Page 21 - That I May Know Him (1964)

Isaac a Figure of Christ, January 14
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. Hebrews 11:17, 18.
The offering of Isaac was designed by God to prefigure the sacrifice of
His Son. Isaac was a figure of the Son of God, who was offered a sacrifice
for the sins of the world. God desired to impress upon Abraham the gospel
of salvation of men.... He was made to understand in his own experience
how great was the self-denial of the infinite God in giving His Son to rescue
man from ruin.
To Abraham no mental torture could be equal to that which he endured
in obeying the command to sacrifice his son. ... With a breaking heart and
unnerved hand, he takes the fire, while Isaac inquires, “Behold the fire and
the wood: but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7 ).
But oh, Abraham cannot tell him now! Father and son build the altar, and
the terrible moment comes for Abraham to make known to Isaac that which
has agonized his soul during all that long journey—that Isaac himself is
the victim.... The son submits to the sacrifice because he believes in the
integrity of his father. But when everything is ready, when the faith of the
father and the submission of the son are fully tested, the angel of God stays
the uplifted hand of Abraham, and tells him that it is enough. “Now I know
that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son
from me” (verse 12).30
Our heavenly Father surrendered His beloved Son to the agonies of the
crucifixion. Legions of angels witnessed the humiliation and soul anguish
of the Son of God, but were not permitted to interpose as in the case of
Isaac. No voice was heard to stay the sacrifice. God’s dear Son, the world’s
Redeemer, was insulted, mocked at, derided, and tortured, until He bowed
His head in death. What greater proof can the Infinite One give us of His
divine love and pity? “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him
up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
(Romans 8:32).31 [21]
30The Youth’s Instructor, March 1, 1900.
31Signs of the Times, April 1, 1875.
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