Our word for today is used the first time in the Bible in our chapter 22 of Genesis which we are still in today. יָחִיד only, only one, only child, lonely, deserted, solitary, single. It is used 12 times in the Old Testament. What is interesting is that 7 out of 12 times it is used it refers to an old child, and 6 of these to an only son. The only daughter is in Judges 11:34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an יָחִיד only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. Then the references to only sons Jeremiah 6:26 Put on sackcloth, my people, and roll in ashes; mourn with bitter wailing as for an יָחִיד only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us. Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an יָחִיד only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. Yes, you guessed it we are talking about Jesus this is a messianic prophecy that is a prediction 500 plus years ahead of time that Jesus would die and his side pierced for our sins. Notice the reference as an only son which we will look at in a minute. Proverbs 4:3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the יָחִיד only one in the sight of my mother. Now in our chapter we see our word used three times. Genesis 22:2, 12, 16-17 Then God said, “Take your son, your יָחִיד only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah… “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your יָחִיד only son.”… and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your יָחִיד only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.
In the New Testament we see Jesus who is also described as an only son. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Jesus called God his father over a 150 times and only God our father 30 times. Which means his relationship with God was different than ours because he was a unique son. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. In this sense he is God’s only son in this unique way. And just like Abraham had to be willing to sacrifice his only son and let him die God the father had to as well. But here is the difference God stopped Abraham, so his son didn’t really have to die but God didn’t give himself that luxury he allowed his son to be put to death in our place for our sins. And think about how hard this would have been for Abraham to do because he had waited so long for a son and now that he finally has what he has always wanted God asks him to sacrifice him. So, Abraham loved his son just like God the father loves God the son and willingly gave him up for us. This shows us just how much God loves us and how valuable we are to him.
