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NASB | Genesis 22:8 Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 22:8 Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself a lamb for the burnt offering." So the two walked on together. |
Bible Question:
Comments on the forum recently showed an interest in how much we should spiritualize this passage of Scripture. The story certainly shows that God will provide; He provided the lamb for Abraham. The question is, how much should we spiritualize the story to show that it was prophesizing about the Lamb of God. I noticed today for the first time that "provide", or I would suppose "provide for" is literally "see". Thus Genesis 22:8 can be interpretted as saying, "And Abraham said, 'God will **see Himself [as] the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.' So the two of them walked on together." So the questions which the passage bring to my mind is: How much is the Lamb a lamb? How much is God a god (in the image of God) How much is the Man a man? How much is the Angel an angel? How much is the Spirit a spirit? I see Galatians 3 as a companion Scripture. From the heart, Ray |
Bible Answer: This is a great passage! The location was the land of Moriah. Although this point is argued, my favorite interpretation of this name is "God Shown." The place where Abraham's faith in God is shown, and where will ultimately show His faithfulness (2 Chron 3:1). As of this moment in the story of Abraham, he has been called, he has obeyed the call, he has been given a promise, he has learned by the delayed fulfillment of that promise. Essentially, Abraham has learned to depend on the simple word of God. Thus he has been brought into covenant with God; i.e. he has been "born again." He has been circumcised as a sign of his new walk of holiness, demonstrating that he has the purifying faith. He has become an intercessor and a prophet. Finally, Abraham has become a father. His son is of immeasurable value to him, more even than simply as his son, for Isaac is the fulfillment of the promise of God. I am convinced that in this moment where Abraham utters these prophetic words, he sees (if not yet fully) the ultimate sacrifice (John 1:29, Rev 13:8). As I was looking into this passage, I found out that according to John Gill at least one ancient Jewish scholar (Pirke Eliezer) said that Abraham added to this statement, "My son, you are the lamb." Even in the absence of such a statement, it is clear that the truth begins to dawn on Isaac. The last thing I'd like to say -- and thank you for your patience! -- is how the name of the place repeats an important lesson about our God. It was not through any merit of Abraham that he was called, nor that the substitute for Isaac was provided. It was not because he prayed, even though Abraham was one who could "stand in the gap" for others, as we see elsewhere in scripture. Rather, it was all a matter of God's choice, God's doing, and God's design. |