Beginning of the End: Trained to Obey

 With terror and amazement Isaac learned his fate, but he offered no resistance. He could have escaped if he had chosen—the old man, exhausted with the struggle of those three terrible days, could not have opposed the will of the vigorous youth. But Isaac had been trained from childhood to give ready obedience, and as the purpose of God was opened to him, he yielded a willing submission. He shared in Abraham’s faith, and he felt honored in being called to give his life as an offering to God.

And now the last words of love were spoken, the last tears shed, the last embrace given. The father lifted the knife. Suddenly an angel of God called from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” He quickly answered, “Here I am.” Again the voice was heard: “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

Then Abraham saw “a ram caught in a thicket,” and quickly he offered it “instead of his son.” In his joy and gratitude, Abraham gave a new name to the sacred spot—“Jehovah-jireh”, meaning “The-Lord-Will-Provide.”