Book Of Genesis
(Read Book Of Genesis, Part 1 First)
Book of Genesis - The Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Book of Genesis foretells the coming Messiah who would die for the sins of the world. In the Genesis 22 account of Abraham's offering of Isaac, Abraham made two prophetic declarations: "God will provide Himself the lamb..." (Genesis 22:8) and "In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided" (Genesis 22:14). By commanding Abraham to offer his beloved son Isaac, God was not endorsing child sacrifice among men. Rather, He was foretelling His Child sacrifice for men! "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10).
Genesis 22 in the Book of Genesis is a classic type in the Old Testament. The similitude is this: from the moment God commanded Abraham to offer Isaac, Isaac was dead in Abraham's mind. From the time God gave Abraham the instruction, Abraham was not going to disobey God (Hebrews 11:19). The journey to Mount Moriah lasted three days. Thus, as far as Abraham was concerned, Isaac was dead three days (Genesis 22:2-5). Jesus Christ was in the grave for three days, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the THIRD DAY according to the SCRIPTURES..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). The Greek word "monogenes" (mon-og-en-ace', Strong's 3439) is translated "only begotten." It doesn't actually mean, "to be born." It means "unique," "only," "one of a kind." We are called "sons of God" (John 1:12; Romans 8:14) and angels are called "sons of God" (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7), but Jesus Christ is the unique ("only begotten" - monogenes) Son of God.
God commanded Abraham to offer up his "only begotten son" (Genesis 22:2, Hebrews 11:17). Abraham actually had 7 other children: Ishmael by Hagar, and Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah by Keturah (after Sarah died). But Isaac was the child of promise - the only child begotten of Sarah. Therefore, Isaac was the unique ("only begotten" - monogenes) son of Abraham (Hebrews 11:17).
Abraham is a type of the Father. Isaac is a type of Jesus Christ being offered by the Father. Abraham knew he was acting out prophecy when he said, "the name of the place, The-LORD-will-provide; as it is said to this day, 'In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided'" (Genesis 22:14). He also prophesied, "God will provide Himself the lamb... " (Genesis 22:8). 2,000 years later, God offered His Son, Jesus Christ, the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29,36) on that same mountain.
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