Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Abraham’s words, "I and the boy will go... and come again to you," reveal a remarkable act of faith. He wasn't deceiving his servants; rather, he held a profound certainty that God would fulfill His promises, even if it meant Isaac would be miraculously restored from death.
Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After traveling for three days, Abraham spots the mountain where God told him to sacrifice Isaac. He instructs his servants to stay behind with the donkey, while he and the boy go on alone to worship. Abraham believes, even as he prepares for the unthinkable, that he and Isaac will return.
Abraham tells his servants he and Isaac will 'come again.' How could he say this when he was about to offer his son?
Abraham's words, 'I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you,' reveal a profound depth of faith.
A Prophet's Hope
This statement wasn't just a casual remark. It reflected a deep-seated belief that God would keep His promises, even if it meant Isaac would be resurrected. The New Testament passage in Hebrews 11:19 explicitly states Abraham considered that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead. This shows Abraham wasn't relying on his own understanding but on God's power to fulfill His covenant, even through seemingly impossible means.
Strategic Secrecy
Abraham also strategically separated himself from his servants. He knew that if they witnessed him binding his son, they might intervene. By leaving them with the donkey, he ensured the integrity of the divine command and his own obedience, preventing any human interference in this critical moment of testing.
As Abraham and Isaac journeyed, Isaac noticed something crucial was missing. What was it, and how did Abraham respond?
The exchange between Abraham and Isaac on their journey highlights Abraham's unwavering trust in God's provision.
The Missing Piece
Isaac's question, 'Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?' was simple yet profound. It brought the reality of the situation to the forefront – they had the means for sacrifice, but no animal.
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Faith's Confident Answer
Abraham's reply, 'God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering,' is a powerful declaration of faith. He wasn't just guessing; he was speaking from a deep conviction that God, who had given him Isaac against all odds, would also provide the necessary sacrifice. This foresight pointed towards the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who would be provided by God Himself.
Understand the original words
shachah · Hebrew Verb
Acts of humble submission, reverence, and honor directed toward God, acknowledging His worthiness and majesty through physical or spiritual action.
Abraham's words to his young men reveal a profound act of faith. He speaks of returning with Isaac, not out of deception, but from a deep conviction, grounded in God's prior promises and miraculous interventions, that Isaac would somehow be restored, possibly through resurrection.
~2000 BC
Abraham's Covenant Established
God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising him numerous descendants and land. This promise is repeatedly reaffirmed throughout Abraham's life, particularly through his son Isaac.
~1990 BC
Birth of Isaac
Isaac, the miraculous son of Abraham and Sarah, is born. He is the unique heir through whom God's promises are to be fulfilled.
c. 1965 BC
God Commands Sacrifice of Isaac
God commands Abraham to take his beloved son Isaac to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain.
c. 1965 BC— this verse
Abraham and Isaac Travel to Moriah
Abraham obeys God's command, setting out with Isaac and two servants. After three days of travel, Abraham sees the designated mountain from afar.
c. 1965 BC
God Provides a Ram
Just as Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac, an angel of the Lord intervenes, providing a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute sacrifice.
c. 1965 BC
God Renews Covenant Promises
God reaffirms His covenant promises to Abraham, blessing him abundantly because of his obedience and faith in not withholding his son.
This passage directly explains Abraham's mindset, stating he 'accounted that God was able to raise him up even from the dead,' which fueled his declaration that he and Isaac would 'come again.'
James 1:13While James says God does not tempt with evil, this passage highlights that God *does* test and try believers, as He did Abraham, to reveal the genuineness of their faith.
Genesis 21:12This verse emphasizes the promise of God that Isaac would be Abraham's heir, providing the theological tension and the basis for Abraham's faith that God would uphold His word, even in this extreme test.
Romans 4:20-21This passage speaks about Abraham's faith in God's promises, noting he 'did not consider his own body, dead... nor the deadness of Sarah's womb,' reflecting the same radical trust shown in Genesis 22:5.
John 1:29Abraham's statement 'God will provide himself a lamb' is seen as a prophetic glimpse of Jesus, the ultimate 'Lamb of God' who would be sacrificed for the sins of the world, fulfilling the need for a sacrifice in a way Abraham could only foreshadow.
gillGenesis 22:5: "And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you."
And Abraham said unto the young men, abide you here with the ass,.... At the place from whence he had his first sight of Mount Moriah: he chose not to take his two servants with him, lest when they saw him binding his son, and going about to sacrifice him, they should lay hold upon him, and restrain him from doing it; and to prevent this he takes…
ellicottGenesis 22:5: "And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you."
(5) I and the lad will . . . come again to you. —In these words Abraham gives utterance to the hope ascribed to him in Hebrews 11:19 . The belief in the resurrection of the body was no new thing with Abraham, as it was part of the creed both of Chaldea and Egypt (Tomkins, Studies, p. 127). God will provide himself a lamb.—Heb., the lamb. We learn…
Abraham’s words, "I and the boy will go... and come again to you," reveal a remarkable act of faith. He wasn't deceiving his servants; rather, he held a profound certainty that God would fulfill His promises, even if it meant Isaac would be miraculously restored from death.
After traveling for three days, Abraham spots the mountain where God told him to sacrifice Isaac. He instructs his servants to stay behind with the donkey, while he and the boy go on alone to worship. Abraham believes, even as he prepares for the unthinkable, that he and Isaac will return.
After traveling for three days, Abraham spots the mountain where God told him to sacrifice Isaac. He instructs his servants to stay behind with the donkey, while he and the boy go on alone to worship. Abraham believes, even as he prepares for the unthinkable, that he and Isaac will return.
"Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”" — Abraham’s words, "I and the boy will go... and come again to you," reveal a remarkable act of faith. He wasn't deceiving his servants; rather, he held a profound certainty that God would fulfill His…
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Last reviewed October 2026