Some years ago, I prayed to God for clear evidence that Jesus was predicted in the Old Testament. I know Isaiah 53 describes the Suffering Servant, but it is also hotly contested, so I wanted to look for another passage. This is what I found from looking more closesly at Genesis 22:
1. Isaac was Abraham’s beloved son (Genesis 22:2).
Jesus is God’s beloved Son (John 3:16).
2. Isaac left his home (Genesis 22:3).
Jesus left His home in heaven (John 6:38).
3. Isaac went to the land of Moriah (Genesis 22:3).
Jesus went up to Jerusalem to die, in the land of Moriah (Matthew 16:21; 2 Chronicle 3:1).
4. Isaac was away from the household and with two servants for two days (Genesis 22:4).
Jesus hid himself from the crowds and spent Wednesday and Thursday with His disciples (John 12:36; Matthew 26:1).
5. Isaac was separated from the servants on the third day (Genesis 22:5).
Jesus was arrested and His disciples were scattered on Thursday night (John 16:32).
6. Isaac was still accompanied by his father Abraham (Genesis 22:5).
Jesus was still accompanied by His Father God (John 16:32).
7. Isaac carried the wood (Genesis 22:6).
Jesus carried His wooden cross (John 19:17).
8. Abraham carried the fire and the knife (Genesis 22:6).
The soldiers who arrested Jesus carried torches and swords (Matthew 26:47; John 18:3).
9. Isaac was bound (Genesis 22:9).
Jesus was bound (John 18:12).
10. Isaac did not fight with Abraham (Genesis 22:9).
Jesus did not resist or murmur against His Father’s will (Matthew 26:39; 1 Peter 2:23).
11. Isaac was laid on top of the wood on the altar (Genesis 22:9).
Jesus was nailed to a wooden cross (John 19:18).
12. Abraham heard his name called twice: “Abraham, Abraham!” (Genesis 22:11).
God heard His name called twice: “My God, my God!” (Matthew 27:46).
13. The ram was an adult male (Genesis 22:13).
Jesus was an adult male (Luke 3:23).
14. The ram was a strong animal (Genesis 22:13).
Jesus had the power to defend Himself by calling for angels (Matthew 26:53).
15. The ram’s horns were caught in the thicket (Genesis 22:13).
Jesus had a crown of thorns (John 19:2).
16. The ram was the offering that God Himself provided (Genesis 22:13).
Jesus was the offering that God Himself provided (John 1:29).
17. God blessed Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 22:17).
Jesus is Abraham’s descendant (Matthew 1:1).
18. All nations will be blessed by Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 22:18).
All nations are blessed by Jesus (Acts 3:26).
19. Isaac was seen alive by the servants again and then went home (Genesis 22:19).
Jesus was seen alive by His disciples again and then went home to heaven (1 Corinthians 15:5; Luke 24:51).
1. Isaac was Abraham’s beloved son (Genesis 22:2).
Jesus is God’s beloved Son (John 3:16).
2. Isaac left his home (Genesis 22:3).
Jesus left His home in heaven (John 6:38).
3. Isaac went to the land of Moriah (Genesis 22:3).
Jesus went up to Jerusalem to die, in the land of Moriah (Matthew 16:21; 2 Chronicle 3:1).
4. Isaac was away from the household and with two servants for two days (Genesis 22:4).
Jesus hid himself from the crowds and spent Wednesday and Thursday with His disciples (John 12:36; Matthew 26:1).
5. Isaac was separated from the servants on the third day (Genesis 22:5).
Jesus was arrested and His disciples were scattered on Thursday night (John 16:32).
6. Isaac was still accompanied by his father Abraham (Genesis 22:5).
Jesus was still accompanied by His Father God (John 16:32).
7. Isaac carried the wood (Genesis 22:6).
Jesus carried His wooden cross (John 19:17).
8. Abraham carried the fire and the knife (Genesis 22:6).
The soldiers who arrested Jesus carried torches and swords (Matthew 26:47; John 18:3).
9. Isaac was bound (Genesis 22:9).
Jesus was bound (John 18:12).
10. Isaac did not fight with Abraham (Genesis 22:9).
Jesus did not resist or murmur against His Father’s will (Matthew 26:39; 1 Peter 2:23).
11. Isaac was laid on top of the wood on the altar (Genesis 22:9).
Jesus was nailed to a wooden cross (John 19:18).
12. Abraham heard his name called twice: “Abraham, Abraham!” (Genesis 22:11).
God heard His name called twice: “My God, my God!” (Matthew 27:46).
13. The ram was an adult male (Genesis 22:13).
Jesus was an adult male (Luke 3:23).
14. The ram was a strong animal (Genesis 22:13).
Jesus had the power to defend Himself by calling for angels (Matthew 26:53).
15. The ram’s horns were caught in the thicket (Genesis 22:13).
Jesus had a crown of thorns (John 19:2).
16. The ram was the offering that God Himself provided (Genesis 22:13).
Jesus was the offering that God Himself provided (John 1:29).
17. God blessed Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 22:17).
Jesus is Abraham’s descendant (Matthew 1:1).
18. All nations will be blessed by Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 22:18).
All nations are blessed by Jesus (Acts 3:26).
19. Isaac was seen alive by the servants again and then went home (Genesis 22:19).
Jesus was seen alive by His disciples again and then went home to heaven (1 Corinthians 15:5; Luke 24:51).
