The Sacrificial Journey
Genesis 20:14–18 (NASB95)
5Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.” 6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.
Abraham and Isaac walked toward the place of sacrifice with a quiet faith. Abraham told his servants, “We will worship and then come back to you.” He trusted that God would provide, even as he faced the unthinkable. Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders. Isaac carried the very wood that would be used for his own sacrifice. This detail points forward to Jesus, who carried His cross to Calvary. Jesus calls every believer to do the same, saying, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” The journey of faith always involves carrying the weight of obedience and surrender.
Isaac noticed something missing. He asked, “Where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered with faith, “God will see to the sheep for his burnt offering, my son.” Abraham’s words pointed beyond that moment. God would provide the true Lamb. Jesus is called the Lamb of God in scripture, the one who takes away the sin of the world. The question about the lamb finds its answer in Christ, who became the sacrifice for all.
The text repeats, “The two of them walked on together.” This correlation is striking. Isaac and Abraham shared the journey to the altar. In the New Testament, Simon of Cyrene walked with Jesus, helping Him carry the cross to the place of sacrifice. This detail reminds us that even the Son of God received help as He bore the tools of His sacrifice. The path of obedience is not walked alone. God provides companions and strength for the journey.
The church today must remember the cost and the promise of discipleship. God calls us to trust Him, to carry our own crosses, and to walk together in faith. Jesus is the Lamb God provided. He bore the weight of our sin and invites us to follow Him. When the way is hard, God gives us companions and hope. What a powerful lesson of worship and obedience for us all.