For nearly three days A'bra-ham and his companions walked over the hills and valleys, up many steep and rugged paths, sleeping at night under the trees in the forests of that country. It must have been a sad, solemn journey for A'bra-ham, with bitter thoughts to fill his mind every step of the way. No doubt he thought most often of I'saac, the son and true heir whom God had given after long years of waiting. He knew that the death of I'saac would destroy all hope of the many descendants whom the LORD had promised, yet he seems not for a moment to have thought of disobeying God's command.
A'bra-ham loved the LORD with all his heart, and there was no earthly possession that he would not quickly and happily yield to Him. He had faithfully given a tenth part of all his increase, and often much more. He had always taken the best if his sheep or cattle for burnt offerings unto the LORD. He firmly believed in God's word, trusted fully in His mercy, grace, and love, and had done without question whatever the LORD had asked. But never before had he been asked to give as a burnt offering his own son, the child he loved above everything else in the world, and through whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed. What greater trial could come to any man?
A'bra-ham had a firm and conquering faith in the power of God. He had passed through many trials before, and his faith had always won. It had been hard to leave his father's home in Mes-o-po-ta'mia, to sojourn in Egypt, and to bear the separation from Lot. His faith had been tried by the ruin of Sod'om and Go-mor'rah, which he had tried to save for the sake of the few righteous people who lived in these cities. There had been great trials in the long years of waiting for the birth of I'saac, and the parting with Ha'gar and Ish'ma-el had filled him with sorrow. By these and many other trials his faith had been severely tested, yet never had failed. But now he must face a trial far greater than all the others combined. Could he trust God even now?
Yes, he had faith to believe that even though his son should be slain and the body burnt into ashes, God was able to give the child back to him from the dead. How this could be done was more than A'bra-ham could understand, for the ways of God are too wonderful to be known by even the best of men. And yet, though A'bra-ham could not understand the ways of God, there was one thing he could do. He could believe in God's mercy and power, and obey the command, knowing that He would do no wrong. To A'bra-ham:
"Providence was dark in its permissions; yet
One day when all is known,
The universe of reason shall acknowledge
How just and good were they."
As the weary travelers passed on into the third day, there suddenly appeared in the sky a bright cloud pointing out the place where the burnt offering was to be made. The glory of God shone from the top of a high hill, as if to say to A'bra-ham, "There I am, and there I wait for thee," This was a prophecy of the She-ki'nah, or miraculous light, which later was to hover over the altar of the temple on this very spot. The light of God's glorious acceptance of the faith and obedience of His servant, and of the giving back of his precious son shone upon the place where the altar was to be built.
