Day 11: The Sacrifice of Isaac

Genesis 22:1-19 Abraham put his complete trust, faith, and obedience in God and, consequently, after many years, God blessed him with a son he called Isaac. His faith and hope reflected a sure knowledge that God would fulfill all that he had said. Even when God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son, he obeyed. This extreme test of faith and obedience would reveal heroic fidelity to God’s will although he could not comprehend it. Abraham is a model for the virtue of obedience as well as hope and faith in God. (CCC 706, 1080, 1819, 2572)


ABRAHAM IS A TYPE OF GOD THE FATHER (TYPOLOGY!!): The former offered his only son in obedience to God, and the latter offered his Only-Begotten Son to redeem humanity. Isaac, who obeyed his father and CARRIED THE WOOD OF HIS OWN SACRIFICE, is a TYPE OF CHRIST (TYPOLOGY!!), the Lamb of God, who carried the wood of the Cross. It is significant that Mt. Moriah would later be the site of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem (cf. 2 Chr 3:1). The Dome of the Rock, an Islamic shrine located on the Temple Mount, covers what is purportedly the site of the sacrifice of Isaac as well as the place where some believe Adam, Abel, and Noah offered their sacrifices. (CCC 2572)


Ch 23:17-20 Once Abraham obtained his own land in Ephron, he ceased being a sojourner. Not only Sarah, but also Isaac and his wife Rebekah, Isaac’s son Jacob, and Jacob’s wife Leah would eventually be buried there. Later, when Moses brought the Israelites to the land of Canaan, the Hittites-who are thought to be descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham and the grandson of Noah-would be generally peaceful neighbors and co-residents in the Promised Land. Again the common origin of all people is revealed; we are ALL RELATED through Adam and Eve and, therefore, children of the ONE FATHER, GOD. (CCC 2212)


Job 11:7 Deep things of God: We can neither conceive nor speak of God adequately; we can only define him by what he is not or by faint analogy to the perfections found in creation. (CCC 43)


Ch 12:1-25 Denying his friend’s assertions that they surpassed him in wisdom, Job stated that he had already pondered the arguments they had raised and found them unconvincing. Though reasonable within the narrow confines of human wisdom, they did not explain Job’s misfortunes sufficiently. In contradiction to his friend’s speculations, Job knew he had committed no sin that would warrant such punishment from God. Therefore, Job asked God to enlighten him with a cogent reason for his suffering in spite of his innocence. (CCC 159, 1804, 1834)


Ch 12:7-10 God not only creates but also providentially keeps ALL THINGS IN EXISTENCE. There is nothing that has not been created by God from the smallest particle to the highest spiritual beings, which are called ANGELS. (CCC 337-354, 2318)


Ch 12:13-25 Job’s hymn expresses some basic truths about the attributes of God: his wisdom, power, counsel, and understanding that are limitless, and his ways of acting are often mysterious and contrary to human understanding and expectations. (CCC 206, 230, 2507, 2809)

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)

 Key Event 10: The Binding of Isaac (Genesis 22)

God asks of Abraham the supreme test of faith: to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. At the last moment, though, God prevents Abraham from carrying it out. This near offering of Isaac prefigures God’s own act of love in giving up his only Son for the salvation of the world. In response to Abraham’s obedient faith, God swears an oath to bless the entire world-an oath he will fulfill through Christ’s Passion and Resurrection.



Prayer by Fr. Mike: "Father in Heaven, we glorify you and we praise your name. We thank you so much for your Word. We ask you to please enlighten our minds with your truth and enliven our hearts with your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen." 

ANDREW'S PARALLELS

The Apostle John HAD to be thinking of Genesis 22:2 when he wrote John 3:16. The parallels between the Sacrifice of Isaac and Christ are astounding!

"O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!: (Rom 11:33)