The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-24
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR TOMORROW
DY ,. '. GIL BERT, IL. D.,

ever tender his love. his loyalty to God was stronger. With wonderful composure he replied that God would provide q lamb. Some have thought meant 1t as a alf-truth, that his son should be Gods lamb. Possibly his faith struggled .thrCplgh the details to see what did transpire.
 Sacrificing (verses g and 10)-Arriv- ed at the appointed place Abraham proceeded as he had done on other oc- casions to make his sacrifice. First he constructed an altar, the pattern of which. handed down from earlier gem erations. was afterward prescribed in the law of Moses. (Ex. xx, 24-25) Then he laid the wood in order. and bound Isaac and laid him thereon. It has been thought with good reason that the son was at that time made acquainted with Gods instructions to his father. and that he consented to give up his son, even as Jesus became a voluntary victim in the hands of the Jewisht authorities. John X, 1s) That supposition. however. Is not need- ed to render the passabe more credible or intelligible. In those days a dutiful son would not resist his father even to save his life. Arrangements being thus complete Abraham grasped the knife. assuming the usual Attitude, and to all intents and purposes he did offer up Isaac to God. (Heb. Ri. 27.)
 Calling-(Verse Il and 12.)-Shall the uplifted knife be thrust by a fathers hand Into the prostrate form of the be- loved Isaac? Shall the bleeding body be burned with the wood, as an accept able offering to Jehovah? The answer to these questions involves the religious history of the race for all time. A .nFf he alfIa- tho edy. Nothing less would have prevent ed the man of faith from the execution of his purpose. The command to spare was as plain and emphatic as the com mand to sacrifice, and the one must be oheyed as promptly as the other, q Sam, xv, 22.) Abraham stayed his hand. But why this change of direc- tion. The reason was assigned. The test was complete and satisfactory. That had beer learned which 1t was desired should be known and demon- strated. that the patriarch's spirit of obedience would not fail even though there was involved the dearest of all things he possessed. The test was val uable to Abraham, to Isaac, to their posterity, to all people of all lands in all coming generations.
 Substituting.-(Verses 13 and 14.)- We may believe that the cords were quickly unloosed, that Isaac was re- leased from his immolation. and that father and son were clasped in each others arms in ardent affection. Near by a better offering was seen. ram caught by the horns in thicket wait
 ing for the holy service, as if provi- dentially sent. This beast was made to take Isaac's place on the altar. and the burnt Offering thus provided was In not of lf.dn q tnn nr conservation 1t was. in which both Abraham and Isaac might unite with unusual interest and satisfaction. Both could give themselves to God as never before. this substitution making an obedient life possible and delightful. According to an Oriental custom by which important places became sacred (Ex.. i'll, 5. Abraham gave a name to the place where these things occurred, most appropriate name borne for cen turies. expressive of Gods knowledge and care.
 Reflections. backward over nearly forty centuries to this scene on the mount in the land of Moriah, one cannot fail to see what a marvellous man he was who could endure such a test, how worthy to be the father of new race. Various attempts have been made to explain his conduct. to analyze his secret thoughts and mo- tives. It has been suggested that he expected all the way along that the first command would be set aside by some new message. It has also been said that his remark to Isaac covered the events as they at last came to pass. that he believed there would be lamb substituted for his son. 9th CTS hold, what is more plausible than either of the foregoing, that Abraham expected God would restore Isaac to life if he were slain. The Scripture appears to favor such view (Heb.. xii, lS.), Whatever explanation is given we must see that the patriarch was supported by strong faith, and that he felt an obligation to obey God. He became by his event the father of the faithful, a brilliant embodim of manly submission to the Divine will.