The sacrifice required of Abraham was not alone for his own good, nor solely for the benefit of succeeding generations; but it was also for the instruction of the sinless intelligences of heaven and of other worlds. The field of the controversy between Christ and Satan--the field on which the plan of redemption is wrought out--is the lesson book of the universe. Because Abraham had 155 shown a lack of faith in God's promises, Satan had accused him before the angels and before God of having failed to comply with the conditions of the covenant, and as unworthy of its blessings. God desired to prove the loyalty of His servant before all heaven, to demonstrate that nothing less than perfect obedience can be accepted, and to open more fully before them the plan of salvation.

Det offer, der krævedes af Abraham, var ikke blot til hans eget bedste, og heller ikke blot til gavn for følgende slægter. Det skulle også være en undervisning for de syndfri væsener i Himmelen og på andre kloder. Skuepladsen for striden mellem Kristus og Satan - det sted, hvor forløsningsplanen gennemføres - tjener som hele universets lærebog. Da Abraham viste mangel på tro på Guds løfter, anklagede Satan ham over for englene og Gud og sagde, at han ikke havde holdt pagtens betingelser, og at han derfor ikke var dens velsignelser værdig. Gud ønskede at bevise sin tjeners troskab over for hele Himmelen, og at gøre det klart, at intet mindre end fuldkommen lydighed kan anerkendes, og at åbenbare frelsesplanen mere fuldstændig for dem.