God tested Abraham by telling him to take Isaac, the son he loved, to the land of Moriah and offer him on a mountain God would identify. Early the next morning Abraham saddled a donkey, cut wood for the offering, and set out with Isaac and two servants.
On the third day Abraham saw the place in the distance. He told the servants to remain with the donkey while he and the boy went to worship and then returned. Abraham placed the wood on Isaac and carried the fire and knife himself.
Isaac asked where the lamb for the offering was. Abraham replied that God would provide it. The two continued together until they reached the place God had shown him.
Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood, bound Isaac, and placed him on it. As he took the knife to kill his son, God’s messenger called from heaven. He was told not to harm the boy. Because Abraham had not withheld his son, his reverence for God had been shown.
Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. He offered the ram in place of Isaac and named the place with words meaning that God provides.
The messenger repeated God’s promise to bless Abraham, multiply his descendants like the stars and sand, and bring blessing to all nations through them. Abraham returned to his servants. Together they went back to Beersheba, where Abraham lived.