But Abraham undertook at once to obey.  God’s command.  He took two young men with him and an ass laden with wood for the fire; and he went toward the mountain in the north, Isaac, his son, walking by his side.  For two days they walked, sleeping under the trees at night in the open country.  And on the third day Abraham saw the mountain far away.  And as they drew near to the mountain Abraham said to the young men: 

[Illustration:  For two days they walked]

“Stay here with the ass, while I go up yonder mountain with Isaac to worship; and when we have worshipped, we will come back to you.”  For Abraham believed that in some way God would bring back Isaac to life.  He took the wood from the ass and placed it on Isaac, and they two walked up the mountain together.  As they were walking, Isaac said: 

“Father, here is the wood, but where is the lamb for the offering?”

And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide himself a Lamb for a burnt offering.”

And they came to the place on the top of the mountain.  There Abraham built an altar of stones and earth heaped up; and on it he placed the wood.  Then he tied the hands and the feet of Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on the wood.  And Abraham lifted up his hand, holding a knife to kill his son.  Another moment longer and Isaac would be slain by his own father’s hand.

[Illustration:  "God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering"]

But just at that moment the angel of the Lord out of heaven called to Abraham, and said: 

“Abraham!  Abraham!”

And Abraham answered, “Here I am, Lord.”  Then the angel of the Lord said: 

“Do not lay your hand upon your son.  Do no harm to him.  Now I know that you love God more than you love your only son, and that you are obedient to God, since you are ready to give up your son, your only son, to God.”

What a relief and a joy these words from heaven brought to the heart of Abraham!  How glad he was to know that it was not God’s will for him to kill his son!  Then Abraham looked around, and there in the thicket was a ram caught by his horns.  And Abraham took the ram and offered him up for a burnt-offering in place of his son.  So Abraham’s words came true when he said that God would provide for himself a lamb.

The place where this altar was built Abraham named Jehovah-jireh, words in the language that Abraham spoke meaning, “The Lord will provide.”

This offering, which seems so strange, did much good.  It showed to Abraham, and to Isaac also, that Isaac belonged to God, for to God he had been offered; and in Isaac all those who should come from him, his descendants, had been given to God.  Then it showed to Abraham and to all the people after him, that God did not wish children or men killed as offerings for worship; and while all the people around offered such sacrifices, the Israelites, who came from Abraham and from Isaac, never offered them, but offered oxen and sheep and goats instead.