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From Eternity Past
offer his son as a burnt offering upon a mountain that should be shown
him.
Abraham had reached the age of a hundred and twenty years. The
ardor of youth had passed. One in the vigor of manhood may with
courage meet difficulties and afflictions that would cause his heart
to fail later in life. But God had reserved His most trying test for
Abraham until the burden of years was heavy upon him and he longed
for rest.
The patriarch was very rich and was honored as a mighty prince by
the rulers of the land. Heaven seemed to have crowned with blessing a
life of sacrifice and patient endurance.
Abraham Commanded to Offer Isaac
In the obedience of faith, Abraham had forsaken his native country
and had wandered as a stranger in the land of his inheritance. He had
waited long for the birth of the promised heir. At the command of God
he had sent away Ishmael. And now, when the patriarch seemed able
to discern the fruition of his hopes, a trial greater than all others was
before him.
The command must have wrung with anguish that father’s heart:
“Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, ... and
offer him there for a burnt offering.” Isaac was the light of his home,
the solace of his old age, the inheritor of the promised blessing; but he
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was commanded to shed the blood of that son with his own hand. It
seemed a fearful impossibility.
Satan was at hand to suggest that he must be deceived, for the
divine law commands, “Thou shalt not kill.” God would not require
what He had forbidden. Going outside his tent, Abraham recalled the
promise that his seed should be as innumerable as the stars. If this
promise was to be fulfilled through Isaac, how could he be put to death?
Abraham bowed upon the earth and prayed as he had never prayed
before for some confirmation of the command if he must perform
this terrible duty. He remembered the angels sent to reveal God’s
purpose to destroy Sodom and who bore to him the promise of this
same son Isaac. He went to the place where he had met the heavenly
messengers, hoping to receive some further direction; but none came.
The command of God was sounding in his ears, “Take now thy son,