Significantly, it was a ram, not a lamb. If caught in the thicket by any part but its horns, it would have been unusable.
I don’t think there’s any doubt that the Angel of the Lord who arrested Abraham and kept him from harming his son is the One described in the New Testament in these clear and helpful words: “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (Jn 1:18). The Seen God is always the Son of God. Dear Christian, do you understand what this means? Two thousand years before His own journey to Calvary, at the northern peak of Mount Moriah, the Son of God was there watching another father and son going to the place of sacrifice. He was watching as old Abraham built the altar, laid out the wood, bound his son, and helped him onto the altar. He saw the upraised knife glistening in the sunlight. But more, He knew the profound reverential fear in Abraham’s heart that would do such a thing. Notice carefully: “now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Again, as we noticed in earlier visitations of the Angel of the Lord, we can see the distinction in Persons but absolute unity of action in the statement. “You fear GOD…you have not withheld your son…from ME.” But what a profound insight we have here! Who was it that stopped the knife and provided a substitute, “a ram caught in a thicket by its horns” (v 13)? The very same One for whom there would be no voice from heaven, no substitute ram! How true the words of His detractors: “He saved others; Himself He cannot save” (Mt 27:42). If He had returned to the Father without His redemptive work, there would be no salvation to offer, and God would not bear the name “Jehovah Jireh.” But God DID provide! No wonder He is so pleased with His Son.