Definition: 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.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Genesis 22:5. It’s a really important passage about God’s plan for Abraham! Here's what it means in simple terms: Basically, God is telling Abraham to take his sons with him on a journey to worship Him. Let’s look at the parts: “And Abraham said unto his young men…” - This tells us who’s involved – Abraham is speaking directly to his sons. “…Abide ye here with the ass…” - This means "stay here with an ass." An ass is a kind of donkey. It's a simple way for God to indicate that these young men should stay put and follow him. “And I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” - This is the core of the message. Abraham is telling his sons to stay with the ass and then go somewhere – a place of worship – and return to him. He's essentially saying, “I want you to spend time with me, and then we’ll come back together.” What does this verse say about God? It shows that God is: Loving: He wants to be with his family and have them experience His presence. Providing: He's giving Abraham a chance to experience something significant – a journey and a time of worship. Planning for the Future: It sets up a larger story where Abraham will become a very important figure in the Bible - a father who will lead his family through trials and tribulations, ultimately leading them into a covenant with God. In short, this verse is about a promise of God’s presence and a plan for a future relationship between Him and his descendants. --- Do you have any other questions about this verse or would you like me to explain something in more detail? For example, are you curious about: The significance of the "ass" as a symbol? What this verse tells us about Abraham’s character?