The account of Abraham offering up his son Isaac is a rich picture of Jesus’ sacrifice in many ways, but what stood out to me most last time I went through it was the concept, “Son of Promise.”

Isaac was both the son who had been promised and the son through whom God’s promises to Abraham would be fulfilled. He was born to Abraham and Sarah when they were old because of God’s promise to give him that seed, that offspring. It was through Isaac that God fulfilled His promise to Make Abraham’s descendants as the stars of the sky and the sand of the sea, his promise of owning the land he had journeyed to, the promise that held the blessing for all nations.

Jesus Christ, too, was born according to God’s promise before time. He is also the one through whom God gives His promised blessings. Justice on the oppressor? That’s Jesus’ domain. Cleansing and a new heart? That’s through Jesus, too. Forgiveness? Resurrection? Peace on earth? The world made new? They all trace their way back to Jesus Christ.

Abraham believed God’s promises. Hebrews says he trusted Him so much as to be confident that should he obey God and slay his son Isaac, God would raise him up from the dead. This was where the promises were centered, and God would not fail in His promises.

No ram stood in for Jesus Christ–He was the substitutionary sacrifice, the Lamb of God. Jesus Christ is alive, risen fro the dead, and God’s promises remain steady and fast.