Lamb, Son, Ram: An Allusion And A Tip To Christ Being Messiah (Genesis 22, Isaiah 53)

Brief Summary

Sharing how Genesis 22 and Isaiah 53 are interlinked and speak of Christ as the Messiah who would die, and be raised from the dead.

Introduction

With regard to Christ being the Messiah, in the Old Testament (Tanakh) a person will not find his name in any place.

Scripture does however provide riddles, clues, and even family lineage in prophecy (which must be read in a prophetic, spiritual way, and thus not a literal way).

It is on this note that the allusion with regards to Christ being the Messiah, is shared from the books of Genesis 22 and Isaiah 53.

Links

The links between the two chapters are as follows, and the explanation will be given at the end;

Son
‘…son…’ (Genesis 22:2)
‘…offspring…’ (Isaiah 53:10 ESV)

Lamb
‘…lamb…’ (Genesis 22:8)
‘…like a lamb…’ (Isaiah 53:7 ESV)

Ram (a male adult)
‘…ram…’ (Genesis 22:13)
‘…he grew up… a man…’ (Isaiah 53:2-3 ESV)

Explanation

The above links will now be explained.

Genesis 22: With regards To The Abraham and Isaac Account.

In Genesis, Abraham was tested and instructed by G-d to sacrifice his son Isaac on a mountain.

Isaac was told by his father Abraham that God would be providing a lamb for the sacrifice and (in context), that ‘all was in hand’.

Isaac, Abraham’s son got up off the altar, and rose back onto his feet – this might symbolise Isaiah 53:10 where it speaks of when G-d raises Christ from the dead (‘…prolong his days…’).

Later on, at the top of the mountain we learn that instead of Abraham’s son, or even a lamb being sacrificed – that God had actually provided a ram (a mature adult sheep) to be offered instead.

Abraham was blessed for being faithful under a test and trial – as he was actually prepared to offer his son as instructed. (Genesis 22:15-18)

The account may be read in Genesis 22 here.

Isaiah 53: With Regard To Christ (Messiah).

We know that Isaiah 53 speaks of one man walking blamelessly, dying, being raised from the dead, and then praying (interceding) for a nation as their high priest – as it says;

■ One man (Christ) walked blamelessly,

‘…he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.’
(Isaiah 53:9 ESV)

■ Died,

‘…he was cut off out of the land of the living…’
(Isaiah 53:8 ESV)

■ Was raised (‘prolong’) from the dead,

‘…He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days…’
(Isaiah 53:10 NASB2020)

and then,

■ Prays (intercedes) for a nation as their appointed high priest;

‘…he… makes intercession for the transgressors.’
(Isaiah 53:12 ESV)

‘You love righteousness and hate wickedness…’
(Psalm 45:7 NIV)

‘…“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”’
(Psalms 110:4 NIV).

With regards to the allusion here, the Messiah (Christ) is referred to as God’s offspring (Isaiah 53:10, i.e. His ‘son‘).

He is described as an innocent ‘…lamb…led to the slaughter…’ (Isaiah 53:7 ESV), who had ‘…done no violence…’ (Isaiah 53:9 ESV).

He ‘…grew…’ up into a ‘…man…’ (Isaiah 53:2-3) – a man being a mature adult, which by metaphor can be likened to a ‘…ram…’ (Genesis 22:13).

Isaiah 53 can be read in full here.

In Finishing

The link between Genesis 22 and Isaiah 53 is quite apparent.

Isaiah poetically portrays the death and resurection of Christ, much like the slaughter of the lamb that was a son, that was a ram, that we see in Genesis 22.

The ram in Genesis was on a mountain, and Mesaiah (Christ) was also ‘…high and lifted up…’ (ref. Isaiah 52:13 ESV).

If a person still felt differently about Isaiah 53 being one man and not a nation as the servant here – perhaps they could read;

• Isaiah 49:3 & 49:5 – The Suffering ‘Righteous Servant’ of Isaiah 53; one man and not a nation.

• The ‘suffering servant’ is a Man, Given For The Nation (Isaiah 42:6, 49:8);

and,

• ‘Propitiation’: Intercession, Not Human Sacrifice (1 John 2:2, Isaiah 53:12)

• Hebrews 7:27 Explained – Human Sacrifices Are Forbidden.

Hoping it is fruitful.

May the Holy G-d bless you beyond maximum, believing in His risen Son the Lord Jesus Christ (Adonai Yehoshua HaMoshiach). Amen.