Page 261 - BERESHIT

their respective levels of Divine service. Yishmael would have not agreed
to an act that seemed so irrational. It was too inconsistent with his
superficial approach towards Avodat Hashem.

Avraham asked Eliezer and Yishmael if they saw the cloud hovering over
the mountain in order to see if they were on a higher level of doing
mitzvot. Although they may have been tzaddikim, they lacked the ability
to see the Divine will “from afar.” This indicated to Avraham that they
should stay behind, and he and Yitzchak should go on alone. They would
be unable to go eagerly and willingly do what they would view as beyond
human understanding.

By seeing His will from afar and accepting it ever so willingly, we glorify
Hashem with the very expression of our being.