THE ANGEL'S MESSAGE
Isaac believed in God. He had been taught to always obey his father. He also loved and respected the God of his father. The strong young man could have kept his old father from sacrificing him if he had chosen to do so. But after hugging his father lovingly, Isaac let his father tie the ropes around his hands and feet and lay him on the altar.SRme 1.291
An angel of God watched Abraham as he showed his faith by traveling to Mount Moriah. As the father raised the knife to kill his son, the angel called to him, "'Abraham, Abraham.'" The father answered, "Here I am.'" The angel said, "'Do not hurt the boy or do anything to him. . .Now I know you have obedient reverence for God, because you have not kept back your only son from Him.'SRme 1.292
"Abraham looked around and saw a ram caught in a bush by its horns. He went and got. . .[the ram] and offered it as a burnt offering instead of his son" (Gen. 22:11-13).SRme 1.293
Abraham now fully and nobly had passed the test. His faithfulness made up for the lack of perfect trust in God that caused him to marry Hagar. Now Abraham had shown his complete faith and trust in God. Abraham was willing to offer Isaac, so God again promised to bless the entire world through him.SRme 1.294
"The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time. 'I make a vow by My own name--the Lord is speaking--that I will richly bless you. Because you did this and did not keep back your only son from Me, I promise that I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the seashore. Your descendants will conquer their enemies. All the nations will ask Me to bless them as I have blessed your descendants--all because you obeyed My command'" (Gen. 22:15-18, TEV).SRme 1.295