Through his obsessive reading of the story of Abraham and Isaac in Fear and Trembling, Kierkegaard translates the meditative and aestheticized notion of "waiting" in Christianity into the more modern register of anxiety. Paradox, dread and distress is what Kierkegaard wants left in the mix and what real waiting, without promises, produces. Accordingly, the only appropriate reaction to the story of Abraham and Isaac is insomnia.

The journey to Mt. Moriah is four days. By donkey. During which Abraham must reflect on the sacrifice of his son Isaac. Abraham is 99 years old. Having been promised by God that his descendants would be fruitful and bless the earth, he has so far only had one illegitimate child, Ishmael. "What other men get quickly enough and enjoy for a long time," Kierkegaard says, eluded Abraham.