Bible Study 
No Comments Genesis 22-24: Sacrifice
Today’s reading begins and ends with a sacrifice. Abraham is asked by God to offer up the son of promise, Isaac, in chapter 22. In chapter 24, Rebekah leaves her home to marry Isaac.
Isaac was a young man when this final test came to Abraham’s faith. A burnt offering was always to be a male animal, was the best the offerer had, and was to be wholly consumed by fire. It was an expression of dedication to God. Abraham knew that Isaac must live since God was going to establish the covenant with him (Genesis 17:19).
On Mount Moriah, Abraham built an altar. When Isaac inquired how they could offer a sacrifice without a sacrificial animal, Abraham responded: “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” (Genesis 22:8). Abraham’s faith had grown over the years until he knew that God never makes a mistake and he believed “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead” (Hebrews 11:19).
If we fail to develop our faith, we will be afraid to trust God during great testings and tribulation. Isaac’s willingness to be offered reveals a picture of Christ: “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:17-18)