Isaac grew up a fine, healthy, noble boy loved by all his father's
people; and to his, father and mother, now old people, he was their joy
and life. Never a day passed that Abraham and Sarah did not offer thanks
to God for their beautiful child. Most carefully they taught him the
religion of his people, and bade him follow it all the days of his life.
"When God speaks, obey, O my son!" the old father would say. And one day
there came to Abraham, and Isaac too, a trial of their faith.
A vision came again to Abraham. And in the vision the Lord spoke,
saying, "Arise, Abraham, and go and prepare an altar upon the mountain.
And when the altar is ready, place thy son Isaac upon the altar; for I
would that he be sacrificed--a burnt offering--to me."
Poor old Abraham! There was nothing in all the world so dear to him as
this child, Isaac; but although his heart was sore and heavy, the old
man rose and did as he was bid. And when the altar was ready, he called
Isaac and told him what the vision had said.
For a minute the brave boy's cheek grew pale; his heart beat fast. Then
he permitted his father to bind him hand and foot and lay him upon the
altar. Abraham lifted the knife to slay the boy; when, lo! his hand was
held, and a voice said, "Harm not the lad; for now I do know that thou
lovest God more than all else beside."
With trembling hands Abraham unbound the cords that held Isaac, and the
boy leaped down from the altar. Then, with tears of gratitude, they
knelt and thanked God for his mercy. Then the voice spake again:
"Because you have done this thing I will bless thee; and all nations
shall be blessed through thy children."
One day Abraham's wife, Sarah, lay down and died, and Abraham bought the
field of Machpelah and made for her a burial place.
"Now," said Abraham to Isaac, "it is right that you should find a wife
and bring her to dwell in our tent. But take not a wife from the people
of Canaan, for they are idolaters. Go rather to Mesopotamia, and there
take the wife that God may allot thee."
So a trusty old servant was sent into Mesopotamia to find a wife for
Isaac,--a woman who should be beautiful and good, and whose faith was
like that of Abraham.
[Illustration: REBEKAH AT THE WELL. (_Goodall._)]