But Abraham did not stop to question how God’s promises could be fulfilled if Isaac were slain. He did not stay to reason with his aching heart, but carried out the divine command to the very letter, till, just as the knife was about to be plunged into the quivering flesh of the child, the word came: “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.” {4T 145.1}

Men Abraham standsede ikke for at spørge, hvordan Guds forjættelser skulle gå i opfyldelse, hvis Isak blev ofret. Han tog ikke tid til at ræsonnere med sit eget forpinte hjerte, men efterkom den guddommelige befaling lige til bogstaven, indtil ordet kom, netop som kniven skulle til at trænge ind i barnets bævende legeme: »Ræk ikke din hånd ud mod drengen;« »thi nu ved jeg, at du frygter Gud og ikke sparer din søn, din eneste, for mig.«