Abraham and Isaac - Renaissance

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” – Genesis 22:15-18

The Old Testament story of Abraham and Isaac foreshadows God’s sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to save all mankind from our sins. Because Abraham was faithful with his most precious gift, Isaac, God provided the ram in the thicket to serve as the sacrifice instead. And, because God loves us so much, he sent his most precious gift, his son Jesus, to serve as the sacrifice in our place. Nothing we can do will ever earn us salvation. It is only though our belief in Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection on the third day, and by our acceptance of this most precious of God’s gifts, that we are saved.