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Abraham’s Faith Confirmed
1Now it came to pass after these things that #Deut. 8:2, 16; 1 Cor. 10:13; Heb. 11:17; (James 1:12–14; 1 Pet. 1:7)God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
2Then He said, “Take now your son, #Gen. 22:12, 16; John 3:16; Heb. 11:17; 1 John 4:9your only son Isaac, whom you #John 5:20love, and go #2 Chr. 3:1to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a #Gen. 8:20; 31:54burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
3So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will #(Heb. 11:19)come back to you.”
6So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and #John 19:17laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the #John 1:29, 36lamb for a #Ex. 12:3–6burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
9Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and #(Heb. 11:17–19; James 2:21)laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11But the #Gen. 16:7–11; 21:17, 18; 31:11Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So he said, “Here I am.”
12And He said, #1 Sam. 15:22“Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for #Gen. 26:5; James 2:21, 22now I know that you fear God, since you have not #Gen. 22:2, 16; John 3:16withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
13Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
15Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16and said: #Ps. 105:9; Luke 1:73; (Heb. 6:13, 14)“By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—17blessing I will #Gen. 17:16; 26:3, 24bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants #Gen. 15:5; 26:4; Deut. 1:10; Jer. 33:22; Heb. 11:12as the stars of the heaven #Gen. 13:16; 32:12; 1 Kin. 4:20and as the sand which is on the seashore; and #Gen. 24:60your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18#Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 26:4; Matt. 1:1; Luke 3:34; (Acts 3:25, 26); Gal. 3:8, 9, 16, 18In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, #Gen. 18:19; 22:3, 10; 26:5because you have obeyed My voice.” 19So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to #Gen. 21:31Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
The Family of Nahor
20Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, “Indeed #Gen. 11:29; 24:15Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21#Job 1:1Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father #Job 32:2of Aram, 22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23And #Gen. 24:15Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.