Based on Genesis 21; 22:1–19

 

And Sarah 90, conceived as the LORD had promised, and did bear a son
To 100 years old Abraham.
They both did laugh when the thing (Isaac) impossible, was made possible!
By the wonder of God’s love!
And baby Isaac grew and became a handsome boy to his parent’s joy.
The day of his weaning was the occasion for a joyous celebration.
Then Sarah saw the son of Hagar, Ishmael her son Isaac mocking,
And with indignation Sarah says to Abraham this thing:
“Cast out Hagar and Ishmael her son – he shall not be heir
Together with Isaac my son!”
Hearing this deeply did grieve Abraham,
For he loved Ishmael, now almost a young man.
But God did say to do as Sarah told,
For in Isaac shall his seed be called. And He of Ishmael will make a nation –
This shall be for him a consolation.
Then in the morning the next day, Abraham sent Hagar with her son away…

……………………………

Years have passed, Isaac grew into a happy youth, becoming a young man,
The very much beloved of Abraham.
Then one day God spoke to him: “Abraham!” And he answered: “Here I am.”
God said that he shall take Isaac his beloved son, the only one,
Go into the land of Moriah, unto a mountain be shown to him,
There to offer Isaac for a burnt offering…
Did he hear right? Is this a horrible delusion, playing havoc with his mind,
The worst of its kind?
But the words, …Isaac…a burnt offering… still ringing is his ears,
Confirming his fears, it was God’s familiar voice, –
It was no illusion! He has no choice!…
Abraham hearing this command was knocked almost to the ground,
Shaken to the core and astonished very sore.
He was perturbed, perplexed, benumbed. How could this be to offer up his son!?
He had lost his first one, and now give up the second, promised one?
The shock sat deep; he could not sleep…
But very early in the morning, not saying anyone a word,
Abraham set out doing as he was told.
Takes his ass, two servants, fire, wood, wakes up Isaac,
Then went on his way on this anguish laden day.
Never was a journey such ordeal, to this command was no appeal –
The weight of grief pressed upon his heart,
Caused Abraham bent forward made the going upward very hard.
He was strangely quiet, so that Isaac wondered, why his father did not talk
He usually was doing on a walk.
Isaac deeply loved his father, and regard for Abraham’s age,
Let him not inquire of the matter.
Wearied from the strain upon his sorrow-stricken mind and the way of that day,
Abraham after intense prayer for help divine and strength,
Gave his tired body rest at length.
Next day Abraham was distraught, for constantly the thought was ringing in his ears to offer Isaac up
his beloved son (Ishmael was not in God’s plan),
That gave him such dreadful fears – how could he do this awful thing –
Isaac – him to kill him! –
Finally, the sun went down, all from the trekking tired did lay down,
Beneath a starry sky for a night to rest and sleeping tight.
Only Abraham was wide awake, no sleep fell on his brow
For being stunned in these two days not able thinking clear,
Suddenly the promise God had spoken did appear
that “in Isaac shall thine seed be called!”
Was now to him a token in his so dark gloom – for hope to give it room:
God could Isaac raise to life! Nevertheless, he must do that thing –
Offer up Isaac for a burnt offering!
That very thought quite overwhelmed him, he shuddered at the task
Raising his hand against his son, but must do it – for God’s command to him was on!
Awakened by a sunbeam, Abraham looked at Isaac close beside him,
His eyes gazing at this precious youth, almost took his breath away,
For it is the day, where he and Isaac would depart.
With great effort he got up, went away a space
Where he could pray, pouring out to God his anguish,
Pleading fervently for strength and guidance to lead him to the place –
For that dreadful, heart wrenching sacrifice. –
While on the way coming from a plain
God showed Abraham the mountain.
There for a moment he could not move, was liked paralyzed
The reality thus emphasized – the inevitable is near, terrifying him with fear.

……………………………

He slowly dragged along, every step is strenuous, laborious,
It seemed to him so very wrong he has to slay his son!
A sudden temptation urges him: “Stop! Go back! Flee this cruel, brutal,
Murderous command!”
No! No! No! God has spoken, I must obey –
Make no delay! I will not flinch, though it costs me everything!
I will do my duty; may God be with me with His pity…
Then told his servants with the ass to stay, while he with Isaac worship yonder,
Then return, and meanwhile they should wait.
With Isaac on the way, he in his innocence did say: “Father,
Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb?”
Then his father stood, tremors surging through his body saying trembling
That God Himself for the burned offering the lamb will be providing.
At last arriving at the place, Abraham slow in pace,
The stones did gather to build an altar, then like in a haze.
Puts the wood in place, he shudders at the thought,
What now to do he ought.
He looks at Isaac with horror to do him any harm
To this loving boy – it is to him sheer terror.
Bursting into tears, he embraces Isaac trembling saying,
That God commanded to offer him for the burnt offering…
He feels the shock surging through the body of his son,
They hold each other very tight quite long,
Their tears mingling in their anguish, it seems they cannot let loose their embrace.
Then Isaac yields, he makes no protest, but tries to do his best
To help his father’s pain to let himself be slain.
His father taught him God is just and loves him, he will not run away
To offend Him, but willingly, in no way resistant, he does not understand
That he has to die, but only God does know it why…
He helped Abraham to tie his hands, was laid upon the altar.
In that heartrending moment took Abraham every ounce of strength
To lift his hand feeling like a ton
To thrust down the knife into the heart of his so dear son…
In that moment his hand is stayed, a voice from Heaven calls: “Abraham!”
He answers: “Here I am.” “Lay not thine hand upon the lad,
For now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son,
Thine only son from Me!”
The words thrill through his body, mind and ear, fill him with godly, holy fear,
He looks and oh – a ram quite near, caught in the thicket there,
Oh – God indeed did provide Himself the sacrifice!
He quickly unties Isaac and instead of him, offers up the ram
for the burnt offering.
Son and father bow before the LORD, worship Him in sweet accord,
With solemn gratitude honoring His holy name for being united once again.
The voice from Heaven the blessing to Abraham repeating
The covenant confirming, his seed will multiply like the stars in the sky,
In his seed all nations will be blessed, because he has obeyed God’s word.
The LORD by Himself had sworn this, because he did not withhold
his son, his only son from Him.
Now the heavy weight and strain upon Abraham is lifting, new strength through his veins is flowing,
fresh vigor fills his bowed down frame,
And with a joyous countenance, he and happy Isaac came
to join the servants, returning home looking forward for the promises to come. Amen.

End of Part 3. To be continued.

By Edda Tedford