Dead Man Walking
Genesis 22 Our text this morning is not a traditional Easter text. There are some today that say that since Christ has died and risen that the Old Testament is obsolete. They say that it is a waste of time to study anything before the Gospels. It is a profoundly stupid thing to do. The Old Testament is gold mine even today. Paul wrote: Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Take away the foundation of the Old Testament and you do not know why Christ came, that He was coming, and what He would do. While there are sections that do not directly pertain to us, there is still truth to be found. We see the character of God on display. We see His hand moving in history. We see His interaction with mankind. We see the unfolding plan of man’s redemption. Throughout the Old Testament there is a theme. W.A. Criswell famously preached and called it the Scarlet Thread Through the Bible. It is a narrative the lies under the surface in many places and rises to the top in a few. It is a shadow of something – no, someone that was to come. We read the verse last week where Paul said of the Old Testament rituals: Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Someone once said that if you read a chapter in you Bible and do not see Christ, then you need to read it again because you missed the whole point. In Genesis 1 He is the Creator. In Genesis 6 He is the Ark of Safety. In Genesis 14 He is the priest after the order of Melchizedek In Genesis 21 He is the miracle Son like Isaac. In Genesis 50 He is rejected brother that returns to save his family. In Exodus 12 He is the Passover Lamb. In Exodus 16 He is Manna – the bread from Heaven. In Exodus 28 He is our High Priest. In Leviticus 16 He is our atonement. In Numbers 18 He is Aaron’s budding staff. In Numbers 21 He is the Brazen Serpent. In Deuteronomy 18 He is the Prophet like Moses, nay, greater than Moses. In Joshua 5 He is the Captain of the Lord’s Host. In Ruth He is the kinsman redeemer. In II Samuel 7 He is the King that reign forever on the throne of David. In Esther He is the one working behind the scenes to deliver His people. In Job He is the answer to all of life’s problems. In Psalm 2 He is the Son that shall defeat the scoffing enemies. In Psalm 23 He is the Great Shepherd. In Psalm 24 He is the King of Glory. In Proverbs He is the fount of all Wisdom. In Ecclesiastes He is the reason for living. In Song of Solomon He is the bridegroom that loves his bride. IN Isaiah 7 He is Immanuel – God with us. In Isaiah 9 He is the Child that would be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. In Isaiah 53 He is the Suffering Savior. In Daniel 3 He is the fourth man in the fire. In Daniel 9 He is the Messiah that is cut off. In Jonah He is the one swallowed in death for three days yet lives again. That just scratches the surface! I believe that we could spend a million years sitting at the feet of God, learning every detail of Christ in the Old Testament, and still it would be an introductory course. Christ and the redemption of man is woven throughout the Old Testament. One of the most beautiful pictures is our text. God tells Abraham to take his son Isaac – the son that God miraculously gave them to be the promised heir of the blessings of God – to take Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice. It was not to be done in a fit of passion. They travelled for three days – think that is a coincidence? We are celebrating Someone today that did something for three days. Think there is a connection – I do. Abraham and Isaac go up on a hill that will be called Mr. Moriah. Over 850 years later Solomon will build the Temple on that spot. I like to think the Ark of the Covenant sat on the same spot that Abraham built his altar. On that altar Abraham bound his son Isaac. Isaac had to allow it – Reese’s Chronological Bible says that Abraham was 133 and Isaac was 33. Isaac willingly submitted to Abraham to be a sacrifice. Abraham raised his blade to kill his own son. I do not understand how he could do that. I pray I never have to be asked to something like that. Every instinct in me is to do good for my kids. It hurts me to correct them or to do anything that would break their heart. Abraham had more faith than me. Hebrews says this: Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Abraham trusted God so much that he believed God would still honor the promises made that Isaac would be the heir, even if Abraham killed his son. He believed that God would raise him from the dead – THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!
Outside of Christ, there are maybe ten or eleven times someone was raised from the dead. You have:
Widow of Zarephath’s son by Elijah – I Kings 17:17-24 Shunamite’s son by Elisha – II Kings 4:20-37 Man tossed into Elisha’s tomb – II Kings 12:31 Jonah, possibly Widow of Nain’s son – Luke 11-16 Jairus’ daughter – Mark 5:35-43 Lazarus – John 11:1-44 Various saints after the Crucifixion – Matthew 27:51-53 Tabitha – Acts 9:36-41 Maybe Paul – Acts 14:19, II Corinthians 12:1-4 Eutychus – Acts 20:7-12
