Genesis 22 is the account of God testing Abraham by commanding him to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice on a mountain in the land of Moriah. This is the same Isaac who was miraculously born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age — and through whom God had promised to establish His covenant.
Abraham obeyed without question, taking Isaac on a three-day journey to the designated place. He had his servants wait while he and Isaac proceeded alone up the mountain. Isaac, carrying the wood for the sacrifice, asked his father where the lamb for the offering was, to which Abraham cryptically responded, "God will provide himself a lamb."
At the place God had told him, Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood, bound Isaac, and placed him on the altar. Just as Abraham took the knife to kill his son, an angel of the LORD called out, stopping him. The angel declared that Abraham had now demonstrated his fear of God by his willingness to offer his only son as a sacrifice.
Abraham saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns, which he sacrificed instead of Isaac. He named the place "Jehovahjireh" ("Jehovah will see to it").
Following this test of faith, God reaffirmed His covenant with Abraham, promising to multiply his descendants as numerous as the stars and that, through his offspring, all nations on earth would be blessed because of his obedience.
Genesis 22 concludes with a brief genealogy mentioning Abraham's brother Nahor and his children, including Rebekah.
