Page 70 - The Gate and the Way

above we hear Abraham’s first utterance in this experience.

Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will
go over there; and we will worship and return to you."

There are no details of God’s word that are without significance. Yahweh does not
waste words. Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey.” The donkey is
a symbol of the stubborn and rebellious soul of man. Abraham at this point was freed of the
donkey. It had been firmly resolved in his heart that he would carry through with that which
Yahweh required of him. This resolution was spoken forth, “I and the lad will go over there;
and we will worship and return to you.” The matter was settled. The cross had been
embraced. Now there was a perfect yielding to the will of the Father.
Abraham trusted Yahweh who years earlier had promised to bless Isaac. Abraham
fully anticipated having to slay his son, but he believed also that Yahweh would have to raise
Isaac up from the dead, for Yahweh’s promises could not fail.

Hebrews 11:17-19
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the
promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed
shall be called," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead,
from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Consider for a moment the attitude and actions of Abraham at this time. I do not
believe that Abraham was marching along rejoicing aloud about the goodness of God. He
was not singing loud praises to the God of heaven. The church associates worship with such
things today, yet the first pure act of worship to Yahweh mentioned in Scriptures was not
attended with these things. I believe Abraham was walking along quietly, speaking very
little, as his soul was full of the contemplation of what he must do. The following verse gives
a clue to Abraham’s silent introspection.

Genesis 22:7-8
Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am,
my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the
burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt
offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.

In these words we read of Isaac and Abraham walking silently together. A question is
burning in Isaac’s heart. Isaac begins by getting his father’s attention. He says, “My father!”
Abraham responds “Here I am my son.” Abraham likely seemed far away, lost in his
thoughts. He was full of the pain that arose at the thought of slaying his beloved son whom
he loved so much. As Isaac speaks Abraham responds tenderly, assuring him that he is
present with him in both body and thought.
Examining this experience reveals that worship does not necessarily involve the
tongue of man. Worship is not simply something we speak forth. True worship is much
more profound. It involves the very depths of a man’s soul. Worship is revealed in both faith
and obedience.