“Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham.” God says, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering.” Each phrase goes deeper into Abraham's heart: your son, your only son, whom you love. This is the first time the word love appears in the Bible — the love of a father for his only son.
Abraham rises early in the morning. On the third day he sees the place afar off and tells the young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” Notice the words we will come back. Hebrews 11:19 says Abraham concluded “that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.” Abraham's obedience was full of faith, not despair.
Isaac carries the wood up the mountain and asks, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham answers, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb.” At the altar, as Abraham stretches out his hand, the Angel of the LORD calls from heaven, “Do not lay your hand on the lad… for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Abraham lifts his eyes and sees a ram caught in a thicket by its horns, and offers it instead of his son.
Abraham calls the place “The-LORD-Will-Provide,” and it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” Then God swears by Himself and repeats His promise: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” In Genesis 23 Sarah dies at one hundred and twenty-seven years, and Abraham buys the cave of Machpelah to bury her — the first piece of the promised land he owns.
Genesis 24 is the longest chapter in Genesis. Abraham sends his oldest servant to find a wife for Isaac from his own family. At the well the servant prays for a sign — a young woman who will offer water to him and also to his camels — and before he finishes speaking Rebekah comes out with her pitcher. The servant bows and worships: “Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth.” Rebekah says, “I will go,” and Isaac takes her as his wife, and he loves her.