Monday | 14 September 2026
The three-day, three-night journey of Abraham and Isaac was symbolic of Christ’s three-day, three-night offering, which Paul called ‘the operation of God [the Father]’. Col 2:12. In the course of this ‘operation’, through His death, burial and resurrection, the Son of Man accomplished our redemption, our new birth, and our glorification as a son of God. Abraham and Isaac journeyed together in faith for their participation in this operation. We note, in this regard, that Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice on his back, as he and his father ascended Mount Moriah. Gen 22:6. Likewise, Jesus carried the wood of His cross as He, with His Father, journeyed together in faith for Their offering on Mount Calvary. Joh 19:17.
After Abraham had bound his son on the altar, and reached out his hand to pick up the knife, the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven. It was the Son of God who spoke to Abraham, through the angel, on the top of Moriah. The Son of God spoke on behalf of the Father because Abraham’s offering was to God. He said to Abraham, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’ Gen 22:12.
Hebrew scholars have recognised the inadequacy of the English word ‘know’ to convey the meaning of this statement, ‘Now I know that you fear God’. The closest parallel is the statement that ‘Adam knew Eve his wife’. Gen 4:1. The word is intended to describe intimate fellowship which produces the multiplication of life. The statement, ‘Now I know that you fear God’, describes an intimate fellowship of faith between the Son of God and Abraham. The faith of the Son of God is the fear of God.
Further Study:
Colossians 2
References:
Col 2:12
Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Gen 22:6
So, Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
Joh 19:17
And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called ‘the Place of a Skull’, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.
Gen 22:12
And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’
Gen 4:1
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, ‘I have acquired a man from the LORD.’