The Sacrifice of Isaac

After many years of waiting, God finally gave Abraham and Sarah a son — Isaac, whose name means laughter, because Sarah laughed with joy when he was born. Isaac was the fulfillment of all of God's promises to Abraham. He was precious beyond words.

Then God gave Abraham the most difficult test of his life. He said, "Take your son Isaac, whom you love, and offer him as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah." Abraham's heart must have ached deeply. Yet he trusted God completely. Early the next morning, he set out with Isaac. When Isaac asked where the lamb for the sacrifice was, Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb, my son."

Just as Abraham raised the knife, the Angel of the Lord called out from heaven: "Stop! Do not harm the boy. Now I know that you fear God." Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in a thicket. He offered the ram instead. The Coptic Church sees this as one of the most beautiful prophecies in the Bible — the ram replacing Isaac points to Jesus, the Lamb of God, who gave His life so that we might live.