The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-21
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
FEBRUARY 25.
Subject: ssTrial of Abraham's Faith,
Gen. xiii, t-f3-Goidep
Text: Heb. xi, II
commentary.

]. "And It came to pass after these things
fiat God did tempt Abraham and said unto
him. Abraham. And he said. Behold. here
amr' In due time the promised son was
given and was named Isaac as God had COM
mandad xvii. 19). Abraham was now Nv
ing at Beersheba in the extreme s2uth. and
Isaar had grown TO boyhood when this prov
ing (R. W. or trying came upon him. Con-
slider how God proved Israel (Deut. viii. 2.
16). These are the trials that ara precious
and in which we are by grace to rejoice (Jas.
j.. 2. 12: I Pet J.. y. Abraham's "Behold
mel" (marDin) is the same word used by
Samuel and Isiah II Sam. ill.,. 4 lisa. vi. (s).
2. ssAnd He said. Take now thy son. thine
only son Isaac. whom thou lowest. and get
thee into the land Of Moriah and offer him
there for burnt offering upon one OF the
mountains which I will tell thee Of" II
Abraham's heart conferred in Isaac. then this
would crush him, but il in God, who gave
isaac. then he would see God and still live.
Heb. xi.. 1T-19. tells the story. The ability
OF God is the resting place. Compare Rom.
iv.. 21. On this mountain the Lord after
ward appeared TO David. and there Solomon
built the templa III Chron. ill.,. y.
3. "And Abraham rose up early in the
morning and saddled his ass and took two OF
bis young men with him and Isaac. his son.
and went unto the place OF which God had
told him." Here ia the prompt obedience OF
faith. Trials are Gods vote OF confidence In
rs and are our opportunities for manifestinG
Christ. Abraham's life was from one trial to
another, lesser ones preparing for greater.
and from one separation to another until he
was separated from earth to heaven. there to
rest and wait for the complete ful1llment OF
every promise in Gods good time.
4. 'Then on the third daI Abraham lifted
up his eyes and saw the place afar of. It
was on this same day that he received him
from the dead in figure, and from the third
day of the creation story when the land rose
up out of the waters and became covere1
with grass, herbs and trees-the third day
seems to speak OF resurrection. Think OF
Jonah and tie Lord Jesus. The third day
marriage in Cana (Jobn IL. y, suggesting
another when all cups OF water service shall
be changed to the wine of the kingdom at
the marriage OF the Lamb. See also Hos.
vi. 2.
S. "And Abraham said unto his young men.
Abide ye here with the ass. and and the lad
will 90 Wonder and worship and come again
TO you" See this faith-he and the lad will
come again. That is true worship which
carries with it an obedience that cost some
thing. David said he would not offer unto
the Lord that which cost him nothing ClI
Sam. xiv. 24), but Dsvid's was nothing as
compared with this, and what Is this when
compared with God giving His only begot-
ten.
6. "And Abraham took the wood of the
burnt offering and laid 1t upon Isaac. his
son. and ne took the fire In his hand and q
knife. andthey went, both OF them together"
This father and son were perfectly agreed
(verse and Amos ill.,, 81. Gaze upon this
Al - raol tn ran q ind
you can enter somewhat into their feelings.
Then look forever on that other Son bearing
His cross, whom 1t pleased bis Father to
bruse for our sakes elsa. ILL.,, 10).
7, .tAnd Isaac spake unto Abraham, his
father. and said. My father. And he said,
Here am I, my son. And he said. Behold the
fire and the wood. but where Is the lamb for
a burnt onering?" What sword to the
fathers heart What grace to enable him
to answer as he does In the next verse
Was ever q father brought 80 near to the
heart OF God as this father? -,
s. "And Abraham said, My son, God Will
provide Himself lamb for burnt Offering.
So they went both OF them together" And
He has provided the costliest IN the uni
verse, even His own Son, OF whom John the
Baptist said, ''Behold the Lamb OF God.' y
(Jobn l.. 2s). 1ard whom the beloved John
saw In glory "a Lamb as 1t had been slain
(Rev. ", g.. When God provides, He does
SO abundantly. Are you satisfied with HIS
provision?
9. "And they came to the place which
God had told him Of, and Abraham built an
altar there and laid the wood In order and
bound Isaac, his son. and laid MIN on tns
altar upon the wood" Isaac now under
stands about the lamb, but he murmurs not
he Is a willing sacrifice. Wondrous son OF
n wonderful father But turn to Him whose
name is Wonderful and hear Him, 81 de-
light to do Thy will. o My God" Il lay
down Ny lite that might take It again. No
man taketh It from Me, but lay It down OF
Myself' (Ps. xI., 8; John x. II, 18). .
10. Sand Abraham stretched forth his
hand and took the knife to slay his son.
The promise centered in Isaac (Xvii., 19),
and through him was the nation to come,
and it was Gods part to see it through. It
was Abrsham's part to obey and let God
arrange the difficulties. 1t was for Abraham
to see God and not 1saac-the giver rather
than the gift. Until our Isaac is onthe altar
we cannot know God as fully as we might.
II. sAnd the angel OF the Lord called unto
him out OF heaven and said, Abraham, Abra-
ham. And he said, Here am l." Every
movement had been watched in heaven,
every heart pang and sigh had been noted
there. The limit had been reached; 1t is
enough. Why do we not believe that every
step and act and word and thought is seen
by Him who understandeth even the I'M
aginations OF the thoughts?
12. "And he said, lay not thy hand upon
the lad, neither do thou anything unto him
for now know that thou tearest God. see
ing thou hast not withheld thy son. thine
only son, from me-" The Bible has much to
saw about the fear OF the Lord. Is this, then,
the meaning OF it2 Such unbouaded conf
dence in Him that we fear not to do any
thing He tells u.s. sure that He will keep His
promises though everything may seem
against II. Sush an entire surrender to Him
Of all His gifts to us that we enjoy the Gtver
in the gift and not the gift apart from Him.
13. .tAnd Abraham lifted up bis eyes and
looked and behold, behind him, ram
caught in thicket by his horns. And Ab-a-
ham went and took the ram and offered him
ND ior a burnt offering in the stead OF his
son." Isaac was spared, but God spareth
not His own Son, but delivered Him up Tor
us all (Rom. viii, 32). Just as truly az the
ram died In the stead OF Isaac so Jesus
died in mi stead. He was delivered for my
ofTenses and raised again for my just1hca
tion (Rom. iv., 25). And the gift Of FiEseiI
TO us must include all else. Thereto; my
soul should ever sing Jehovah-jiref. See
margin OF verse II.
DI1oJ 70 Do Tauoht TyDpwr{tiQ0.