Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-02-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THOUGHTS WORTHY or CALM
REFLECTION.
A Pleasant, Interesting, and Instructive
Lesson. and Where 1t May he Found
A Learned and Concise Review OF the
Same.
Trial Of Abraham's Faith.

De lOunu III Ocu. -. 40.
INTRODUCTORY.
The trial of Abraham's faith. Study
IL with reverence Peter says in his
first epistle 1-7) that the trial of ones
faith is in itself precious thing. That
is 10 say, the trial is, in Gods mind,
highly esteemed; he sets much store
by it. Let us not, then. despise these
chastenings of the Lord. They are
sent for good, and they bring out the
pure gold of character. For Cribu'a-
tion worketh (outl patience, and pa
thence experience, and experience
hope" All the life of the race was in
volved in that ascent of Mt. Moriah.
All the hope of humanity went climb
ing up that dole ul hill. Doleful in
the ascent, joyful in the descent, for
now it is hope that "maketh not
ashamed" Better than the ram caught
in thicket by his horns" i the Holy
Spirit held in the heart by faith.
POINTS IN THE LESSON.
1T came to pass after these things"
"These things" needed mending. A
long while after, twenty years at least,
but none the less 1T came to pass. God
does not forget.
God did tempt Abraham. James says
of God, neither tempted he any man."
This was test rather than a tempta-
ton. 1t is such thing as the Krupp
guns receive before they go out of the
great shops. Over in Daniel, !: II,
the same word is rendered prove.
Would it not he better here?
Behold, here am" The Revision
omits this word behold and says sim
ply Here am l." The one word of the
original might be rendered into Eng
lish by the ejaculation, Behold" or,
better. the familiar response, Here"
1t signified filial readiness and ac-
quiescence.
Isaac, whom thou lowest" The or
der of the Hebrew Is significance.
Thine only son whom thou lowest,
even Isaac" Isaac means laughter.
He is ked to dest oy the JOY and
pride of his heart. Had he gotten to
c9ming between Abraham and God?
Was Abraham loving the gift more
than the Giver?
The dearest idol have known,
Whate'er that idol be.
Help me to tear it from thy throne
And worship only tree
abraham rcse up early in the morn
ing" 1t was like him; he was always
beforehand with obedience. Hence
his distinction as the friend of Gcd.
1t is the best way with matters OF
duty. Do not make it chance after
noon talk. Rise with the lark; do fiGst
things first. I'm the morning will di-
rect my prayer more accurately my
life-everything) unto thee.
Il and the lad will go yonder and
worship" 1t was done in simple God.
fearing. Worship Abraham called it,
and for his faith worship it was. "My
God will provide himself lamb for
the burnt-offering." Abraham did not
doubt God. All that God commanded,
even though it might seem to resem.
BILE pagan turbulence, was wOrshipful
and right. $50 they went both of them
together" yea, all three of them, for
the Spirit of God was there. He al.
ways accompanies faith.
And the Holy Spirit ever leads to-
ward manifestation of Christ. Jesus
says. Your father Abraham reiciced
to see my day: and he saw it and was
that mount, veritable mount of cru.
cifixion to old Abraham, he beholds
the ram provided as a sacrifice by the
Lord God. substitute for all other
offerings. He beholds in anticipation
Christ. Where shall the sinner find
Savior? Shall it be else than by
climbing Mount Moriah of self-abase.
ment? Go all the way, the whole way
and you will find the Lamb for the
burnt-offering.
HINTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
Who was offered up on Mt. Nloriah:
Abraham. That man of God went up
to offer Isaac; he offered himself in
stead Who was it that was slain? Not
Isaac, but Abraham. There willful
Abraham died, there faithful Abraham
was made alive. Thenceforth he was
dead, and his life was hid with Christ
in God. Is not this what it means
when it says, Present your bodies
living sacrifice the gift of life holy,
acceptable unto God, your reasonable
service?" Have you been up Moriah:
Have you offered up the best you have,
and so given yourself? Only thus are
we fitted for the highest and hottest
vocations under God.
HE saw the place afar off, F" the place
of sacrifice. 1t is as near as some of us
get to self-surrender and to blessing.
In these revival times great many are
sighting it fro m the locality of convic-
ton, and at sight of it they turn back.
"A good many in the ordinary congre-
cations catch glimpse of it from the
back seats. They get no farther, alasl
Felix trembled-that was all.
The word tempt" meant, first of all.
to weigh, hence to test, to prove. 1t
is the word David used of Saul's armor
Il have not proved them" Scales that
are to be standard scales for the
worlds testing must be very severely
proven, even to the hairs weight, ere
they are sent out. Such was Abraham.
A measuring rod and a weighing in
strument for the world, let him ccme
forth tried as by fire.
Thine only son Isaac, or more liter
ally, thine only Isaac, or more literally
still, thine only one. Isaac" Take
the only one, the loved one, and offer
him up. Does it not recall the child
version OF the Scripture: God so loved
the world that he gave-the only Son
he ever had?"
1t was faith that conquered here. II
is faith always. This Ia the victory
that overcometh the world, even your
faith. Once more Abraham believes
God, and 1t Is counted unto him 70,
Righteousness. BY faith he actually
offered up Isaac, as the New Testament
later affirms Heb. IL: III. Gcd accepts
the Offering; for it has given him Abra.
ham. Henceforth this father of the
faithful can say with stout heart:
Ill that he blesses is our good,
And unblessed good IL i'll;
And all Is right that seems most wrong,
IL IL be his sweet will
Dead to self--alive to God; this is
n