Bible Poetry Reading Plan: Proverbs 16
Genesis 22:2 (NIV); Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go
to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you
about.”
After God had made a promise to Abraham and the man had obediently left his home, after God
had made a covenant with him and promised him a child through Sarah in her old age, after
Abraham had obediently submitted to the call to circumcision, and after raising the young son he
loved so much, God now called Abraham to sacrifice the boy of the promise. It is a wonder what
was going through Abraham’s mind at that moment, but the next morning he faithfully set out on the
journey to the mountain.
This ancient story is the first blaring advertisement for God’s plan of redemption. There are acute
parallels between Isaac and Jesus. Both carried the wood of their execution upon their backs. Both
lived in the shadow of death for three days, Jesus literally and Isaac figuratively. We even find a
clear reference to one of the names of Jesus when Isaac asks his father, “Where is the lamb for
the burnt offering?” and Abraham replies, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering,
my son.” Little did Abraham know that his own words were powerfully prophetic, speaking of a
future act of God that would truly bring to fruition God’s promise to bless all the peoples of the earth
through Abraham. The angel of the Lord would stop Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, and God would
provide an alternate sacrifice in a ram caught in the thickets on the mountain, but the true sacrifice
would be provided over 2000 years later on a cross on the exact same mountain.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Read Genesis 22:1-19, looking for clues of Jesus and God’s redemptive plan. Ask Him to
speak to you through the story.
2. Biblical prophecy is such a faith-builder! Thank God for giving us pictures of His plan long
before it was executed.
3. Do you sense that God is putting you through a test right now? Or is there something God
is asking you to do that you just don’t want to do? Ask Him to help you to be obedient like
Abraham. Ask Him how He wants you to step out in faith today, and then do what He says!
