Abraham’s ultimate call from God was to sacrifice his son Isaac. God had promised to bring him descendants “as numerous as the sands on the seashore” through Isaac.

Isaac is the fulfillment of God’s promise, the long-awaited and almost-despaired-of biological heir and heir of the covenant. Now God asks Abraham to sacrifice him.

In the sacrifice of Isaac, Abraham called G^d’s bluff. His game of chicken paid off. He trusted enough in G^d to take the risk. And his trust became known.

The equally troubling story is in Genesis 22 where G-d orders Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on Mount Moriah. Abraham agrees but then is stopped at the last minute when G-d sends an angel ...