, when God commanded that Abraham’s only-begotten be sacrificed as a burnt offering, the son’s father was willing to return to God what was rightfully His—Yet, because he was human, it is certain that he did so with no small amount of personal suffering and inner turmoil.
As Christians, it is important that we seek this ideal: to be aware that all good gifts are from above and to be accepting of God’s use of these gifts in ways that we might not expect, or even like. It is surely not an easy task, and I speak, of course, from personal experience, but as we continue to pursue the holiness that God has designed for His people on account of His boundless grace, let us be aware that the Lord gives and also takes away.
Although contrary to how it might sound, much hope can be found in this because it has been revealed that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Rom. 8:28) When the Almighty deems it worthy to take a loved one, either in reality or hypothetically as a test in the case of Abraham, we can be confident that the Lord will craft goodness from this instance of suffering; we can trust in His plan for our lives even when the goodness itself is not immediately evident to us.
Sacrificing Our Sins
As fallen humans, we are inclined not only to love the many gifts and blessings that we have received and continue to receive from the Lord, but also that which does not come from Him, namely our sins. God commanded Abraham to take his son and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which He told him. We likewise have received commands from our Creator.
What Christian from among us is not familiar with the commandments, that one mustn’t murder, nor commit adultery, nor steal, etc.? To do the will of God is to obey Him, and to be a believer in Christ is to seek to do the Father’s will. Abraham surely did not desire to sacrifice his only son—who would? Similarly, people, even Jesus-followers do not always desire to refrain from the forbidden pleasures of this world.
Yet, like the patriarch, it is necessary that we endeavor to combat our inclinations that lead toward transgressing the apparent commands of God. “…treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.” (Col. 3:5-6)
If we love Christ, we will heed His words and strive to observe the moral obligations that have been expected of all humanity, putting to death evil deeds and disordered passions. As I mentioned earlier (see part 1), in Isaiah 41:8, Abraham is called God’s friend, and “friend” surely implies a mutual love shared by two persons. A sincere and lasting love for someone is necessarily accompanied by self-denial; to be in a relationship is to truly consider and uplift the wants and needs of another over one’s own.
An Abusive Bride
In addition to friendship, marriage is another good example. If I were to revel in all the benefits of marriage without fulfilling any of my obligations as a husband (such as refusing to provide for my family), it wouldn’t be much of a marriage. In fact, it wouldn’t be much of a relationship at all; I would be using my wife, receiving all of the joy and help that she had to give, while at the same time doing whatever I want, whenever I want as if I weren’t bound to another person. Such a marriage, in one sense, would be an abusive relationship.
Unfortunately, vast numbers of people seem to implement this type of marriage today, not with another human necessarily, but with the supreme Person, Almighty God. In our current culture, there are individuals who claim membership in the church, the Bride of Christ, yet do so in vain; they confess the existence of a Creator and even talk about the good news of Jesus Christ. These so-called Christians speak of loving the crucified One, however, they deny the reality of their sin.
But it seems—and quite literally so—that I am probably preaching to the choir on this matter. As you well know, the Global Methodist Church, the Anglican Church in North America, the Alliance of Reformed Churches, and other denominations (to which you may belong) began in response to this very epidemic. Regardless, it bears repeating. We cannot claim to love our Savior and continue on in sinful, unbiblical, sexual partnerships that the Lord clearly forbids. If we desire a relationship with God, and He commands that a man should not sleep with a male as one sleeps with a female, shouldn’t we then put to death this sinful act for the sake of the Holy One whom we love?
Even if you believed that this conduct seemed right and good, wouldn’t you nevertheless let it go if God deemed it contrary to His will? You cannot possess the benefits of life in Christ and hold on to all that is opposed to Him; to be a friend of God as Abraham was, one must aim to submit his/her will to that of the Lord’s and keep His commandments, no matter how hostile they are to our inborn inclinations.
Final Remarks
In conclusion, it is quite evident that the story of the binding of Isaac in Genesis 22 has much to teach us about God’s interaction with ancient men of faith—but not only this. As we have seen in my two posts on this subject, the passage also anticipates the struggles of our Savior and gives insight into our daily walk with the Lord of all creation.
By setting our focus squarely on Abraham, we reflected on the immensity of God’s command to the patriarch to offer up his own son on an altar and how, despite its intensity, his internal turmoil did not succeed in preventing him from completing this task; Abraham remained faithful to God and refused to withhold his son, and God kept His promises to His faithful servant. Abraham’s struggle prefigured the inner suffering of Christ, but could not rival its severity. No one, including Abraham, could ever comprehend the internal agony of the Messiah as he awaited His impending crucifixion; He underwent such pain for sinners and no man falls outside this category.
Speaking again of Jesus, I need to make one brief clarification. Earlier I described a couple of ways in which Abraham’s submission to God’s will should inform our lives as Christians. While I still believe that this story portrays Abraham as a role model of faith and holiness, he can only be described this way insofar as He reflects the ultimate model of holiness and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.
For those who have faith, we must strive, every day, to be more like Him. While Christians are far from perfect, and I can also speak about this from personal experience, we can, however, be confident that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6) We look forward to new life after death where our sinful inclinations and our desire to act contrary to the will of God will someday completely subside.
It’s by grace that we will reach this summit. In fact, it is by grace that we even begin the climb. Thank God for the blood of Jesus which has freed us from the curse of sin and death, from our passions and pride, and has reconciled us to Almighty God. If you don’t have this hope, turn to Christ now, put your trust in Him and He will save you.
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