Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-17
international grssoll.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 25.

Memory verses. o-S-UOloeu AeAe'
Heb. xi, documentary Prepared
by Rev. ID. n. stearns.
copyright, 1901. by American Press Association
1. "And it came to pass after these
things that God did tempt Abraham.
In our last lesson we looked just little
at chapter xix concerning the destruction
of Sodom and rescue Of Lot. In chap
ter TX Abraham went to sojourn at Gerar
and fell into the same sin which troubled
him in Egypt and was rebuked by Abime-
lech. His answer in verse IL was testi-
mony against himself, for he should not
willingly have gone where the fear OF
God was not. In chapter xxi we have
the birth Of Isaac and the casting out OF
Ishmael and find Abraham dwelling at
Beersheba and worshiping the Lord un-
der q new name, the everlasting God.
Note in verse 6 Sarah's testimony, "God
hath made me to laugh" and in verses
II and 18 Gods promise to Hagar, with
His "Fear not" which is, l think, the
second in the book. "God did tempt
Abraham" signifies that God tried him
(Heb. xi, ~, for ''the Lord trieth the
righteous" Ps. xi, 81, but He will not try
any one above that he is able u Cor. <,
13), and patience under trial will bring the
crown Of life JAS. 1, II; Rev. IL, 10y.
2, 3. "Offer him for burnt Offering
This from God concerning his only son,
his we'll beloved, for whom he had wait
ed Is years at least. Compare xii, a, and
xxi, Yet see his ready obedience, for
he believed that God would raise him
up even from the dead, from whence also
he received him in figure. Was ever
mortal man so tried, or did ever man
come 30 near to God In his experience!
In Israel all Gods promises to Abraham
centered, and if they were not fulfilled IN
Isaac the word Of God would fail (chap-
ter xxi, 12), thing which could not pos
sibly occur. Mount Moriah, where Abra-
ham was to offer up Isaac, was the same
as that whereon the temple was builded
by Solomon QI Chron. iii, y, for both
tabernacle and temple stood, in figure,
upon atonement, the silver sockets of the
tabernacle being made from the ransom
money Of the people.
4, 8. "On the third day" It Is to be a
resurrection story, and the third day Is
the resurrection day whether of Jonah or
Christ, whether In Gen. or John ii, /,
or Hos. vi, 2. When He said, "Surely l
come quickly" He may have thought Of
the 1000 years Of this present age as
two days and referred to His coming
again on the morning Of the third day:
Abraham's words to his young men, 81
and the lad will go yonder and worship
and come again to you," show his strong
faith that in some way Isaac would be
given back to him.
6, Z. "Where Is the lamb for burnt
offering?" Did sword pierce Abraham's
heart as his only son asked him this ques-
ton? See Isaac bearing the wood and
think Of the Son Of God bearing the cross
on which He was to suffer. See Abra-
ham carrying the fire and the knife and
remember that It Is written, 1T pleased
the Lord to bruise Him." All that Christ
suffered from His enemies must have
been as nothing when compared with His
agony as He cried, "My God, my God.
why hast Thou forsaken Me? (Math.
xvii, 49, No tongue can tell. no words
can describe, what 1t cost the Father to
give Him up to die for our sins or what
He suffered as our substitute.
8. "My son, God will provide Himself a
lamb for burnt offering. So they went
both of them together" Behold the
Lamb of Cod" said John the Baptist as
he pointed Him out. The redeemed as
they fall before the Lamb sing, "Thou art
worthy, for Thou vast slain and hast re-
deemed us to God by Thy bleed" and a
hundred millions Of angels cry, worthy
is the Lamb that was slain" John i, %;
Rev. V, 8, 8. II, 12). He had been fore
ordained before the foundation of tho
world, but was manifest in due time.
8, TO- How the fathers heart must
have been torn as he built the altar and
laid the wood upon It! But what were
his feelings as he bound Isaac and laid
him on the altar upon the wood and took
the knife in his hand to slay his son?
Who can tell but God? For no one had
ever just the same fellowship with God.
How deep the meaning Of the words
"God 50 loved the world that He gave
FIis only begotten Son." or these. THE
Son of God loved me and gave Himself
for me-" or "IIis own self bare our sins
in His own body" Bruised for our in
iquities!"
IL. 12. "Now know that thou fearest
God. seeing thou hast not withheld thy
son. thine only son. from Me-" Thus
spake the angel Of the Lord. the Son Of
God, the Lamb Of God Himself, as He
staid the uplifted arm Of Abraham. He
had tried His servant and had found him
leaning not upon Isaac, the gift Of God,
but upon God Himself. We are apt to
allow the good gifts Of God to come be-
tween Him and us and lean upon them
rather than upon Him, 80 that for our
good He oft removes His gifts.
13. abraham went and took the ram
and offered him up for burnt offering
In the stead Of his son." AS truly was
Christ. The Lamb of God. offered in our
stead. rs our substitute. bearing our sins.
There is no salvation by trying to live as
Ie lived. for we cannot live His life eX-
cept as He shall live it in rs, and He is
not in us until we receive Hi4D as tie One
who died in our stead. The redemp-
ton which God has provided begins in
our experience with the forgiveness Of
sins. and he whose sins are not forgiven
has not Christ in him.
II. "And Abraham called the name of
that place Jehovah -jireh." The margin says
that the name signifies "the Lord will see
or provide" Since He has given for US
His dearest and best, how can we think
for a moment that He will withhold