Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-11-28
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CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
(Origlnai.]
: JEHOVAH.JIREH.

= -.
'.'' JEHOvAH.JIREH: 7r,'.'3 ,.,3
For wise and holy purposes, God command.
ed Abraham to take his son, Isaac, and offer
him up for burnt offering This was, per-
haps, the severest trial to which any man was
ever subjected. Abraham was man of re.
fined feelings, and his affections were centered
upon Isaac. Had it been. otherwise, Abra'
ham would have been destitute of ordinary
paternal affections. Isaac was his only son-
the darling of his heart This son Abraham
was commanded to sacrifice, and, strange to
say, he prepared to obey. His obedience was
rewarded, and BY an Intervention of Divine
Providence, the good man was delivered in
the most trying moment. The altar was built,
the wood arranged upon the altar, Isaac was
bound and laid upon the wood on the altar,
and the knife, which was to slay the victim,
was raised and ready to be plunged into the
lad. At this critical moment, Abraham was
arrested by the angel of the Lord. A. vic.
tim had been provided by a kind and gracious
God, and thelfe of Isaac was spared. Abra.
ham having been mercifully dealt with, called
the place "Jehovahjireh." This word, or
rather these words, either mean "the Lord
will see," or, "the Lord will provide" The
latter, perhaps, is the, true meaning.
1t is manifest that this peculiar dealing Of
God with Abraham, was designed for the
benefit of all believers. In some of its fea.
lures, it stands alone; in others it is not un'
common. No other man was ever asked to
make a sacrifice of his son ; no other man
was ever asked to slay his only child; but
every true child of God has bis faith tested
God tempted, that is, tried, or tested Abra.
ham, and so he tries all his people,
In these severe trials to which true believers
are subjected, God has wise and holy pur-
pose in view. 1t is not that God may discov-
er either the strength or weakness Of the faith
of his people. AS an omnicent God, he
knows this and needs not that any trial be
made. He knows. without any test, how
weak and frail his people are. Neither does
God subject bis people to trials, thereby tempt
ing them to sin. God tempts no man to sin.
The object of these trying ordeals, through
which God calls his people to pass, are two.
fold. One object is to show thewatchful care
which God, as a God of redeeming love, ex.
ercises toward and for the believer. God per-
mits Satan, the great adversary, TO- tempt eve
ry believer in Jesus Christ the Saviour of
sinners. Our Saviour said to Peter: "Simon,
Satan hath desired you that he might sift you
as wheat; but 1 have prayed foryou." Here
we see brought to light the foundation on
which rested Peters faith. It was not in
himself, but in Jesus Christ. The reason
Satan did not gloriously triumph over Peter,
was because Jesus prayed for him. This lie
the reason that all believers are not sifted as
wheat, by him who goes about as roaring
lion seeking whom he may destroy. .n A.r
Peter was man of great impetuosity, much
physical courage, and had no small amount
of confidence in himself. Like the children
of Ephraim, he family turned back in the
day of temp ptation and trial. Jesus interposed
and saved him. He provided for Peters
emergency and saved him from falling prey
to the great arch-enemy of souls Peter, as
we'll as Abraham, could have said, with equal
propriety, "the Lord will provide" =
Another object God has in view by these
trials; is to- show his people that theatime of
his opportunity is the time of his peoples ex-
,remity and that the only way to secure the
blessing of the Most High, is to obey, prompt
ly, all his commands. When darkness en-.
velopes the child of God, he should remember
the dark providences through which the pa
triarch Abraham was called to pass. His
light and comfort on such occasions was the
fact that it had been revealed to him, that
"the Lord will provide" ~.-,
This is the refuge to which the humble be.
lever will always flee. In the provident care
of his Omnipotent and Omnicient Lord, he is
safe. Storms and tempests may be without,
but there is quiet within. Satan may tempt,
the world allure and the lusts of the flesh boil,
but the Lord will triumph. There may be
thorns in the flesh and lions in the way, but
the Lord will provide. His grace will be
sufficient for all who set their trust in him.
A mother may forsake her sucking child, but
the Lord will never forget or forsake his blood
bought people.