So Great Salvation

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.

And he 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.

Genesis 22:1-2

It is possible to become so familiar with a passage of Scripture that it no longer affects the heart in the way that it should. Abraham was a real person – a real father who had similar feelings that fathers have today. I don’t have a son but if I did I can’t imagine being willing to offer him as a sacrifice. Isaac was Abraham’s only son and the son of God’s promises. Abraham loved his son dearly. Let us stop and consider the anguish that Abraham would have experienced.

Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac is a picture of the sacrifice of the Son of God by God the Father. Just as Isaac was Abraham’s only son, Jesus was the only Son of his Father:

For God so loved the world, that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Just as Abraham loved Isaac, so God the Father loved his Son Jesus:

For the Father loveth the Son,

and sheweth him all things that himself doeth:

and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

John 5:20

Isaac was not a perfect son, but Jesus was. Jesus was completely submissive to his Father’s will and he desired above all else to do his will:

And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

John 8:29

Jesus saith unto them,

My meat is to do the will of him that sent me,

and to finish his work.

John 4:34

The relationship between Abraham and Isaac was not perfect, but the relationship between the heavenly Father and his Son was without any flaw:

I and my Father are one.

John 10:30

The anguish that Abraham felt was horrific, but the anguish that God the Father felt would have been incredibly greater.

God “delivered up” his Son. What did he deliver him up to? To be tortured to death for us. Not only was he tortured physically, but he bore your sins and mine upon him. he literally suffered the sum total of the eternal wrath of God upon all mankind.

He that spared not his own Son,

but delivered him up for us all,

how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Romans 8:32

Is it any wonder that the Scripture includes the following words?

HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION;

which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,

and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders,

and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost,

according to his own will?

Hebrews 2:3-4

Oh, do not neglect his great salvation!