"Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." Gen 22:2

We have been discussing the faith of Abraham and his response to this command certainly is one of the most dramatic and high points in the Bible.
We forget though, that Abraham walked faithfully with God for a hundred years! Let's not forget that fact - though this was a big trial, the bigger trial was being faithful when nothing seemed to be happening!

So why did the Lord ask him to do it?

I feel that He knew how Abraham would respond, and wanted to put John 3:16 right here in Genesis! " For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life!" John 3:16

It is also noteworthy that our God, save this event, never has asked for a human sacrifice, abhorring it as a pagan practice. The only one he would accept is one where He offered Himself as surety for the lives of those He so loved...

Abrahams obedience led to this event being recorded as a foreshadowing of our Messiah. Now don't you think God has ample reason to call such a person - friend?