If you are a Muslim reading this post, I want you to know the spiritual significance of Eid al-Adha which is the Feast of Sacrifice that celebrates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. This historic event has a spiritual significance to it that you should know about, least you will be celebrating what you do not know.
God said to Abraham, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and get you into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of.” Genesis 22:2
This was God showing mankind an example of his willingness to sacrifice his only son Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of the sins of mankind.
Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, but God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac as though he had only one son. By this, God was establishing a prophetic similitude with Jesus Christ, who is regarded as the only begotten son of God.
The Quran agrees that Jesus was born by a virgin who was not impregnated by man. No other woman in history has had a similar experience, and no other child has been born in a similar way. The Quran agrees that this is an act of God, and by this Jesus is unarguably the only begotten son of God just as Isaac was referred to as the only son of Abraham.
God, having seen the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his only son, commanded him not to kill him, but instead provided a ram for the sacrifice.
“And he said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you anything unto him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.” Genesis 22:12-13
The killing of that ram in the stead of Isaac (for God was not about the killing of Isaac) was a prophetic event that points to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.
“He (Jesus) was oppressed, and he (Jesus) was afflicted, yet he (Jesus) opened not his mouth: he (Jesus) is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he (Jesus) opened not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7
As you celebrate Eid al-Adha, know that the reality of this event of Abraham killing a ram has been accomplished in Jesus Christ, and if you believe that God offered his only begotten son for your sins, you will receive eternal life.
Happy Eid al-Adha!
Apostle Destiny Kingston