In Abraham offering Isaac, what did the ram in the thicket become?
When Abraham was about to offer Isaac, God provided a ram in the thicket. That ram became the substitute, not Isaac; it took Isaac's place. The ram did not become Isaac, but became the substitute for Isaac, illustrating Christ's substitutionary work.
Les explains that just as Abraham was ready to fulfill the command to offer Isaac, God provided a ram in the thicket. The ram became the substitute—not Isaac himself, but the one who took Isaac's place. Les connects this to II Corinthians 5: Christ, who knew no sin, became sin for us so we might have His righteousness; He did not become a sinner per se but took the sinner's place. At the cross He did not become a vile sinner, but took upon Himself all the sins of the human race without becoming a sinner, “yet without sin.” It was His substitutionary work: where you and I should have died, He took our place. He did not become Lesfeldic or Kenneth or anybody else; He merely became our substitute. Les says Paul refers to this in Philippians 2 and Galatians 2.
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.