The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: A Novel

Chapter 13

Caananite soil

Abraham loves Isaac. Yes, as the years roll by, Abraham and Sarah are happy. Everybody loves Isaac, the son of promise.

Abraham thinks, From Isaac, the Messiah will come. He smiles in watching his son do the right thing.

One evening, after the usual service and the prayer, Abraham faces his 20-year-old son. "Isaac, young lad, just think that the Messiah will come through your line. It would be through you that all people will find blessing."

"Nice thought," says the young man. "Yet I ask: How will the Messiah be?"

There's some silence as Abraham thinks about what to say. He finally answers, "Well, I don't know. That is a good question, though."

+

That night, the old man only wants rest. He mutters, "Lord, you're good in giving me a son. All the waiting was worth it. So show me... the Savior."

He is now in his sleeping roll on the ground in his tent. He sleeps soundly. Isaac and Sarah are resting at other parts of the floor of the tent.

Abraham then hears a voice: "Abraham."

He says, "Here I am."

Then the voice comes, "Now 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 of which I will tell you."

"Wha—what?"

To Abraham, all this sounds impossible. He recalls the commandment, "You shall not—"

Abraham knows what it says. Can it possibly not apply here? He knows the Caananites are involved in human sacrifices. Why, this sounds... sounds... ugh...

Could I have misheard?

Abraham gets up from bed and goes outside his tent. He looks up at the calm night sky... and a cloudless sky it is tonight. He looks at all the stars. The whole lot of them. He recalls the words of God: Your descendants will be THAT numerous.

"God, I don't understand," says a saddened Abraham. "If this promise is to be fulfilled through Isaac, why should he die? Am I under some delusion here?"

Abraham falls to earth, distressed. He loves his son Isaac; he does. "Please, Lord, please confirm this command if I... if I have to do this thing!"

+

Abraham walks to the high point where he begged God for Sodom. Perhaps he can meet an angel there.

But for a long time, none come. Abraham starts crying. It seems God actually means it. "Your own son Isaac, whom you love."

The old man quietly shakes his head. The sun is soon to rise. So Abraham wipes his manly tears and starts for his tent, hoping those within are still sleeping.

+

In his tent, Abraham goes over to the place where Isaac is sleeping. He is calm and peaceful. So. The father turns from the son, trembling. He walks over—to Sarah, who is resting. Now must I awaken her and tell her what God said?

He feels like he should, but he quickly decides against it. It'll be too much, and she might hinder me. Her love for Isaac might have her refuse.

So he thinks of what to tell Isaac. Not that he would be offered—no, only that God commanded them to offer some sacrifice on a distant mountain. Yes, that's it.