A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

which was most valued by Abraham. His act of sacrificing Isaac proved the genuineness of his
faith in God (James 2:21). The binding and offering of Isaac was a symbolic confession of an
indwelling faith (Rom. 10:9-10).
The appearance of the Angel of the Lord to prevent the actual physical killing of Isaac
was a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament also called a Christophany.
This is evident when the “Angel” acknowledged He was the One to whom Isaac was being
offered (Gen. 22:12).
When the sacrifice of Isaac had been called off, Abraham noticed that “behind him was a
ram caught in a thicket by its horns” (v. 13). The capture of the ram is significant for three
reasons. First, if the ram had been trapped in the bush any other way, he might have been
blemished and therefore inadequate as a sacrifice animal. Second, the horn of an animal is the
symbol of strength in the Old Testament suggesting more than the thicket was holding the ram in
place. Third, the ram was offered in the stead of Isaac emphasizing the substitutional nature of
sacrifice.
Out of this experience of faith, Abraham learned yet another name for God which is
really the name of a place. The name Jehovah Jireh literally means “Jehovah will see.” But the
idea of sight assumes a provision for those needs which are seen by Jehovah. The inspired
translation of the name is, “In the mount of the Lord it shall be provided” (v. 14). Over the years,
Christians have held to this name of God as a reminder that “the Lord shall provide” (cf. v. 8).
Together with the name Ebenezer implying “Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1 Sam. 7:12), this
name often appeared in the publications and on the buildings of the China Inland Mission.
The Angel of the Lord spoke a second time to Abraham after the offering of the ram.
Again the covenant is emphasized and Abraham is reminded that his descendants would be “as
the stars of the heaven” (heavenly seed of Abraham) and “as the sand which is on the seashore”
(earthly seed of Abraham). The fact that this covenant is unconditional and not dependent on
either Abraham or his seed is emphasized by the expression bi nishebbe’etti translated, “By
Myself I have sworn” (Gen. 22:16). This is the strongest possible oath God could take to honor
His covenant.
PERSPECTIVE: SACRIFICE AND COMMITMENT
Abraham learned to give up visible things because he saw by the eye of faith Him who is
invisible. It is a hard thing otherwise to give up the security of what you can see for the apparent
insecurity of that which remains unseen. This vision was foundational to the faith of Abraham,
“for those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland” (Heb. 11:14). Had the
focus of Abraham been allowed to dwell on the things of this life, he would not have been
faithful to God (v. 15). So today, keeping our focus on Jesus is the key to the life of faith (12:2).
When Abraham and Isaac returned from the mountain, they made their way back to
Beersheba. The name Beersheba means the “well of the seven or the well of the oath”
(Gen. 21:31). Typically, it is the well of commitment. After demonstrating their faith in a very
special and unique way on Moriah, they returned home to the well of commitment. Some
Christians today point to times when they expressed great commitment to God, forgetting that a