Genesis 22

Isaac, the only and beloved son offered

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. Genesis 22:1–2

A loving father is asked to offer his only son, which is a similitude of Heavenly Father giving His Only Begotten Son. Moriah is the same mount where the temple later stood at Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 3:1).

How we know: a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him · the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by Jacob 4:5 — Abraham's offering of Isaac is "a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son."
• interpreted by Hebrews 11:17-19 — Abraham offered up "his only begotten son" and received him back "in a figure."
• a type of what is in John 3:16 — God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son.

The third day

Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. Genesis 22:4–5

For three days Isaac was as good as dead to his father, yet Abraham trusted that both of them would come back. Hebrews says Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead, which points to Christ rising on the third day.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him · a traditional type, cited

• interpreted by Hebrews 11:19 — God was able to raise him from the dead, from whence he received him in a figure.
• a type of what is in Matthew 16:21 — Jesus foretells He will be killed and raised again the third day.

The son carries the wood

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. Genesis 22:6

The son carries the wood of his own sacrifice up the mountain, just as Jesus carried His cross to Golgotha. Father and son go "both of them together."

How we know: a Church study aid lists it · a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in John 19:17 — Jesus, bearing His cross, went forth to Golgotha.

Lamb of God

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? Genesis 22:7–8

Isaac asks where the lamb is, and Abraham answers that God will provide Himself a lamb. That promise was fulfilled when John the Baptist pointed to Jesus: "Behold the Lamb of God."

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him

• fulfilled by John 1:29 — "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
• fulfilled by 1 Peter 1:18-20 — Redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb, foreordained before the foundation of the world.
• alluded to by Isaiah 53:7 — The Servant "is brought as a lamb to the slaughter" (footnoted).

The willing son on the altar

And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. Genesis 22:9–10

Isaac, strong enough to carry the wood, lets himself be bound and laid on the altar. The chapter heading says both father and son yielded to the will of God, which foreshadows the Son who submitted His will to the Father's.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it · the chapter heading names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• a type of what is in Mosiah 15:7 — The will of the Son is swallowed up in the will of the Father.
• a type of what is in Matthew 26:39 — "Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

Angel of the LORD

And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. Genesis 22:11–12

The angel of the LORD stops the sacrifice and speaks as God Himself: "thou hast not withheld thy son ... from me." Jehovah's word comes through His messenger.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it · a traditional type, cited · the verse itself names Him

• the same title in Genesis 16:7-11 — The angel of the LORD speaks with God's own voice to Hagar.

The Father who spared not His Son

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. Genesis 22:12

Abraham was willing to give up his only son, a shadow of Heavenly Father. God stopped Abraham, but He did not spare His own Son; He gave Him up for us all.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him

• a type of what is in Romans 8:32 — "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all."

The substitute offering

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. Genesis 22:13

A ram dies "in the stead of" the son, a clear picture of substitution. Jesus Christ took our place and suffered for us so we could live.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him · a traditional type, cited

• interpreted by Jacob 4:5 — The offering on Moriah is "a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son."
• a type of what is in Isaiah 53:5-6 — He was wounded for our transgressions; the LORD laid on him the iniquity of us all.
• a type of what is in 2 Nephi 2:7 — He offereth himself a sacrifice for sin.

Jehovah-jireh

Jehovah-jireh — the Lord will see, or provide (note14_a); "In a mount the Lord shall be manifest (seen)" (note14_b)

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. Genesis 22:14

Abraham names the place for what Jehovah does: He provides, as Abraham promised in verse 8. The saying "In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen" can also mean the Lord shall be seen there, looking ahead to Jerusalem's hills, where Jehovah Himself, as Jesus Christ, became the Lamb.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · a traditional type, cited

• alludes to Genesis 22:8 — "God will provide himself a lamb" (note14_a points to v. 8).

Jehovah's oath

And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, Genesis 22:15–17

With no one greater to swear by, Jehovah swears by Himself. That makes His covenant promises to Abraham completely sure.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · a traditional type, cited

• quoted by Hebrews 6:13-14 — Because He could swear by no greater, He swore by Himself: "Surely blessing I will bless thee."

The Seed in whom all nations are blessed

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; Genesis 22:17–18

Right after the similitude of the sacrifice, God promises that all nations will be blessed through Abraham's Seed, who conquers his enemies. Peter and Paul identify that Seed as Jesus Christ.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by Galatians 3:16 — "And to thy seed, which is Christ."
• quoted by Acts 3:25-26 — Peter quotes the promise and says God raised up His Son Jesus to bless you.