So I’m reading in Genesis 22. This is a story I have read and studied so many times. It is among the top in the “Best of the Old Testament” moments. An event that we have celebrated for millennia.

Genesis 22:6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,

You can’t help but see the parallels between this story of sacrifice and the story of Jesus’ sacrifice. The father preparing to sacrifice His only Son. The Son willingly carrying the wood on which He would be sacrificed.

I was allowing that to sink in as I continued reading.

Genesis 22:7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” 
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. 
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

The question fell on me for the first time. How old was Isaac? I couldn’t find an answer, but there are pieces I could put together. He knew what sacrifice looked like. He could reason in his mind that something was missing. We know that Abraham was 100+ years old. Knowing Abraham’s age and knowing what we do about Isaac, it seems apparent to me that Isaac, when he realized what was going on, could have either resisted the old man or run away from him. He didn’t. Why?

I have always celebrated Abraham’s obedience in this extraordinary story, but what about Isaac? His obedience to his father mirrored Abraham’s obedience to his Father. Like father like son. Like Father like Son.