Parasha Va-yeyra: Genesis 18:1-22:24

God appears to Abraham to let him know He will give Sarah and Abraham a son the following year; Abraham laughs for joy, but Sarah laughs sarcastically, causing God to rebuke her. But they name their son Isaac, which means 'he will laugh.' Later, Ha-elohiym, the-gods, tell Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac to them; but the real God, YHVH, sends His messenger to tell Abraham to spare his son, thus ending the long history of sanctioned human sacrifice.