Genesis 22

Genesis 22: A Pivotal Story That Points Us to Jesus

Genesis 22 is one of the most challenging and beautiful passages in all of Scripture. As we sit with this story, we’re reminded that it is not just about Abraham and Isaac—it is a pivotal moment that clearly points us to Jesus. When we read, “Sometime later, God tested Abraham,” we’re immediately invited into a moment of tension, trust, and transformation.

God’s command for Abraham to offer Isaac feels shocking to us, but in Abraham’s ancient Near Eastern context, child sacrifice was tragically common. Abraham was still learning who this God truly was. What makes this moment so striking is how different Abraham’s response is compared to earlier stories. The man who once pleaded passionately for the righteous in Sodom now rises early and obeys without recorded protest.

Yet this story is not about blind obedience or a cruel God. It is about revelation—about who God is and how faith is formed through testing, not temptation. From the beginning, Scripture makes clear that God is testing Abraham, shaping his faith, and inviting him deeper into trust.

“Here I Am”: Faith, Testing, and Participation

As the story unfolds, we notice something deeply intentional in the structure of the text. Genesis 22 is written with a literary rhythm known as a chiasm, where the narrative builds toward a central hinge and then mirrors itself back outward. At the very center of this structure is the repeated phrase, “Here I am.”

This phrase—hineni in Hebrew—means more than simple availability. It communicates attentiveness, presence, and willingness. Abraham says it to God. He says it to Isaac. He lives it on the mountain. And Isaac, far from being a passive child, actively participates—carrying the wood, asking questions, and walking with his father in trust.

This detail matters. Abraham tells his servants, “We will worship and then we will come back to you.” The New Testament later clarifies what’s happening beneath the surface: Abraham believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead. His obedience was not rooted in despair, but in hope—hope that God would remain faithful to His promises, even beyond death itself.

Testing, as Scripture consistently teaches, is meant to grow us. From Israel gathering manna in the wilderness to the psalmist inviting God to search the heart, testing refines faith. The apostles echo this truth, reminding us not to be surprised by trials, but to see them as tools God uses to produce perseverance, maturity, and Christlikeness in us.

The Lord Will Provide: The Greater Substitute

At the climax of the story, God stops Abraham’s hand and provides a ram caught in the thicket—a substitute in Isaac’s place. Abraham names the place “The Lord Will Provide,” and this declaration echoes throughout all of Scripture.

This moment does not stand alone. When we read Genesis 22 alongside Genesis 21—the story of Hagar and Ishmael—we see another intentional parallel. Both stories involve a child, desperate circumstances, and divine provision. But Abraham’s repeated “here I am” highlights a posture of trust and presence that the story invites us to emulate.

Ultimately, this mountain points us forward to another moment in history. The angel of the Lord—who speaks as God Himself—intervenes with a substitute. Years later, there would be no ram in the thicket for Jesus. When soldiers came looking for Him, He responded with the same posture: “Here I am.” Fully present. Fully willing. Fully obedient.

Jesus is the greater Isaac—the beloved Son who was not spared. He is the true Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. From Eden to Passover to the cross, Scripture consistently tells one story: God provides the substitute. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we stand forgiven, clothed in His righteousness, and welcomed into the family of God.

So when we face testing, hardship, or suffering, we don’t interpret these moments as evidence of God’s absence. Instead, we remember this story. We remember that God is present, faithful, and for us. As Romans 8 reminds us, if God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, we can trust Him with everything else.

Genesis 22 shows us that the Bible truly is one unified story—and at the center of it all stands Jesus.