The test of Abraham

Childrens

22 Later the Lord tested Abraham, saying to him, ‘Abraham’; and he answered, ‘Here I am.’ 2 The Lord said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains which I will show you.’

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, and his son Isaac. When he had split the wood for the burnt-offering, he set out for the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day, when Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance, 5 he said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey, while I and the boy go over there. When we have worshipped, we will come back to you.’

6 Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt-offering and laid it on Isaac, his son. He took the fire and the knife, and they both went on together. 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’ and Abraham answered, ‘Yes, my son.’ Isaac said, ‘Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?’ 8 Abraham answered, ‘My son, God will himself provide a lamb for a burnt-offering.’ So the two went on together.

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood on it and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son. 11 But the messenger of the Lord called to him from heaven, saying, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ and he answered, ‘Here am I.’ 12 He said, ‘Do not put your hand upon the boy, nor do anything to him, for now I know that you love God, for you have not refused to give your son, your only son, to me.’

13 Then Abraham looked up, and he saw a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. 14 So Abraham took the ram and offered him up as a burnt-offering instead of his son. 15 He named the place ‘The Lord will provide’ — and even today people say, ‘The Lord will provide on his mountain.’

16 The messenger of the Lord again called to Abraham and said, ‘The Lord declares, “Because you have done this thing and have not kept back your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you. I will make your children as many as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore, so that they will conquer their enemies. 18 All the nations of the earth will ask for themselves a blessing like theirs, because you have obeyed my command.” ’Students

19 So Abraham returned to his servants, and they arose and went together to Beer-sheba.