84
From Eternity Past
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 father took a knife and the fire,
and together they ascended toward the mountain summit. The young
man at last spoke, “My father, ... behold the fire and the wood; but
where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
What a test was this! How the endearing words, “my father,”
[94]
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 the divine message.
Trained to Obey
With terror and amazement Isaac learned his fate, but he offered
no resistance. He could have escaped had he 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 ready 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 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 out of heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” He quickly answered,
“Here am I.” Again the voice was heard, “Lay not thine hand upon
the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou
fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from
Me.”
Then Abraham saw “a ram caught in a thicket,” and quickly 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.”