God decided to perrform the ulitmate test of Abraham’s Faith. Abraham is asked to take his beloved son Isaac atop Mt. Gerizim, and one there, to offer him as a sacrifice to the Lord.
After many years of profound and steadlast dedication to God, Abraham and Sarah, both well advanced in age, were finally blessed by the miraculous birth of their only son Isaac. Some time later, however, when the child had grown, God decided to perform the ultimate test of Abraham’s faith. Abraham is asked to take his beloved son Isaac atop Mt. Gerizim, and once there, to offer him as a sacrifice to the Lord. With a heavy heart, Abraham embarks upon this dreaded journey and, despite his love for Isaac, is nonetheless obedient to God’s instructions. Just before he can make the supreme sacrifice, however, God sends an angel to intervene, and allows a young ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac. The Lord, pleased by Abraham’s unwavering faith, promises to make him the “father of many nations,” with descendants as numerous as the “stars in the sky and sand on the shore.” This particular icon depicts that very moment where Abraham, with knife in hand and an obedient conviction, is stopped just short of his task. The angel holds a scroll which represents God’s word, saying, “Now 1 know that you tear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
