"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac. . . accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead: from whence also he (Abraham) received him (Isaac) in a figure (parable)" (Heb. 11:17, 19).

This passage clearly declares that Isaac rose from the dead in a figure, or parable, which at once suggests to us that God was setting forth in type in this incident the rising from the dead of His own Son. The placing side by side of Isaac and Christ will reveal a most delightful analogy. So strong is the analogy and so positive is the statement of the passage just considered that the student of God's Word must acknowledge that the story of Isaac is given to us as a glorious picture of the Christ who was to come.

In Isaac we see set forth the person and character of Christ. In Isaac we see set forth the sufferings and death of Christ.

ISAAC SETTING FORTH CHRIST IN PERSON AND CHARACTER

Both Isaac and Christ were children of promise. It had been twenty-five years since God had given Abraham the first promise till the time of Isaac's birth. God spoke, saying, "This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir" (Gen. 15:4). The birth of Christ had long been foretold. The promise was given to Adam, and the prophets told of it: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (Isa. 7: 14).

The birth of both was pre-announced. While Abraham and Sarah were in the plains of Mamre, the angels visited them, saying, "And lo, Sarah, thy wife, shall have a son" (Gen. 18:10). And the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto the city, Nazareth, to a virgin, "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son" (Luke 1:30-31).

The name of both was given before birth. "And God said, Sarah, thy wife, shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac" (Gen. 17:19). And to Mary the angel said: "Thou shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus" (Luke 1:31).

The birth of both was contrary to nature. Sarah was barren, and her only hope was in God. "But Sarah was barren; she had no child" (Gen. 11:30). But "Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him" (Gen. 21:2). Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit. "The angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 1:20).

The birth of both caused great rejoicing. Abraham had waited long since the first promise that in "his seed all the families of the earth should be blessed," till the birth of Isaac. And the birth of a son gave great joy. "And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me" (Gen. 21:6). Sarah's rejoicing was because of the birth of Isaac (Gen. 21:2-5). The birth of Christ had long been foretold. It was prophesied that He should be the joy of the whole earth. Hence the angel announced his birth to the shepherds at Bethlehem and said: "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

Both are emphatically called "an only son." God said unto Abraham, "Take now. . . thine only son" (Gen. 22:2). And again we are told that Abraham "offered up Isaac. . . his only begotten son" (Heb. 11:17). Of Christ it is said: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16).

Both are descended from Abraham. Concerning the birth of Isaac, it is written: "For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son" (Gen. 21: 2). Concerning the genealogy of Christ it is written: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham" (Matt. 1:1).

Both were mocked and persecuted by their own kindred. Isaac is mocked and persecuted by Ishmael, his brother. "Sarah saw the son of Hagar, the Egyptian. . . mocking" (Gen. 21:9-10). And we are emphatically told of the persecution. "Now we, brethren. . . are the children of promise. But as then he (Ishmael) that was born after the flesh persecuted him (Isaac) that was born after the Spirit. . ." (Gal. 4:28-29). Christ is mocked and persecuted by the Israelites, His brethren. "And they platted a crown of thorns and put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they kneeled down before Him, saying. Hail, King of the Jews!" (Matt. 27:29). "Him. . . ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay: Whom God raised up" (Acts 2:23-24).

ISAAC SETTING FORTH CHRIST IN SUFFERING AND DEATH

The death of both was to be a sacrifice. God in testing Abraham, said: "Take now thy son, thine only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of" (Gen. 22:2). God sent Christ into the world to be a sacrifice for all. "Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor" (Eph. 5: 2). "Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (I Tim. 2:6).

As Isaac went to the place of death in obedience to God, so Christ died in obedience to God. God told Abraham to take Isaac, his son, and to go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering. "And Abraham rose up early in the morning. . . and took two young men with him, and Isaac, his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering. . . and went unto the place of which God had told him" (Gen. 22:3). Isaac had not forfeited his life by the breach of any human law, but it pleased the Lord to try Abraham's love, faith, and obedience; in like manner Jesus knew no sin, and there was no cause of death in Him; but "the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (I John 4:14), and He "made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man. He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:7-8).

As Isaac himself carried the wood on which he was to die, so Christ carried His own cross. "And Abraham took the wood of the burnt of offering, and laid it upon Isaac, his son" (Gen. 22:6). The Jews "took Jesus therefore: and He went out bearing the cross for Himself" (John 19:17).

As Isaac went willingly to the altar, so Christ went willingly and freely to the cross. All that God commanded had been obeyed: "And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there. . . and laid him of the altar upon the wood" (Gen. 22:9). Christ "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity"( Titus 2:14). He said, "I lay down my life" (John 10:17). "He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth" (Isa. 53:7). Christ was conscious that He had done nothing to forfeit His life, and He knew that it was in His power to escape; yet He made no resistance for He came "that they might have life."

As Isaac rose from the place of death in resurrection, Christ rose in glorious victory over death. "By faith Abraham, when he was tried offered up Isaac. . . accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from whence also he received him in figure" (Heb. 11 17, 19). By the last clause, "from whence also he received him in figure," we see Isaac restored to his father, Abraham, as if he had been raised from the dead, and this was a typical representation to Abraham of the real death and resurrection of the Messiah. Christ alluded to it when He said, "Your father, Abraham, rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it and was glad" (John 8:56] In like manner Jesus Christ, Who was really dead, actually rose on the third day, the appointed time. "He is not here: for He is risen, as He said Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matt. 28:6).

In both cases, God directly interposed. God only could have restored Isaac. He only had power to burst the bonds in which Jesus lay and call back the disembodied soul. God was the restorer of both. Death was swallowed up in victory.