Mt. Moriah

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Mt. Moriah

In the news recently, is a story about a shooting that took place at a school in Ohio.  What resulted was something unexpected.  An assistant football coach risked his life to save other students.  He boldly chased the gunmen away.  Luckily, nothing happened to the Assistant football coach.  Nevertheless, he was showered with accolades and regarded as a hero; because of his sacrifice.  He risked his life for the sake of the other students. 

Sometimes when we make sacrifices, the outcome is unpredictable.  The Assistant Football Coach didn’t know what would happen to him.  But he knew that he needed to do something to protect his students.  Luckily, his life was spared. 

The passage of Genesis 22 tells another story of Sacrifice.  God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice on Mt. Moriah.  Although Abraham was not exactly sure what God has in mind, nevertheless, he obeyed God. 

The sacrifice of Isaac was anything but small.  Isaac was to be the heir of the Covenant.  Moreover, Abraham and Sarah are in their old age, and most likely will no longer bear children.  Only through Isaac is the promises of the Covenant will come true: “descendants as countless as numbers of stars in the sky, sands on the shore, and dust of the earth.” 

For Abraham, it was about obedience.  But for us, we know that God is merely testing Abraham’s faith.  God wanted to see how far Abraham would go to trust in God’s providence. 

When Abraham and Isaac was on Mt. Moriah, Abraham bind Isaac (which is called the Akidah in Hebrew).  Just as he was ready for the slaughter, a messenger of the Lord stopped Abraham from continuing with the sacrifice.  God knows that Abraham is a faithful servant.  Because Abraham obeyed the Lord God, and passed the test, God will now bless him abundantly. 

Hebrew legend tells us that Mt. Moriah is significant for many reasons.  First of all, Adam, and his sons Cain and Abel also made an offering here on Mt. Moriah.  In addition, Noah and his sons also offered sacrifices at Mt. Moriah.  The temple under Solomon’s time was believed to have been built on Mt. Moriah. 

And the Hebrew Legend goes on to explain the meaning of the word Golgotha.  Recall that Jesus carried the cross to Golgotha.  Golgotha was the place where Jesus died.  The word Golgotha is known as the place of the skull. 

Some believed that the reason why they called place of the skull because from a distance, it looked like a shape of a skull.  Others believe that it is called that way because it represented death since many crucifixions were held there. 

But the Hebrew Legend gives us another insight that is not too farfetched.  It says that during the time of Noah and the flood, Noah took the skull of Adam and preserved it and kept is safe on the ark. 

After the flood, he took to the skull to nearby hill, not too far from Mt. Moriah.  It was on that hill that he interred it.  Since then, that hill became known as the place of the skull, or called Golgotha.  The skull was pointing to Adam’s skull.  It is with the help of this legend that we see the connection between Jesus’ death, Abraham and Isaac on Mt. Moriah, Noah and his sons, and Adam and His children.  That is why the Scriptures says that God spared Abraham’s son, but God did not spare his own begotten Son, Jesus.

When God spared Abraham’s son, Isaac, Abraham named that place Yahweh-Jireh.  In Hebrew it means God will see to it, or God will provide.  When Isaac asked where is the offering, Abraham responded that God will provide the lamb.  If we take the word Jireh, with another word Shalom (peace), we get Jireh-Shalom (Provide- Peace).  This is where we get the name Jerusalem (the city of Peace).  This is how we see the connection between Jesus’ death in Jerusalem, and the stories of the Old Testament.

When Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John, they get a glimpse of Jesus.  He is not just another prophet, or a wise teacher, or a miracle worker.  Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God.  He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.  This means that the prophets have been speaking about him.  In addition, Jesus fulfills the law through the law of the Gospel, which is the law of love that is written in the hearts of all people. 

When we make sacrifices, the outcome is often unknown.  On the contrary, when it comes to sacrifice of Jesus, we do know the outcome.  It is eternal life.