Again, in Genesis xxii. 13, it is written: "And Abraham lifted up his
eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by
his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a
burnt-offering in the stead of his son." The ram was typical, and was
offered up in the place of Abraham's son. God loved Abraham so much
that He spared his son; but He so loved the world that He would not
spare His own Son, but gave Him up freely for us all. It may be that
from the top of the mountain Abraham saw a glorious sight. He saw
Christ going up Calvary carrying His cross. He saw that mountain peak
sprinkled with blood; and he saw that sacrifices were to go on until
the true Isaac made His appearance and offered Himself for us all.
Abraham had the altar built, and he was ordered to take his only son,
and to bind him, and to slay him; and he bound that boy, and
everything was ready. He took the knife, and was about to slay him,
because it was the will and command of God. He did not know what it
meant; but he obeyed.
Would that there were more men like him now, ready to obey God in the
dark without asking the reason why! The old man took his son, and he
told him the secret that he had hid from him all the journey--that God
had told him to offer him up as a sacrifice. And he bound the boy hand
and foot, and laid him all ready on the altar; and just when he was
about to stretch forth his hand and slay him, he heard a voice from
heaven calling to him: "Abraham, Abraham, spare thy son." God was more
merciful to the son of Abraham than to His own, for He gave Him up
freely for us all. He opened up to him the curtain of time, and showed
him Christ coming in the future; and Abraham saw his sins laid on
Christ and was glad.