based on The Book of Genesis, chapter 22
In which Isaac thinks his final hour has
come as his father obeys an obscure but
divine command, and we learn that life
and death depend on the interpretation
of orders from the sky.
One day, they had to set off again.
The voice, the same one, called to Abraham on the evening wind.
Here I am.
Abraham was always there when the voice called.
Take now thy son, thine only Isaac, whom thou lovest
and head for those mountains you see in the distance.
Abraham obeyed.
But did he really hear the voice say that?
Sometimes obeying just makes you more alone.
The sun rose.
Abraham did too.
And saddled his horse.
He chopped the wood for the sacrificial fire.
He took his son Isaac and two other boys.
And started for the mountain that God had mentioned.
Once at its foot, they split up.
Abraham and Isaac would climb the mountain alone.
Abide ye here with the ass, said Abraham to the boys.
We’ll be right back.
En route, Isaac started getting a bit nervous.
It was certainly a very long way.
And where was the sacrificial lamb?
Worry not, his father told him.
Isaac obeyed his father as his father obeyed God.
And he felt more and more alone on the path, as had his father.
At the top of the mountain, time stopped.
All was dark.
Abraham built the fire.
And took Isaac, his cherished son, and tied him up.
And took out his knife.
But wait! Once again, it was the voice.
Here I am.
Abraham raised his eyes and saw the ram.
And consequently saw the light.
He freed his cherished son.
You’re never more alone than when you’re in the dark.
Isaac took his father in his arms. They embraced and then moved apart.
Abraham walked back down the mountain alone to join the others.
It was night. Stars overflowed the infinite sky.
And at that moment, he, too, felt freed. Though he had grown much older
Abraham felt young forever.
