by Murray McLellan

This is the continuation of a study of Genesis 22 which began in Issue 115, March 2005. - Ed.

In verse 18, God reaffirms the promise he made to Abraham when he called him from Ur, "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…" (Gen. 22:18a cf. Gen. 12:3).

In verse 18, God reaffirms the promise he made to Abraham when he called him from Ur, "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…" (Gen. 22:18a cf. Gen. 12:3).

On one level, this is a grand story of faith. Abraham demonstrates the kind of faith and trusting obedience we all are to have. Sometimes we must go through difficult circumstances where we cannot see what is ahead and we cannot understand what is happening. Are we willing to give up everything to God? Is he truly our first love? The kind of faith exhibited by Abraham gives glory to God (Rom. 4:16-21). We might not know until we reach heaven why things were the way they were, but we can trust God’s wisdom and goodness.

I believe, however, that God calls us to see something beyond simply an illustration of great faith. As we begin to reflect upon this story with New Testament eyes, we find that this passage leads us to Calvary. God cannot compromise his character. Our sin is so horrendous that it deserves the judgment and wrath of God. There will be a final judgment and in that day, even this offering of Isaac will not be enough. Isaac is a sinner. He cannot die for another. He must die for his own sin. We must all die for our own sins. Oh, if only there could be a substitute that God could accept!

If God is to bless, he must provide an acceptable atoning sacrifice. Another must stand in the place of judgment and pay the price of redemption. The ram can be a substitute for Isaac in this offering only, but nothing beyond that. It is of a temporary nature. The blood of rams or bulls or goats can take away neither sin, nor the death and judgement that result from sin. Knowledge of the complete teaching of the Bible makes it clear that the substituted ram that stayed the knife in this event points forward to the one who is to come and who will be sacrificed as the great and ultimate Lamb of God. Indeed, God’s only begotten Son will provide and pay the redemptive price.

The future tense of the verbs in verse 14 establishes the idea of looking beyond the ram. Though God has already spared Isaac, and Abraham has sacrificed the ram, Abraham calls the place "The-Lord-Will-Provide," not "The-Lord-Has-Provided" or "The-Lord-Did-Provide." Abraham looked for another day and another provision in the future. Thus, Jesus could say in John 8:56, "‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.’"

After he chronicles Abraham’s naming of the mountain, the narrator breaks into the account with an editorial comment that clearly links the location of Abraham’s experience to God’s promise, "‘In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided’" (Gen. 22:14). God had directed Abraham to go to a particular mountain. Why had God sent him on a three-day journey to this specific mount, when there were many other closer and more secluded mountains?

God, who is faithful to all his promises, stated that he would provide a lamb as a substitute in the Mount of the Lord. Now we begin to see why God commanded Abraham to go to this particular mountain in the land of Moriah. The Scripture unfolds for us the reason for Abraham to make a three-day journey to a particular spot. Why did God direct Abraham to a specific mountain in Moriah? It is in this mount that the Lord would provide.

Throughout the Scriptures, we read that God has plans for Mount Moriah. Many years later, in response to a rash and unbelieving action of King David, God sends an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it.

And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was destroying, the LORD looked and relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, "It is enough; now restrain your hand." And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. (1 Chron. 21:15)

Notice that when the angel reaches a particular place, God says, "Stop!" In fact, when we read the next verse, the indication is that the angel stopped his sword in mid-swing.

Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. (1 Chron. 21:16)

As we continue to read the event in 1 Chronicles 21, we see that in verses 18-19, the Lord commands David to purchase this particular plot of land from Ornan the Jebusite, and to build an altar to the Lord on that threshing floor. David purchases this spot, builds an altar, and offers burnt offerings and peace offerings there, and only then does the angel of judgment return his sword to its sheath (1 Chron. 21:25-27).

Where was the location of this threshing floor? Second Chronicles 3:1 provides us with the answer.

Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. (2 Chron. 3:1)

The threshing floor was located on Mount Moriah—that mountain ridge that runs through Jerusalem. Mount Moriah is not a single peak, but an elongated ridge that commences to rise at its southern end at the junction of the Kidron and Hinnom Valleys, at the original City of David—Jerusalem (elevation approximately 600 meters, or 1,968 feet). The ridge then climbs in elevation to a maximum of 777 meters (2,549 feet) just northeast of the present Damascus Gate of the Old City. God had directed Abraham to take his son Isaac and offer him as a burnt offering somewhere along this mountain ridge. It was upon this ridge that God provided a ram to substitute for Isaac.

Here, upon Mount Moriah, Solomon built the temple where the continual sacrifices that foreshadowed our Lord and his once-for-all sacrifice took place. The wall of the city of Jerusalem cut through this mountain ridge of Moriah. Viewed from outside the city, with the cut for the wall and the road, the mountain looks somewhat like a skull. That particular section of Mount Moriah is known as Golgotha.

"In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided!" Throughout the centuries, God’s promise rang forth: from the day when that first son of promise bore the burden of the wood for the offering and climbed that mount, until the day of fulfillment, when the ultimate Son of promise bore the cross and ascended that mount.

We see the light shine ever brighter: it glimmered on that dawning day when Abraham, holding the knife of judgment, stretched out his hand, and God, looking upon that spot, cried, "Stop!" It gleamed again on that day during David’s reign when the angel of the Lord, holding the sword of judgment, stretched out his hand against Jerusalem, and God, looking upon that spot, cried, "Stop!" Finally, it burst into full radiance when history reached that anticipated day: the day when God, holding the sword of judgment, stretched out his hand against his own Son. This time, there was no cry of "Stop!"

In the day of the Lord, on the day of the crucifixion, God did not stay the knife. The sword of judgment was plunged into the bosom of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus, the Seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:16), willingly bore his cross to Calvary and became the ultimate peace offering for all the sons of Abraham (Gal. 3:7-9, 29). God made his Son an offering for sin on the mount of Moriah, according to his determined purpose and foreknowledge. The full atonement of Christ causes the angel of death and judgment to sheath his sword forever.

This is the day that the Lord has made! We now herald that in the Mount, the Lord HAS provided! There is a Savior for sinners.

On this same Mount Moriah, where the promised seed of David would build God a house, Solomon built the temple that foreshadowed the reality. On that same mountain ridge of Moriah, but outside the gate, the ultimate Seed of David, through the redemption of the cross, would build his Father a spiritual house of living stones (Read 1 Chron. 17:10b-14, 2 Sam. 7:12-13; compare with Acts 2:29-36, Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Pet. 2:4-10). Jesus Christ himself has become the chief cornerstone of God’s spiritual house. Is not our sovereign God most glorious in working out his promise? "In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided."

"I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:21-24)

Are you glad that Jesus reigns? I am glad that God has left nothing to chance. I am glad that Christ is Lord.

Comfort yourselves in this truth, saints. Things may appear out of control at times. I feel out of control at times. However, even though we may be muddled in our thoughts and dark clouds may come over us, the Christ who loves us lives forever and is on the job every day and every night—even when we have forgotten what the job is!

He is even now at the right hand of God—he is the chosen, glorious deliverer who shall not fail.

He upholds all things by the Word of his power, and he works all things together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to his purpose.

When you cannot explain the trouble you are experiencing, you need to understand the providential power of a Sovereign Lord who takes every bit of the diverse data in the entire universe and controls it all for your good and his glory and eternal purpose. And has he not demonstrated his ability to do it? This fact comforts our souls when nothing else can.

I tell you, the Christ of God is Lord! He is enthroned and he is the royal King of all kings. He is the Lord of all lords, and he is able to save to the uttermost all who come to him in repentance and faith. This is the Christ of the Bible!

But be warned, you who do not want this man to reign over you—you who want to be your own lord – there is a day when Christ will be revealed in truth for who he is, and you are no match for the Sovereign Lord. I say to you,

• Go and do battle against the lightning and hold it triumphant in your hand.

• Go and hush the hurricane and flatten the tidal wave.

• Hold the wind in the hollow of your hand.

When you have done this, then lift up your puny hand against the King of kings and Lord of lords.

There is a day appointed in which you will feel his power—though he suffers long with you—you are storing up wrath for the day of judgment—the day of his unveiling. Why would you perish when there is such a great Savior for sinners, and such a good Lord to reign over you?

Praise God, he has not left me to myself! Oh, how I need an advocate like Jesus, the Righteous—who substituted in my place at Mount Moriah—on Calvary—and provided all I needed, that I not only might be forgiven, but also might be received as a son!