“After these events, God tested Abraham.” (Gen. 22:1)
This great phenomenon, which emerged as the basis for the spiritual elevation of all mankind — the test of the Akeida (Binding of Isaac) — acted to bring to light the holiest flight of the spirit, attached to the Living God with all of its heart, soul and might. All that occurred to that righteous man from the day of his birth — and in general, all that occurred to all of creation — was in preparation towards this wondrous event. It bestows an amazing and illuminating image to all existence, so that everything relates to this marvelous matter. It binds them to itself, and proclaims, “After these events ...".
“God tested Abraham.”
Free will has limits, which are pronounced in the nature of free choice in all occasions. Even manifestations that appear to be chosen by man’s free will, in the depths of their essence contain elements of compulsion hidden from view. But the One Who knows all secrets, before Whom all mysteries are revealed, sought to publicise to the world all of the holy light, all of the eternity and loftiness, hidden in Abraham’s great soul. For this purpose, Abraham was granted absolute freedom of choice, complete independence from mental and physical coercion. His inner being could thus reveal itself in all its brilliant splendor. This is the basis for a test at its highest level. “God tested Abraham".
“He said to him, ‘Abraham!'”
When God calls man by name, this very summons stamps upon him his own individuality. Often the eminent princes of holiness are not aware of themselves as distinctive entities, with a separate existence and private desires, aspirations and goals. But with such an all-embracing disposition, there cannot emerge any clarification of the essence of the self, nor its will and direction. There is only a universal existence, drawn by streams of illumination after the light of the Infinite, the will of Source of life, the Light of all worlds. In order to perfect the trial’s vision in all its power and depth, God called out to him, Abraham! This sacred summons scored his independent essence inside him. All of his personal goals and ambitions were awakened in full force. This preparation served to demonstrate the nature of this giant’s free will. Such was the nature of this lofty test.
“He replied, ‘I am ready.'”
With holy trembling to fulfill the sacred call, the righteous man concentrated his powers to identify with his essential private existence. Submissively he confined himself, at the peak of his holiest aspirations, to his individual self. This self-confinement, achieved with ultimate obedience to the word of God by the God- fearing personality par-excellence, penetrated profoundly. On par with the supreme preparation, it concentrated all of life into the essence of the self. No natural force could so deepen the concentration inwards, to the depths of the soul, and be distinctly aware of all of the sublime emotions hidden in human nature. This is the greatness of the response, “I am ready".
“He said, ‘Please take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac.'” (Gen. 22:2)
As the worthy father prepared himself with complete inward concentration, the powerful love of a father towards his beloved son burned accordingly. The divine prophecy then arrived, to deepen the mighty love in all its fervor. God commanded him that he should “please take” — by his own free choice. Take him, draw him close with the fiery, paternal love, hidden like fire in the heart. This ‘taking’ should spread the profound, passionate love throughout all aspects of the soul.
For he is “your son” — related to you by the strongest soul-connection possible. “Your only son” — bound in the tightest fashion with your concentration of inner spiritual life. “Whom you love” — with a rational love, aware of the rare level of a son distinguished in natural virtues. Isaac — the cherished name, embracing a wealth of elevated life and enlightened joy. Profound and noble love penetrated the depths of every corner in the loving father’s soul.
“And go to the land of Moriah.”
The identification of the location where he should travel with his only son Isaac, after emphasizing his unusual qualities, gave the impression that there, in the chosen land full of light and joy, with latent qualities of soul-vitality and pure illumination, the brilliance of the son’s soul would be revealed with greater grace. Abraham would then fully recognize the wonderful gift, the hidden treasure that the God of spirits had bestowed upon him in his dear son. Then came the staggering blow, the expression immediately following, by force of divine prophecy, in God’s clear command:
“Bring him as an all-burned offering on one of the mountains, as I will tell you.”
Here the holy light of the test achieved its supreme level. After the profound yet honest pride in the beloved son’s rare qualities, came the command, “Bring him as an all-burned offering.” But the spirit needed even greater fortitude, integrity of majestic strength and sacred joy, to be prepared for future prophecy, which would designate the exact place among the many hills of Israel. God would then reveal to him the special mountain. “On one of the mountains, as I will tell you.”
“Abraham rose early in the morning.” (Gen. 22:3)
The calmness in the holy soul of the righteous father, that giant of the spirit, was not disturbed. His sleep was not irregular, despite certain knowledge of the divine command. Among the yearnings of his purified soul, there were no emotions of weakness or depression. The calm and joyful sleep of the upright ended, and awakening arrived at its regular time. He was supported by divine strength, enabling his feet to flee with a deer’s swiftness, to be courageous with a lion’s valor, in order to fulfill God’s Will. “Abraham rose early in the morning.”
“He saddled his donkey”
With great peace of mind towards expediting and safe-guarding the journey, his first act was to saddle the donkey. The righteous man, in his service of God, preceded this activity before other preparations, since with its completion, the essential basis of the command could now be fulfilled.
“He took his two men with him, and Isaac his son.”
Abraham was aware of the importance of this holy mission. His spirits were not low, which could have resulted in accidentally omitting some of the honorable arrangements suitable for an important person. He even took his two assistants, designated to serve him in the ordinary aspects of life, to comfort the soul. He took along Isaac as his son, full of the vibrant passion of his profound love.
“He split the wood for the offering.”
He could have presumed to find wood in one of the forests. Certainly he could have taken uncut blocks of wood, and prepared them for burning when the need would arise. But supreme divine love, beyond human nature, burned in the heart of the pious father. This love inspired him to expedite even the preliminary preparations of the offering, such as the wood, in a zealous yet thought-out fashion. He began to realize that he stood before a sublime and holy vision, above all ordinary human qualities, whose purpose was to demonstrate that the light of God, the Lord of truth in the world, supersedes anything the human heart can naturally comprehend or value. This is the reason for the occurrence of miracles in this world: to proclaim that God, Lord of the universe, is elevated beyond any natural tie, whether spiritual or physical. “By merit of Abraham’s splitting of the wood, his children merited the sea splitting before them” (Midrash).
“He rose and went to the place God told him.”
Towards this astounding event, the antithesis of the normal ways of the human soul, the pious elder did not proceed stooped and weak- kneed. Rather, “he rose” — erect and invigorated. The drive of his journey was entirely characterized by the magnetic pull of complete lofty love. His soul yearned to arrive at that destined location. Any vision of private deed, and what would be done there, was wiped clean from his heart, due to the fullness of love and desire to travel to the place God commanded him. Fulfillment of God’s word, doing His will and command, this is the basis of life, the foundation of man and all creation. All matters private and public, all subjects of nature and reality, are naught in comparison. They have no worth for the greatness of the soul carrying out God’s call, “Go to the land of Moriah.” "And he went to the place God told him.”
“On the third day, Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place from afar.” (Gen. 22:4)
The amazing soul-experiences that the saintly father underwent during three days of travel are hidden and locked away. It is impossible to express or describe these secrets of the holy of holies. However, on the third day the holy light reached its pinnacle of strength. Although the word of God should have come, designating the mountain — “On one of the mountains, as I will tell you” — in its place came a vision. The soul had already elevated to the heights where all perceptions unify, where sound and sight as well as all other spiritual phenomena converge. Speech was on a visual plane. Holy, prophetic vision penetrated the pure soul, clothed with divine light, of the powerful father resplendent in elevated illumination, so that even his physical eyes became vehicles for prophetic glory. Before coming close to the splendid place, full of divine glory, the holy attachment, which bound the elevated soul to the location’s beautiful holiness, already made its claim.
Having already revealed its nature to Abraham, it could no longer be designated by the external physical attribute of a ‘mountain’ — “on one of the mountains". It was now “the place", the special place binding the focus of all that is holy in life and in the universe. On the third day, Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place from afar. He already detected the noble Divine Presence, hidden in misty clouds for its descent to the hearts of mankind, to bestow them with eternal life. “What did he see? A cloud attached to the mountain” (Midrash).
“Abraham told his men, ‘Stay here with the donkey. I and the young man will continue on.'” (22:5)
After the holy appearance of the word of God, in the form of unification of speech and sight, Abraham and his son became elevated beyond all other objects. The physical world became completely irrelevant. His men, who remained in their natural state, were bound by their materialism (chomriut) as before. Abraham told them, “Stay here with the donkey (chamor)". This comparison of their soul to the animalistic soul was not just an expression or figure of speech. It taught the relative value of one bound to his material existence versus one elevated to the point of complete enlightenment of his highest spirit.
For such was the sublime level of Abraham and Isaac’s sanctified souls. “I and the young man will continue” — we will continue to journey, continue to elevate, “until there", until the last step, the final level possible for one created. This border is expressed by the word ‘there', indicating that it is in line with the supreme vision and highest goal, so that even though it contains a measure of restriction and confinement, its underlying impression stems from that which is beyond all borders, the Almighty’s inheritance on high.
“We will prostrate ourselves and return to you.”
Prostration is the soul elevating upwards, expressing the lowliness of the physical, and on occasion the absolutely finite. With this awareness, that we are imprisoned within the finite, “we will return to you", to influence you and those like you. From the source of the light of holiness and divine perfection, from the sanctified act of spiritual self-sacrifice to the living God, we will return to elevate and uplift you.
At the time that Abraham expressed these inspired thoughts, he was incognizant of any difference between the status of his own soul — which for all purposes was to continue life connected to the physical world — and that of his son — who was about to separate from his body in elevation to supreme holiness. All was for the same purpose of establishing the fulfillment of God’s glory and the appearance of sanctity in the world, in all creatures. “We will bow down and return to you.”
“Abraham took the offering wood and placed it on his son Isaac.” (22:6)
After the lofty prophetic vision of seeing the location from afar, the holy souls of father and son elevated in knowledge and awareness in a natural spiritual fashion, drawn by the power of the hidden divinity. They reached the profound tendency to unite that which serves the offering — the dedicated wood — with the offering itself — the soul rising with fiery fervor of divine love, of boundless thirst, to the God of all souls. The active and the passive became united, each according to its importance.
“He took the fire and the slaughtering knife in his hand.”
The offering wood, whose power of sacrifice and combustion is sealed and hidden, relates to Isaac. He carried in the depth of his pure soul the hidden secret of self-sacrifice. The fire and the slaughtering knife, on the other hand, are external tools whose purpose is obvious and revealed. They deserve to be in the hands of Abraham, for whom the great and terrible secret is open and apparent in all of its fearsome holiness, in its supreme divine love.
“And the two of them walked together.”
When the revealed and the esoteric are evenly matched in the entire world, in all physical and spiritual existence, when they fulfill one another, then perforce the supreme secret of the soul elevating in its magnificent thirst to the Living God — Isaac, must join the apparent and understood substance — Abraham. The two of them walked together, in physical and spiritual harmony.
“Isaac said to his father Abraham.” (22:7)
The inner soul began to sense in its depth that it faced a hidden mystery, terrible and frightening, which elsewhere was revealed. Isaac’s great soul needed to remove the bondage of its understanding, through the disclosure of this lofty secret in Abraham’s soul. That is the overall essence of this exclamation of Isaac’s stormy and fervent soul.
“And he said, ‘My father!'”
This expression is full of love; at this great hour, it rose to a very high level. Its essence is replete with a renewal of paternal attachment, supreme and powerful. And precisely at this time the noble and enthusiastic feelings of love in Abraham’s heart became magnified.
“Here I am, my son.”
Abraham’s response came, enlightened by the hidden secret which was revealed in his heart and soul. Its burning power added to the fire of normal love between a father and his beloved son. He exclaimed, “Here I am!” With all of my love, surging forth due to the lofty occasion and general spiritual elevation.
“He asked, ‘Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep- offering?'”
This profound question stemmed from Isaac’s overwhelming desire to fulfill the holy task, to accomplish the word of God — the sacrifice. The son envisioned the fire and the wood working towards the desired goal of elevating the offering. The slaughtering knife on the other hand served only a necessary, preliminary act, but not a basic part of the service. The sanctified soul thirsts primarily for fulfillment of the ultimate goal. “Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep-offering?” When will I come to see God’s presence, to view the beauty of God’s divine service, in all of its greatness?
“Abraham answered: God will see to the sheep-offering, my son.” (22:8)
Here the holy vision was revealed in all its loftiness. ...
(Olat Re’iyah vol. I, pp.)