Rosh HaShanah-2 2011

There are many parallels between Isaac and Jesus and Rosh HaShanah highlights one of them. The Torah readings during Rosh HaShanah have to do with Isaac, especially Genesis 22, that recounts Abraham’s offering of Isaac, called in Hebrew, Akeida (binding of the sacrifice). Genesis 22:2 “Then He said, "Take now your son, your only [son] Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."  There are many different words for sacrifice in Hebrew; the one that is used here is “olah” which means a burnt offering that is done with a willing heart. When at the last second, God provided a substitute of a ram in a thicket, Abraham called the place “Yehovah Yireh” or “it shall be seen.” Abraham saw into the future what God would provide.  John 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw [it] and was glad. Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." Both Isaac and Jesus were born through impossible circumstances. Both were offered on Mount Moriah. And both were given a bride through an intermediary; Isaac received Rebekah through the Holy Spirit’s leading with Eliezer and Jesus (Yeshua) shall receive the bride of Messiah (all believers) through the Holy Spirit’s ingathering at the end of time. Rosh HaShanah marks the creation of the world; it will also herald the Messianic Kingdom at the fullness of time. Revelation 19: 7-9 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed [are] those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

Amen