Parent Note: This is one of the rich stories of the Bible because it foreshadows the sacrifice Jesus Christ makes for sinners at the cross. The drama packed inside this short story is riveting. How you tell it will be crucial for its maximum effectiveness. Raising your voice, pauses, and emphasizing words and phrases will make this story come alive to the child. Few stories in history can match the scene and theater of this real-life story. It is much better than fiction because it is a veiled tale about the Lord Jesus Christ. Be prepared for many questions, and some may be difficult to answer. Some may be questions of your own making. Trust God to help you. Ask him to fill you with the Holy Spirit as you should with every Bible story so you will be best prepared to guide your children to the truth of the gospel. But don’t ever be afraid to admit, “I don’t know.” Then invite the children to pray with you that God might someday show you the answer to the difficult questions that sometimes remain a mystery. It only increases our faith in God, to trust him when we don’t understand.

It is an unusually hot day and Abraham was taking a break from his chores. He is watching his youngest son, Isaac, working with the sheep. Abraham still must sometimes pinch himself to believe that God had blessed he and his wife Sarah with a son. Isaac is 16 years old now. It’s easy to remember his son’s age because he was 100 years old when he was born. Sarah was 90. It is still the talk of the town even this many years later. Abraham was the oldest Dad at Isaac’s school events. But he enjoyed all the jokes that his friends used because he knew being called “gramps” was all in fun. 

 

As the white puffy clouds shade Abraham from the hot blazing sun, he looks up to heaven and thanks God for about the millionth time for his strong, young handsome son. He didn’t think anyone could love a son more than he does, nor be any prouder of him. After all, God has promised the old man that he will bless all the nations of the earth through his son Isaac. Abraham will have lots of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and more and more. He whispers to himself, “God said ‘forever.’” He prays to the Lord and says, “I don’t understand how you will do it, but I believe you as much today as the first time you told me.”

 

Just then, as a fresh breeze cooled Abraham’s brow and he thanks God for taking such good care of him. God speaks, “Abraham, Abraham.” Immediately Abraham responds, “Here I am Lord.” It isn’t unusual for God and Abraham to have conversations. God tells us that Abraham was his friend. Just like we do, friends talk to each other. The Lord says something that startles Abraham because it is so unexpected: “Take thy son, thine only son, Isaac and offer him as a burnt offering to me on the mountain that I will show you.” Without hesitation or taking time to question the Lord, Abraham says, “Yes, Lord, as your commandment, that will I do. Should I leave now?” God tells him to wait until morning. It will take three days to arrive at the place of the offering.

 

Abraham tells Sarah and Isaac they have an important mission from God, and they will be leaving the next day and be gone for about a week. Abraham prays before going to bed but does not take the time to ask God if he is sure this is what he is supposed to do. He knows the voice of God and what the Lord has told him is clear. But he tells no one the purpose of the trip.

 

Early the next morning, Abraham, Isaac, and several servants begin their journey. The night before they leave, everything was prepared for what they would need according to the instructions God has given to Abraham. Food and water would be needed for the journey there and back. They need wood for building fires. Abraham also tucks away a knife. And the journey begins

 

Abraham has much on his mind. He is working things out because it is a puzzle to him why God would tell him to kill his son. Talking to God at night as others slept. Abraham looks up to the stars and says, “Lord, you told me that through this boy the nations of the earth would be blessed. That means he must have a wife and children – at least one boy. Otherwise, it isn’t possible. But you said. And you don’t lie. I don’t understand, but neither do I have to understand. All I know is you told me to take Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice to you.” As Abraham carefully listens all he receives from heaven is silence as he watches the stars dance in the sky.

 

On the third day, they come to the foot of the mountain called Moriah. The Lord has directed the journey to this place. Abraham turns to the servants and says, “You wait here while the lad and I go to the top of the mountain and worship God. This is the place he wants me to make a special sacrifice for him. No one else except me and the boy need to go. We will depart and return to you soon.”

 

Abraham has been working on this problem of God telling him to do two things which do not make any sense to him. Abraham talks to himself and says, “First, God says, Isaac will have children. Second, God says he will die in a sacrifice. How could both be true? Isaac is only 16 years old. He isn’t married and won’t be for some time. He has no son.” Suddenly, like a flash of light, it dawns on Abraham. Just as he comes to figure out the problem of how God will keep his word in both instances, Isaac speaks up. “Father, we have wood for the sacrifice. We have fire. We even have a knife for the sacrifice. But where is the lamb?” Abraham is glad Isaac didn’t ask this question a few minutes before because he would have said, “I don’t know.” But now he can confidently say with faith, “God will provide himself a lamb.” And the two of them went up the mountain together. 

 

They arrive at the time of the evening sacrifice. Abraham had for many years made an offering of a pure, spotless lamb at the end of every day. He would kill it, spread its blood over the altar as an atonement for his and his family’s sins, and then burn the sacrifice to God, asking the Lord to forgive them. This night it would be the same, except for one change. 

 

Abraham and Isaac prepare the altar. The wood is stacked, and the place of the lamb is prepared. But still, there is no lamb. Abraham looks at his son. The son looks back at his father. “Isaac,” he says, “I am an old man. If you wish to run from me, you can. I won’t be able to catch you. What I am about to tell you is going to sound crazy, but I am sure it is what God has told me to do. He will never ask this of anyone else, but he has trusted me. I don’t understand it, but I, in turn, trust him.” 

 

Isaac listens carefully, gazing at his Dad without saying anything. He loves his Dad like no one else in the world. He knows Abraham always follows God. He has seen it all his life. Finally, Isaac breaks the silence and says, “Whatever you ask of me, Father, I will do. It isn’t about my will; it is your will as God tells you. I will obey you for I trust you with my life.” Tears well up in Abraham’s eyes and they begin to fall across his cheeks like soft raindrops, he says, “God has told me to offer you as a sacrifice to him. But Isaac…Listen! God will raise you from the dead. He will…He must! God cannot lie. So, it’s the only thing that makes sense. He told me you are going to be the father of children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. As many as the sand of the seas – as many as the stars of the heaven – as many as the dust of the earth!” Abraham raises both hands to Isaac’s cheeks and whispers through tears of sadness and joy, “God will raise you from the dead, son. Trust him…trust me.” Isaac nods and says, “I do. I will lay down my life as a sacrifice for God; I shall die willingly.”

 

Abraham binds Isaac and lays him on the altar of sacrifice. He takes the knife in his hand and raises the handle in the air high above his head so he can thrust it down into his son’s heart. Just as the knife reaches its height and Abraham launches his hand to plunge it into his son, God hit his arm, the knife flies away, bouncing across the ground. The Lord calls from heaven and says, “Abraham, Abraham.” The old man breathing heavily gasps, “Here am I.” God says, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad. I know you fear God. You have not kept back your only son from me.”

 

Abraham looked up and lo, and behold, there is a male sheep called a ram, caught in a thicket of thorns nearby. He had not noticed it before now. He took the knife and cut Isaac loose from the rope that bound him. They together take the lamb and prepare it as an offering to the Lord. As the blood is shed, and the sacrifice is made, Abraham and Isaac bow on their knees. The father says, “Thank you, Lord God, for sparing my son and giving a lamb in his place. I see a day coming, my dear Friend, when you will offer your son in man’s place, but no one will stop that sacrifice as you have for me.”

 

After the sacrifice, the father and son walk down the mountain arm in arm. Before they arrive at the foot of the mountain where the servants are waiting, Abraham with a cheery voice says to Isaac, “So, how’s it feel to be alive?” “Never been better Dad! Never been better.” Abraham pokes him in the ribs and says, “So how many grandkids do you think I’ll have?” Isaac gives his Dad a gentle nudge, “Come on Pops! Can I get my driver’s license first?”

Questions: What is your favorite part of the story? Do you think this was easy for Abraham or Isaac? Why? If you had to choose to be one person in the story, would you rather be Abraham having to make the sacrifice, or Isaac the one to be the sacrifice? (It is okay if the child says, “Neither one!” Do not force them to choose. You might agree with them and tell them, “Me either.”)
In the story we learn that Abraham foresaw the day that God’s Son would die for us. Jesus tells us this in the New Testament: “…Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). Remember, Jesus gave his life willingly for us. No one could force Jesus, or take his life. He laid down his life for us, just as Isaac willingly laid down his life at God’s command. 
We can trust God to always do right. He cannot lie, just like Abraham says in the story. The Bible tells us that in the book of Hebrews. In fact, it is impossible for God to lie! You can always believe God. That’s why we can know we are going to heaven when we die because God promised if we trust Jesus as our Savior from our sins, we have everlasting life. A life that will never end in heaven with him. Let’s pray and ask God to help us to always trust him no matter what happens.