a moment the father looked upon the dear face of his son, then turned tremblingly
away. He went to the side of Sarah, who was also sleeping. Should he awaken her,
that she might once more embrace her child? Should he tell her of God’s requirement?
he longed to unburden his heart to her, and share with her this terrible responsibility;
but he was restrained by the fear that she might hinder him. Isaac was her joy and
pride; her life was bound up in him, and the mother’s love might refuse the sacrifice.
Abraham at last summoned his son, telling him of the command to offer sacrifice
upon a distant mountain. Isaac had often gone with his father to worship at some
one of the various altars that marked his wanderings, and this summons excited no
surprise. The preparations for the journey were quickly completed. The wood was
made ready and put upon the ass, and with two menservants they set forth.
Side by side the father and the son journeyed in silence. The patriarch, pondering
his heavy secret, had no heart for words. His thoughts were of the proud, fond mother,
and the day when he should return to her alone. Well he knew that the knife would
pierce her heart when it took the life of her son.
That day—the longest that Abraham had ever experienced—dragged slowly to
its close. While his son and the young men were sleeping, he spent the night in
prayer, still hoping that some heavenly messenger might come to say that the trial was
enough, that the youth might return unharmed to his mother. But no relief came to his
tortured soul. Another long day, another night of humiliation and prayer, while ever
the command that was to leave him childless 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, the patriarch, looking northward, saw the
promised sign, a cloud of glory hovering over Mount Moriah, and he knew that the
voice which had spoken to him was from heaven.
Even now he did not murmur against God, but strengthened his soul by dwelling
upon the evidences of the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness. This son had been
unexpectedly given; and had not he who bestowed the precious gift a right to recall
his own? Then faith repeated the promise, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called”—a seed
numberless as the grains of sand upon the shore. Isaac was the child of a miracle, and
could not the power that
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gave him life restore it? Looking beyond that which was seen, Abraham grasped the
divine word, “accounting 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; Abraham desired that none but God should witness the parting
scene. He bade his servants remain behind, saying, “I and the lad will go yonder and
worship, and come again to you.” The wood was laid upon Isaac, the one to be offered,
the father took the knife and the fire, and together they ascended toward the mountain
summit, the young man silently wondering whence, so far from folds and flocks, the
offering was to come. At last he spoke, “My father,” “behold the fire and the wood: but
where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Oh, what a test was this! 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 unfolded to his son the divine message. It was with terror
and amazement that Isaac learned his fate, but he offered no resistance. He could have
escaped his doom, had he chosen to do so; the grief-stricken 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 ready, trusting
obedience, and as the purpose of God was opened before him, he yielded a willing
submission. He was a sharer in Abraham’s faith, and he felt that he was honored in
being called to give his life as an offering to God. He tenderly seeks to lighten the
father’s grief, and encourages his nerveless hands to bind the cords that confine him
to the altar.
And now the last words of love are spoken, the last tears are shed, the last embrace
is given. The father lifts the knife to slay his son, when suddenly his arm is stayed. An
angel of God calls to the patriarch out of heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” he quickly
answers, “here am I,” And again the voice is heard, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad,
neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou
hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me.”
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Then Abraham saw “a ram caught in a thicket,” and quickly bringing the new
victim, he offered it “in the stead of his son.” In his joy and gratitude Abraham gave a
new name to the sacred spot—“Jehovah-jireh,” “the Lord will provide.”
On Mount Moriah, God again renewed his covenant, confirming with a solemn
oath the blessing to Abraham and to his seed through all coming generations: “By
myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not
withheld thy son, thine only son, that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying
I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the
seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all
the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice.”
Abraham’s great act of faith stands like a pillar of light, illuminating the pathway
of God’s servants in all succeeding ages. Abraham did not seek to excuse himself
from doing the will of God. During that three days’ journey he had sufficient time
to reason, and to doubt God, if he was disposed to doubt. He might have reasoned
that the slaying of his son would cause him to be looked upon as a murderer, a second
Cain; that it would cause his teaching to be rejected and despised; and thus destroy his
power to do good to his fellow men. He might have pleaded that age should excuse
him from obedience. But the patriarch did not take refuge in any of these excuses.
Abraham was human; his passions and attachments were like ours; but he did not stop
to question how the promise could be fulfilled if Isaac should be slain. He did not
stay to reason with his aching heart. He knew that God is just and righteous in all his
requirements, and he obeyed the command to the very letter.
“Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he
was called the friend of God.” James 2:23. And Paul says, “They which are of faith,
the same are the children of Abraham.” Galatians 3:7. But Abraham’s faith was made
manifest by his works. “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had
offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works,
and by works was faith made perfect?” James 2:21, 22. There are many who fail to
understand the relation of faith and works. They say, “Only believe in Christ, and you
are safe. You have nothing to do with keeping
