Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/109

 answered: “What  wilt  thou,  son?”  “Behold”,  said  the  son,  “fire and wood:  where  is  the  victim  for  the  holocaust?”  Abraham replied: “God  will  provide  Himself  a victim  for  the  holocaust, my son.”  So  they  went  on  together.

When they  reached  the  top  of  the  mountain,  Abraham  erected an altar,  placed  the  wood  upon  it,  bound  his  son,  and  laid  him on the  altar. Then he  put  forth  his  hand  and  took  the  sword to sacrifice  his  son. And behold! an angel  from  heaven  cried out to  him,  saying:  “Abraham,  Abraham!”  And  he  answered: “Here I am.”  And  the  angel  said:  “Lay  not  thy  hand  on  the boy, neither  do  thou  anything  to  him! Now I know  that  thou fearest God,  and  hast  not  spared  thy  only-begotten  son  for  My sake.”  Abraham  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  saw  behind  him  a ram , sticking fast  by  his  horns  in  the  bushes; him  he  took  and  offered, instead of  his  son. The angel  of  the  Lord  spoke  again  unto Abraham, saying:  “By  My  own  self  have  I sworn,  saith  the Lord; because  thou  hast  done  this  thing,  and  hast  not  spared thy only-begotten  son  for  My  sake,  I will  bless  thee,  and  will multiply thy  seed  as  the  stars  of  heaven,  and  as  the  sand  that  is by  the  sea-shore. And in  thy  seed  shall  all  the  nations  of  the earth be  blessed,  because  thou  hast  obeyed  My  voice.”  And Abraham returned  home  with  his  son.

Strength of  faith.  Abraham’s  faith  was  put  to  a most  severe  test. Almighty God  had  promised  him  a numerous  posterity,  and  that  in  his seed all  the  nations,  of  the  earth  should  be  blessed; and  yet  now  He