Genesis Chapter 22 - What does the Binding of Isaac Prefigure in the New Testament

“The New Testament lies hidden in the Old

and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.” St Augustine

 The Binding of Isaac Genesis Chapter 22

In this passage, Abraham is called by God to take his only son to the land of Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice. This sounds as if God is asking for a human sacrifice, something that existed at the time of Abraham, but was repugnant to the Hebrews and against the will of God.

Was God asking for something that was against His own Commandment’s? On the surface it appears so. But sometimes, well maybe most times, God’s commands are opaque to us, in other words they are not transparent or easily understood. So how do we come to terms with God’s request of Abraham?

Rewind a few chapters to the three promises God made to Abraham, which would set in motion the course of salvation history coming to fulfillment in the Pascal Mystery; suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. “I will make of you a great nation…I will make your name great…All the communities of the earth shall find blessings in you.” (Genesis 12:2-3)

At the time God made these promises, Abraham and Sarah his wife were childless and well beyond child bearing years. Abraham then inquires, “O Lord God, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless? (Genesis 15:2) To which God replies, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so shall your descendants be.” (Genesis 15:5)

Time passes and Abraham and Sarah still have no children. Sarah suggests that Abraham take her maidservant Hagar.  Abraham agrees and at the age of 86 fathers Ishmael with Hagar. Yet, Sarah is not as excited as she thought she would be over the birth of Ishmael to Hagar.

Years later, in God’s timing, He blesses Abraham and Sarah with a son, Isaac. (Genesis: 21:5) More years pass and Abraham, Sarah and Isaac are very happy. Then one day God calls to Abraham asking him to “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust.” (Genesis 22:2) 

Here is where the real depth of Abraham's faith is revealed.  Abraham would certainly rather have offered himself as a sacrifice rather than his only son.  But Abraham simply responds by saddling his donkey and taking his son Isaac and wood he cut for the offering to do as God has asked.  

The people who lived around the ancient Israelites practiced human sacrifice all the time.  But did God really want Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? No God did not want the sacrifice of Isaac, nor would the sacrifice of Isaac, or any of the animal sacrifices performed by the high priest in the Temple suffice. The only sacrifice that would break the chain of sin and death would be the sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb of God, Jesus.

God commands Abraham (Domenichino)

At the place where God had commanded Abraham to make a holocaust, Isaac said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the holocaust?” “Son,” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the sheep for the holocaust.” (Genesis 22:7-8) 

Now at this time Isaac is not a little boy but rather a strong man.  If Isaac wanted to fight back he could have.  Yet he submits trusting in his father and God.  Isaac allows his hands to be bound. 

Abraham continues in obedience to God, trusting him even to the moment of raising the knife to slaughter his son. At that moment Abraham hears, “Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” (Genesis 22:12) “As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son.” (Genesis 22:13)

Sacrifice of Isaac (Caravaggio)

For Christians, the story has far more significance. The Church Fathers saw the sacrifice of Isaac as prefiguring the sacrifice of Christ.  Hidden in this Old Testament story was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice Jesus would make for each one of us on the wood of the cross. Jesus, the only Son of God, the perfect Lamb is also sacrificed in the same land Abraham is called by God to sacrifice his only son Isaac.  

Isaac --  A father offers his beloved son; the son submits to the father's will; Isaac carries the wood for his own sacrifice; God himself provides the sacrifice. 

Christ -- The Father offers his beloved Son; The Son submits to the Father's will; Jesus carries his own wooden cross; God himself provides the perfect sacrifice. 

The mountains of Moriah were the hills around Jerusalem  On one of the peaks, Solomon's Temple would later be built, where the whole nation of Israel would offer its sacrifices to God. This is this same Temple where Jesus would be dedicated to God (Luke 2:22-38), drive out the money-changers (John 2:14), and teach (John 7:14).  It  would be on Golgotha, a hillside near this Temple that Jesus would offer himself as the perfect sacrifice.