Test of Faith
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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 faith-
fulness. 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 num-
berless as the grains of sand upon the shore. Isaac was the child of a
miracle, and could not the power that gave him life restore it? Look-
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ing beyond that which was seen, Abraham grasped the divine word,