We can all relate to pictures, photographs, word pictures and real life situations.
The LORD God uses real life situations to tell us of His great substitution for us! His own dearly loved and only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
History’s substitution picture
Abraham had one son, Isaac, through which God said would come many descendants.
God gave Abraham some instructions which required a step of faith, a giant step of faith.
God’s instructions: take your only son, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer this son as a burnt offering to Me, on a mountain I will tell you about.
Abraham’s response: the next morning (he did not procrastinate) Abraham got up, saddled his donkey, took two young servant boys and Isaac, his son. He also took along split wood for the sacrifice and carried it to the place God would tell him.
They traveled three days – again Abraham instructed his two servants to stay with the donkey. Abraham had Isaac carry the wood while Abraham carried some fire and a knife. He also told the two servants to wait for their return.
Abraham and Isaac walked together. Teen-age Isaac asked his father where the sacrifice was? Abraham’s answer? God will provide the sacrifice.
Abraham prepared an altar, placed the wood on it, then put Isaac on the wood. As he raised his hand with the knife to kill Isaac, he heard a voice, “Do not kill your son, I now know I am first in your life because you have not withheld your only son from Me”.
Abraham found a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. He substituted the ram for his son, Isaac. Genesis 22:1-13
This is a picture of what God the Father did when His only begotten Son went to the cross. His Son carried the cross for some distance. There was not a substitute waiting to take His place.
Rather, Christ became my substitute on the cross where my sins were forgiven. Can you say the same thing? You can, if you know Jesus as your Savior, saving you from your sins. Being your substitute. John 3:16
God’s Word ~ Alive!
Hebrews 11:17-19
“By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your descendants shall be called.’
He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.”
Who is your substitute?