Isaac, the Child of Laughter

And then it happened — just as God had said. The Lord visited Sarah, and she had a baby boy, even though Abraham was a hundred years old. They named him Isaac, which means “he laughs.” Sarah said, “God has made me laugh with joy — and everyone who hears about it will laugh with me!” And the child grew. Now Abraham had another son too, named Ishmael, whose mother was Sarah’s servant Hagar. The day came when Hagar and Ishmael had to leave and live in the desert. Their water ran out, and the boy cried — and God heard the boy’s voice, and a messenger of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Do not be afraid, Hagar. God has heard the child. Rise, and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water! They drank, and lived, and God was with the boy as he grew up in the desert and became a great archer.

Years later, God tested Abraham. He said, “Take your son — your dear son Isaac, whom you love — and go to the high land, and offer him there as an offering on a mountain I will show you.” Early the next morning, Abraham rose and went, with Isaac and two servants and wood for the fire. On the third day they saw the mountain far off. Abraham and Isaac climbed it together, Isaac carrying the wood. Isaac asked, “Father, we have the fire and the wood — but where is the lamb for the offering?” And Abraham answered, “God will provide himself a lamb for the offering, my son.” On the mountaintop, Abraham built the altar and laid the wood, and bound Isaac his son and laid him on it. But just as he stretched out his hand, the messenger of the Lord called from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham! Do not lay your hand on the boy. Now I know that you fear God, since you have not held back your dear son from me.”

Abraham looked up — and there, caught by its horns in a thicket, was a ram. So Abraham offered the ram instead, and he called the name of that place “The Lord Provides.” And the messenger of the Lord called from heaven a second time: “Because you have done this, I will surely bless you. I will multiply your seed like the stars of heaven and like the sand on the seashore — and in your seed, all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you listened to my voice.” Then Abraham and Isaac came down the mountain together, and went home.