Starting after Sukkot 2024, Hallel Fellowship switched to a three-year cycle of Torah and parallel Bible readings (2024–2027), outlined by TorahResource. While there’s ancient evidence for a triennial cycle, a major benefit is to provide more time to mine more of Scripture for lessons.
Genesis 22, Isaiah 33:7–22 and Matthew 27:27–66 are connected by the themes of sacrifice, divine provision, and redemption.
Genesis 22 (the binding of Isaac): Abraham is commanded to offer Isaac, his “one and only son,” as a sacrifice, but God provides a ram instead. This event foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Yeshua (Jesus), Heaven’s “only begotten son,” showing God’s provision and testing faith.
Isaiah 33:7–22: This passage speaks of judgment, salvation, and God’s deliverance. It highlights how the righteous King (Messiah) brings redemption. The fear and suffering of the people mirror both Isaac’s moment on the altar and Yeshua’s suffering before His crucifixion.
Matthew 27:27–66 (crucifixion of Yeshua): Like Isaac, Yeshua is a willing sacrifice but is not spared. The soldiers mock and abuse Him, fulfilling prophetic suffering, yet His death brings atonement for sin — a theme foreshadowed in Genesis 22.
Key parallels
Substitutionary sacrifice: The ram in Genesis 22 prefigures Yeshua as the Lamb of God.
Testing and faith: Abraham’s faith is tested, as is Yeshua’s obedience to the Father’s will.
God as deliverer: Isaiah 33 describes God as judge and savior, fulfilled in Yeshua’s sacrifice.
These passages collectively reveal God’s plan of redemption from Isaac’s near-sacrifice to Yeshua’s crucifixion, emphasizing faith, provision, and salvation.
Key Hebrew & Greek terms
יִרְאֶה yir’eh — Genesis 22:8, 14
Meaning: “Will provide,” from רָאָה ra’ah (“to see” or “to provide”).
Significance: Abraham declares, “The Lord will provide” (יְהוָה יִרְאֶה YHWH-Yireh), foreshadowing God’s provision of Yeshua as the ultimate sacrifice.
עֹלָה ʿolah — Genesis 22:2
Meaning: A whole burnt offering, symbolizing total surrender to God.
Messianic connection: Yeshua’s death was a complete offering for sin (Hebrews 10:10).
זֶרַע zeraʿ — Genesis 22:17
Meaning: Descendants, offspring, seed.
Messianic insight: Paul in Galatians 3:16 identifies the ultimate “seed” as Yeshua, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham.
מֶלֶךְ melekh — Isaiah 33:17
Meaning: King. Here, its a specific righteous king — Messiah.
Messianic connection: This verse foreshadows Yeshua as the Messianic King (Revelation 19:16).
רָחוֹק raḥoq — Isaiah 33:13
Meaning: “Far off,” so these are far from God.
Messianic Insight: Ephesians 2:13 speaks of Yeshua bringing near those who were “far off.”
שֹׁפֵט shofet — Isaiah 33:22
Meaning: Judge, lawgiver and king.
Connection: Yeshua embodies this role (John 5:22).
ἐκπνέω ekpneo — Matthew 27:50
Use: “Breathed His last”
Meaning: To exhale, give up the spirit.
Significance: Jesus willingly gave up His spirit, fulfilling Genesis 22’s foreshadowing of a willing sacrifice.
ἱλαστήριον hilastērion — Romans 3:25 (related to Matthew 27)
Meaning: Atonement, propitiation, “mercy seat.”
Connection: Yeshua’s death is the atonement prefigured in the ram of Genesis 22.
τετέλεσται tetelestai — John 19:30 (parallel to Matthew 27)
Use: “It is finished”
Meaning: Complete, paid in full.
Messianic insight: Just as God provided the ram in Genesis 22, Yeshua completed the ultimate provision.
Lessons
Genesis 22
Faith and obedience: Abraham trusted God despite uncertainty.
Substitutionary atonement: The ram symbolizes Yeshua taking our place.
Divine provision: God provides salvation just as He provided the ram.
Isaiah 33
Judgment and redemption: God’s justice brings salvation.
The role of the Messiah: Yeshua as King, Lawgiver, and Judge.
Deliverance of the righteous: God’s people will see His salvation.
Matthew 27
The Suffering Servant: Fulfillment of Isaiah 53.
Victory through sacrifice: Yeshua’s death secures redemption.
God’s ultimate provision: Ties back to Genesis 22—God provided His Son.
Messianic insights
Isaac as a type of Messiah
Both Isaac and Yeshua were beloved sons (Genesis 22:2, Matthew 3:17).
Both carried wood for the sacrifice (Genesis 22:6, John 19:17).
Both were willing participants in their sacrifice.
God provides the Lamb
Genesis 22:8 – “God will provide for Himself the lamb.”
John 1:29 – “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Isaiah 33:22 and the kingship of Yeshua
Yeshua is Judge (John 5:22), Lawgiver (Matthew 5:17), and King (Revelation 19:16).
Darkness over the Land (Matthew 27:45)
Similar to God’s judgment in Isaiah 33:7-9. It represents divine judgment for sin, prefigured in the near-sacrifice of Isaac.
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