But in His providence God reserved His last most trying test for Abraham until the burden of years was heavy upon him and he longed for rest from anxiety and toil. The Lord spoke unto him, saying: “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest,” “and offer him ... for a burnt offering.” The heart of the old man stood still with horror. The loss of such a son by disease would have been most heart-rending to the fond father, it would have bowed his whitened head with sorrow; but now he is commanded to shed the precious blood of that son with his own hand. It seemed to him a fearful impossibility. {4T 144.2}

Men i sit forsyn tilbageholdt Gud sin sidste og yderst svære prøve for Abraham, indtil årenes vægt hvilede tungt på ham og han længtes efter hvile fra bekymring og møje. Herren talte til ham og sagde: »Tag din søn Isak, din eneste, ham du elsker,« »og bring ham der som brændoffer«. Den gamle mands hjerte stod stille af rædsel. At miste en sådan søn ved sygdom ville have knust den ømme faders hjerte og bøjet hans hvidhårede hoved i sorg; men nu får han påbud om med egen hånd at udgyde denne søns dyrebare blod. Det forekom ham at være en frygtelig umulighed.