A Father Offers His Son: The True and Greater Sacrifice Revealed Through Abraham and Isaac

by Scott LaPierre

"As a jeweler holds a gemstone in the light and turns it slowly, examining each priceless, shining facet, Scott LaPierre holds high this picture of heaven's sacrificial love, and he slowly, unhurriedly, examines its every detail. A Father Offers His Son is beautifully Biblical, incredibly insightful, and remarkably readable."--Cary Green: Speaker, Missionary, Church Planter, and Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Bible Church

Have you ever wondered why God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son in Genesis 22?

The Angel stopped Abraham showing God did not intend for him to kill Isaac, but what did God desire? Prophecies in the Old Testament look forward to Jesus, but He is also revealed through types and shadows. Genesis 22 one of the greatest examples. God wanted to test the patriarch and prophet, Abraham, but readers will discover the account also reveals:
In human terms what God would do with His Son two thousand years later The many ways Abraham and Isaac are a picture of God and His Son The tremendous love of God shown through Christ's sacrifice Genesis 22 is not primarily about Abraham and Isaac. God and Jesus are the true and greater Father and Son shining forth in the account. Abraham did not spare his son but was willing to deliver him up for God. Likewise, God "did not spare His Son, but delivered Him up for us all" (Romans 8:32).

Learn the remarkable parallels between God and Abraham, and Jesus and Isaac. With thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter, the book is perfect for personal use or group Bible studies.

What ministry leaders and reviewers are saying:
"I highly recommend this work that will deepen your appreciation for what the Father and Son went through. The excellent insights will encourage your soul."--Dr. Paul Benware: Professor, Pastor, Conference Speaker, and Author "Inspiring and uplifting. A beautifully written book that every Christian should read."--The Aspiring Wordsmith's Review "LaPierre approaches the meaning of Genesis 22 with biblical clarity and godly wisdom. He provides the opportunity for us to appreciate God's love by putting us in Abraham's sandals."--Readers' Favorite Five-Star Review "I read A Father Offers His Son over the weekend, because once I started I couldn't put it down. It is a great work! Anointed by God! At times I wanted to sit and cry out of appreciation for what our Savior did for us, and other times I wanted to shout and praise Him."--Dana Hoffman: Book Reviewer

Genres: Religion

173 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2018

About the author

Receive a FREE copy of my book, Seven Biblical Insights for Healthy, Joyful, Christ-Centered Marriages!

I'm the senior pastor of Woodland Christian Church in Woodland, WA, a Regional Facilitator over WA and OR for The National Center for Family-Integrated Churches, an author, and conference speaker.

My wife, Katie, is also an author, and we have been blessed with seven children that we homeschool. We grew up together in the small town of McArthur, in the mountains of northern California.

After college, I served as an Army officer before becoming an elementary school teacher. While teaching, I began working part time as an associate pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Lemoore, California. When the church grew, I was hired full time and remained there until coming to Washington.

I have a bachelor’s degree in business administration and two master’s degrees, one in education and the other in biblical studies.

I spend most of my time with my home and church families. I love studying and teaching God’s Word. The free time I have is usually committed to reading and writing. Our kids stay busy with church, music, and school.

My books come from my sermons, which take twenty-to-thirty hours of work each week. This means each book contains hundreds of hours of study in God’s Word.

I hope you’ll consider subscribing to my newsletter. I know your inbox is already busy, so I’ll do my best to make sure each message is packed with value.

If I can pray for you in any way, please let me know!

God bless,
Scott LaPierre

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a lot of people, including Christians, Genesis 22 can be a difficult passage to fully comprehend. The writer has decided to not shy away from this discussion/evaluation but instead to hit it head on. Throughout this short read the author uses great imagery to draw the reader in to what he is discussing and so that they can picture the scene and work/think through issues with him. This really is another great book by this author, he doesn’t claim to have all the answers, he is just putting what he believes out there for others to consider.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Georgene Bramlage · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Father Offers His Son: The True and Greater Sacrifice Revealed Through Abraham and Isaac by Scott LaPierre is crisply and clearly written, easy to understand. However, unless a prospective reader is introduced to the book by reading a review, or hears about it there is little to entice anyone to pick it up much less order it. The title does not offer an invitation to delve into the riches within.
Most Christian readers could make sense of “A Father Offers His Son; Abraham and Isaac.” Right, that story comes from Genesis. What’s new? Is LaPierre writing yet some more interpretations of this old story? An insightful reader might discern that the phrase “The True and Greater Sacrifice Revealed” is LaPierre alluding to how this Old Testament story might carry over into the New Testament.
The table of contents does not lead prospective readers closer to knowing what the true and greater sacrifice is or how it is revealed through Abraham and Isaac. However, Chapter 1 entitled ‘The Old Testament is about Jesus’ might be enough to induce readers to find out how the Old Testament and Jesus connect. LaPierre tells readers clearly, with citations how the Old Testament is about Jesus. Prophecies, about 350 of them, reveal his coming and value; while what LaPierre calls “types or shadows” prefigure or point to the coming of Christ, his life and death. A section of Chapter 1 is delightfully entitled ‘The Old Testament Serves as a Treasure Map.’ LaPierre guides readers to the treasure and explicitly points it out in the last section of Chapter 1 ‘Do Not Miss the Treasure.’ He points to ‘the true and greater sacrifice’ by writing “If you read about Abraham and Isaac, but you fail to see the true and greater Father and Son, then you missed the treasure.”
Chapter 1 is a good sample of how Lapierre leads readers through eight more chapters. It is in Chapter Ten that readers finally learn the premise on which this book is constructed, Christ’s Passion and Crucifixion enabled by God the Father. ‘...at the heart of Christianity is a God who provides the sacrifice Himself. This does not just make Christianity different than other religions; it makes Christianity the opposite of other religions.” This is the true and greater sacrifice revealed.
This book is ideally suited for small group study and discussion. Each chapter ends with a quality selection of questions to be answered in discussion or by writing out the answers prior to the get-together. I see the study ideally scheduled for ten to twelve weeks, so each chapter is managed in a leisurely fashion. LaPierre’s writing while clear tends to be repetitious. Shortly after beginning the book, I felt as if I were listening to sermons. I found by rereading beginning chapters that LaPierre states that a goodly amount of this work was originally used in his sermons.
I received an ARC of this book; this is my free and unbiased review.

[Connie Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many years ago, I read Genesis 22 and when I first read the story of Abraham and Isaac I couldn't understand why God would ask Abraham to sacrifice his young son; I certainly couldn't imagine how Abraham would even consider doing it. However, in my growth as a Christian and after reading Scott LaPierre's thoughts on this scripture, I now know that Abraham's test was to help us understand the depth of God's love for mankind as He sacrificed His own son. "A Father Offers His Son: The True and Greater Sacrifice Revealed Through Abraham and Isaac" is a discussion of Abraham and Isaac but ultimately, it reminds us of the wonderful story of God the Father and His sacrifice of His son Jesus.

Author LaPierre talks about Isaac and Jesus both being only begotten sons and he explains that God's frequent use of the term "begotten son" in scripture was His way of using repetition to show emphasis. Isaac wasn't Abraham's only son but that is how he is referred to in Genesis 22:2. Jesus, of course, was mentioned as God's only Son many times and as "his only begotten son" in the beloved Bible verse John 3:16.

This book also mentions many other similarities between the son Isaac and the son Jesus. Both of their names were chosen by God, they both silently accepted what was to take place and they were willing to obey their fathers.

There are 74 pages in "A Father Offers His Son" and they are filled with many thought-provoking statements. I appreciate that the author offers many scriptural references to support these statements and that he also offers questions at the end of each chapter to help us in our understanding. There is also one chapter that especially caught my attention and it is Chapter 7. I consider it as a "how-to" chapter on how to truly serve God through Abraham's example. LaPierre states that

1. Abraham was ready to obey
2. Abraham obeyed God when it didn't make sense
3. Abraham did not delay obeying
4. Abraham would not let anyone interfere with him obeying
5. Abraham understood that obedience is worship
6. Abraham trusted God
7. Abraham's obedience showed his fear of God.

Isn't this what we all should strive to do?

I consider this book to be a worthy addition to both my personal collection and our church library and I strongly recommend it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Morgan G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare to be encouraged, convicted, and inspired through this new book, A Father Offers His Son, by Pastor Scott LaPierre! In this book, Mr. LaPierre has taken a well-known Bible story and beautifully connected it to the New Testament scriptures in a way so many of us fail to see. As you walk through the pages of this book, you will see (1) Abraham’s journey to sacrifice Isaac was a shadow of God the Father sacrificing His Son Jesus on the cross at Calvary two-thousand years later, and (2) connections and similarities between Jesus and Isaac such as: both being named by God, loved by their fathers, sacrificed in Jerusalem, viewed as sacrificial lambs, and being marked by submission among other things. I was refreshed by reading this book as I have been reminded of the beauty and preciousness of the sacrifice of Christ in being our propitiation, an event foreshadowed through Abraham and Isaac! We serve an amazing Lord who is continually involved in His creation and masterfully weaving the tapestry of history - history truly is His Story.
I would highly recommend this book for every disciple of Jesus Christ: prepare to be overwhelmed by love, fear, and worship of our Heavenly Father!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebekah Crain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never looked at the Old Testament story of Abraham and Isaac the same way as this author depicted it. Yes, the story as he tells it is the same. However, it’s the whole shadow theory and looking at it as a precursor for things to come (in the New Testament) that I never caught on to before now. It was very intriguing and enlightening really, to see things from LaPierre’s viewpoint. The Biblical parallels he pointed out from Abraham and Issac to God and Jesus were truly amazing. I feel like reading this section of the Bible makes so much more sense now and holds way more meaning than it did to me before.

Readers already familiar with LaPierre’s books will be pleased to see that, true to form, he has once again included a segment of questions for the reader at the end of each chapter. This detail may seem small, though actually it’s hugely beneficial when it comes to centering on what you read and learn. The questions allow you to focus your attention on the chapter specific details, therein helping you reinforce the ideas firmly in your mind.

Thank you to the author for sharing this new release review opportunity with me. It’s been a pleasure.

[Stephen Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough look at a difficult Old Testament story

Of the many stories in the Bible, some are more accessible than others. One of the (for some) more difficult is in Genesis 22 where God tell Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice.
In truth, studying this story becomes richly rewarding as the details reveal the heart of God. Scott LaPierre delves into those details and brings out the vivid picture Abraham and Isaac are acting out. He looks into some of the Hebrew words with their depths of richness, and also the New Testament Greek in related passages without losing focus or letting his topic get dry or bogged down.
It would be easy to expand on the details and the myriad "rabbit trails" one could develop, but the author stay a on track, and avoids being didactic or "preachy." While doing that, he also does manage to get to the meatier parts of the narrative.
The short scene from the lifes of two of history's greatest men will deepen you spiritual insight and bring you closer to God. There are thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter that help deepen understanding, although the space provided for answers occasionally seems insufficient.
I will highly recommend this book and others by Scott LaPierre.

[Pat Eroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always loved the story of Abraham and Isaac and the parallel between this father and son sacrifice and that of Christ. It is unimaginable the amount of faith Abraham has in God when he goes to obey God and sacrifice his son. I find this author's discussion on this topic brings to mind my total lack of faith when I worry about the smaller things that I somehow think God cannot handle. I also adore my kids and just thinking about giving them up would be so difficult. I thank the author for this study of this incredible story of faith.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Will Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author took time to write a great Bible study on the correlation of the lives of Isaac and Jesus. Each chapter covers a view on this correlation and has Q&A at the end. This is perfect for a group study or a personal study.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen Yaworski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott clearly explains why God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac in a way that I don't think I have heard in church or in my Bible studies before. The comparison of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his "only" son Isaac to God's sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus, was highlighted in teaching us the meaning of "only" as being "unique, special, one of a kind" helping me to better understand it.

It seems now that most people only focus on Jesus and the New Testament. I like seeing the foreshadowing of Jesus in the Old Testament being brought to light more. Scott explains that only in knowing the laws in the Old Testament can we know when we are sinning. That seems to be forgotten these days.

I really enjoyed this book a lot and would like to use it at church for our Bible study.

I received a free copy of this book from the author via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dan Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive look at how Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac is a compelling look at the willingness of God, the Father, to allow His Son to die in our place. Gain new insights into abraham and Isaac's story in this book The story of God's love demonstrated to us in the sacrifice of His Son never gets old and never gets trite.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a powerful read trying to explain why God asks for a father to offer up their son for death. It will help you to understand what and why it was asked fkr.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Father Offers His Son is a book that is easy to read and understand. The basis for the book is the passage in the Bible (Genesis 22) that gives us the story of Abraham and Isaac. The author explores not only their story but also God and Jesus. This is a good book and definitely worth reading.

[Lehc00 Lehsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC in return for my honest review.
This is a wonderfully written book, that explains the story of Abraham and Isaac in a way that makes it easy for readers to see the parallel between God sacrificing his son for all mankind. The writing is clear and concise and there are also questions for discussion and thought after reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wholeheartedly recommend it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pamela Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that are based on the biblical stories. This author stayed true to the bible and made the story even more interesting.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[maryjane lovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Loved reading it because it was well written and very interesting.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say – I’ve often had my Sunday school kids why God would be so mean to Abraham and ask him to sacrifice his son and I’ve always told them it was a test but never has it occurred to me it mirrored Jesus and God! I love the questions at the end of the chapters to reflect back, it makes it perfect for a bible study! This goes into depths I have never considered to explore. The parallels between Abraham and Isaac and God and Jesus, wow. It blows my mind! Congratulations on writing such an incredible study!

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I knew a couple of comparisons between Isaac and Jesus, but this gives more! I love the Bible study part and chapter questions. I highly recommend this amazing book!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and informative take on Genesis 22. I have read the story of Abraham and Issac many times, and have done a fair amount of studying and pondering on it. A Father Offers His Son brought new perspective and helped to increase my love for my Heavenly Father and my Savior because of His atoning sacrifice and example. This book is a wonderful tool to have to assist in your gospel study.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dorothy Crothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Father Sacrifices His Son brings forth the depths of the foreshadowing of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac to the ultimate sacrifice offering pertinent scriptures and wonderful insights. This book offers a much deeper understanding of this issue.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as many Jewish commentaries speak of the Binding of Isaac, this treatment speaks of Abraham offering Isaac.

In other words, the distinction is made repeatedly here that Isaac was offered, and the righteous offer was enough.
God offered AND sacrificed Jesus.

So while many parallels were drawn, unlike in some earlier patristic commentaries, it is made clear that the act and the actions of God and Jesus are greater, that the fore-telling of the arrival, person and sacrifice of Jesus was made not simply to fulfil the prophesies of the Hebrew Scriptures, but to supercede them.

Useful question and answer sections for each chapter or theme.

The body of the work feels like it is not yet in its final draft, but it is an interesting workbook to use for an adult redemption/ sacrifice/ Grace themed Bible Study session.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Edward Garner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most Christians know that Abraham’s “sacrifice” of his son Isaac is a picture of God the Father’s sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Scott LaPrierre helps us take a closer look at both the shadow (Abraham and Isaac) and the substance (God the Father and Jesus). He brings to light parallels that most people overlook. While reading A Father Offers His Son, I found myself repeatedly saying to myself, “Oh, I never thought of it that way.” Or “I hadn’t noticed that before.” Though there are points that I think LaPierre may be stretching the use of Types and Antitypes, he does a good job of making the reader think. I believe this would be a great book for a small group to go through together as it makes you look at the account of Abraham and Isaac with fresh eyes and gives one a lot to think about and discuss with others.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extensive look at the story of Abraham and Isaac from Genesis 22. The author compares this story with the story of Jesus' crucifixion.

I have heard the story of Abraham and Isaac since childhood and often wondered at the significance. The author does a great comparison between this Old Testament story and the New Testament story of Jesus' sacrifice.

This is not a quick, light read, but an in-depth study that the reader can refer to while reading the Scripture. I am sure that I will reread this book many times in my studies.

I was given a copy of this book through Booksprout and chose to review it.

[Strubabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

God is faithfully executing his mission even today is you have faith in Jesus gift to us.I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand who,what,where and how we will get to the Promised Land!

This was a great read, a reminder of how God is a faithful provider. I is a teaching of great clarity on the way God has been calling his people,his family and he will bring home to be with him. He has provided everything we need and Jesus made all of this possible for all of us.

[Jeannie Huie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very good explanation of the Old Testament story of Abraham needing to sacrifice Isaac! The author presents the viewpoints of each individual and how this story, and other Biblical stories, actually point toward Jesus. He discusses the law and its shadow and how that relates to our understanding the Bible! Really well-written!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel Larkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Father Offers His Son" is a great commentary on the event of Isaac's sacrifice. Amazing parallels are made between Abraham, Isaac, God and Jesus. You can tell there has been a lot of research and thought put into bringing forth this rich resource. I especially was interested in the chapter on "God Prepares His People" and was encouraged by the Author's insights into how God prepared Abraham and how Abraham responded.

[Evening · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book holds some ideas which I, personally, do not agree with. However, the research is interesting, and it was also well-written, so it deserved at least two stars for that.

I'm sure others will appreciate the book, but it just wasn't for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. It takes you through the story of Abraham and Issac and the parallel of God and Jesus. It's wrote where you can easily understand. This is a book that I will read again. I received a manuscript copy of this book from the author and was not required to write a review. But I feel that this book will benefit everybody that reads it. This is my honest opinion of this book.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read to help you understand how the Old Testament is relevant today. The author relates the sacrifice of Abraham & Issac as a forerunner of the Messiah's sacrifice. New Christians will especially find it helpful.

[Bridget Holbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

This is a good, informative book. Christian based, this would be a good book for a class. Thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter.

[Jerome Bushnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the typology and spiritual relevance.