How is the ram caught in the thicket the same thing as the sin offering at the tent door?
Both show God's provision of a sacrifice. The sin offering at the tent door was a lamb already there, willing to be taken and offered. Likewise, God providentially provided the ram caught in the thicket, and Abraham simply took it to the altar. In each case, God supplies; man receives and offers.
Les explains that in the Hebrew the same word is used for sin and sin offering, so the sin offering at the tent door is a sacrificial animal that God has made available. That lamb would not fight; it would be perfectly willing to be picked up and brought as a sacrifice. Les says God has never changed, and Genesis 22 is the same thing: God providentially provides the ram caught in the thicket, and Abraham had no problem taking it from the thicket to the altar. Abraham calls the place Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides. So both cases show God providing the sacrifice while the person simply takes what God has provided and offers it.
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
More Questions
Why do some readers see 'sin offering lieth at your tent door' in Genesis 4:7?
In Genesis 4:7, the Hebrew word is the same identical word for both 'sin' and 'sin offering,' so the sin lying at the tent door can be understood as a sacrificial sin offering.