Story 15: A'bra-ham Ordered To Sacrifice I'saac lll

   A'bra-ham said to his young servants, "Remain here at the foot of this mountain while I'saac and I go up to the top for worship, and presently we will return." In these words he may have spoken more than he understood, yet he fully believed that God would provide a way by which I'saac would return with him, and still the offering could be made.
   The wood for the fire which was to consume the offering was placed upon I'saac , while A'bra-ham carried a knife and some glowing sticks from the fire which they had kindled at the foot of the hill.
   As the two walked up the mountainside I'saac turned to his father and said, "Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" In reply to this heart-rending question of his son, A'bra-ham uttered one of the most comforting statements to be found in the Bible. He said: "God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." Once again faith had moved him to speak more than he understood, making a prophecy that was soon to come true in a marvelous way, and which foretold the sacrifice of the LORD Je'sus for the world's sin.
   When A'bra-ham and I'saac reached the top of the mountain where the sacrifice was to be made, they proceeded at once to build an altar. A'bra-ham then tied the hands and feet of I'saac and placed him on the wood which had been laid upon the altar. He took a knife in his hand, raised up his arm to strike the fatal blow into the heart of his son, and was in the very act of offering him as a burnt sacrifice unto God.
   Suddenly an Angel spoke to him out of the Heavens, saying: "A'bra-ham, A'bra-ham; do not lay thy hands upon the lad, and do not harm him in any way: for now I know that thou truly fear God, because thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from the LORD."
   What joy and relief these words brought to the father's heart! He had been permitted to go just far enough to test his faith and obedience, and now God restrained his hand from an act of murder. A'bra-ham was spared the actual deed of slaying and burning his son because he had proved himself ready to do so if God really demanded it.