Abraham at last awakened his son, telling him of the command to offer sacrifice on a distant mountain. Isaac had often gone with his father to worship, and this brought no surprise. The wood was made ready and put on the donkey, and with two servants they set out.
Father and son journeyed in silence, Abraham pondering his heavy secret. His thoughts were of the proud, adoring mother, and the day when he would have to return to her alone. He knew that the knife would pierce her heart when it took the life of her son.
That day—the longest Abraham had ever experienced—dragged slowly to its close. He spent the night in prayer, still hoping that some heavenly messenger might say that the youth could return unharmed to his mother. But no relief came to his tortured soul.
Another long day, another night of humiliation and prayer. The command to slay his son was ringing in his ears. Satan was near to whisper doubts and unbelief, but Abraham resisted his suggestions.
As they were about to begin the journey of the third day, Abraham saw the promised sign, a cloud of glory hovering over Mount Moriah—and he knew that the voice that had spoken to him was from heaven.
Even now he did not complain against God. This son had been given unexpectedly; didn’t the One who bestowed the precious gift have a right to reclaim His own? Then faith repeated the promise, “In Isaac your seed shall be called”—a seed numberless as the grains of sand on the shore. Isaac was the child of a miracle, and couldn’t the power that gave him life restore it? Abraham grasped the divine word, “concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead” (Hebrews 11:19).
Yet none but God could understand how great was the father’s sacrifice in yielding up his son to death, and Abraham desired that none but God should witness the parting scene. He told his servants to remain behind, saying, “The lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
The wood was laid upon Isaac, the father took a knife and the fire, and together they started up toward the mountain summit. The young man at last spoke, “My father, ... look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
What a test this was! How the endearing words, “my father,” pierced Abraham’s heart! Not yet—he could not tell him now. “My son,” he said, “God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.”
At the appointed place they built the altar and laid the wood upon it. Then, with trembling voice, Abraham told Isaac the divine message.
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