The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-21
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST rs.

subject: Abraham and Isaac, Gen. xxff.>
1-14-Go1den Text, Heb. xi.. 17--Mem.
ory Verses, 6-8-Commentary on the
Days Lesson.
l.. "After these things" The things re-
corded in the previous chapter regarding
Hagar and Ishmael and their banishment.
"Did prove Abraham" (R. W "Not in.
cite to sin (Jas. l: l3), but try, prove,
give occasion for the development of
faith" Cor. 10: I3; Heb. IL: IT; James /:
IL. : It is we'll to- see that God confers
signal honor upon US when He thus tests
our. hearts. Tempting is for the sake OF
purpose of making them better. The trials
of life are to prove what we are, to see if
we are fitted for larger things. "Here I
am" Ready at moments notice for
Gods service. ...
2. Chine only son." His only son by
Sarah, his legal wife. Had Abraham's
whole soul not been stayed simply on the
Lord he never could have yielded unhesi'
tating obedience to such searching COM
mand. Abraham desired earnestly to be
let into the mystery of redemption, and
God let him feel by experience what it
was to lose beloved son. Land of Mo-
GUS district of Jerusalem. This Moriah
was the same site upon which Solomon
built the temple, and Calvary was near by,
"For burnt Offering" Abraham was liv-
ing amidst idolaters who sacrificed their
first born to their idols, and Abraham
himself might not have been sure that he
ought not to offer as costly sacrifices as the
heather did; but God at this time taught
him and his descendants not to offer hu.
man sacrifices, and yet they were to retain
the spirit of sacrifice out of which they
grew"
8. "Rose up early" That there might
be no appearance of delay or reluctance on
his part he made every preparation for the
sacrifice before setting out-the materials,
the knife, the servants to convey them;
and he had the painful secret pent. up in
his bosom during the three days he was
journeying to Moriah. He murmured not,
nor took counsel with flesh and blood.
He waited not to consult with Sarah, nor
listen to the misgivings of his own mind.
The command was clear and the obedience
prompt. -.
4. "The third day." Beer-sheba,, Abra-
hams present home, was town on the
southern border of Palestine, forty.6ve
miles south of Jerusalem, and three days
was the usual time it would take them to
make the journey. In the three days
journey there was time given for reflection;
thus the struggle of faith is not short and
momentary, but prolonged. As this sacri'
fee was typical of that Of Christ, so here
may be reference to the ne thira I'm gay ySs o.
hill Moriah can be seen about three miles
distant by one coming from Beer-sheba.
s. "And worship" Perforrs a solemn
act of devotion which God requires.
"Come again to you" This may have
been an expression of faith that God would
restore his son even if actually. sacrificed.
Heb. IL l7-l9. This reminds 1s of our
Lord in /Gethsemane; going into such an
agony. He would not admit others to go
6. "Laid it upon Isaac" Isaac carried
the wood for the burnt offering, SO Christ
carried the tree whereon He died John
l9: ~; the binding; of Isaac was also
II: 2. "Took thelafe." That is, carrying
in his hand the vessel containing the Goals
7. "Where is the lamb% The tender;
ness Of this scene is only to be surpassed
by those of Gethsemane and Calvary.
Nothing can be conceived more affection
ate and affecting. = 49,, -
8. "Will provide" The patriarch spoke
prophetically, and referred to that Lamb
of God who in the fulness OF time should
take away the sin Of the world, and OF
The giving up by the father Of his only
and well beloved son ". 8; John 3: l6l,
the ready submission Of the son ". 9;
John TO-: l5). thesshearing of the instru'
ment of death by the victim ". g; John
I9: l7), the violent death consented to ".
10: John 49, l6), the deliverance from
death on the third day Tvs. 4. IL; Matt.
20: .l9), can not be mere accidental coin
cidences. :,
the patriarch been sustained by. the full
consciousness of acting in obedience to
| Gods will, the effort must have been too
| Isaac, then probably twenty-five years OF
ACE. displayed equal. faith in submitting,
| this GREAT trial could not have been gone
10. "Stretched forth his hand The
| deed is virtually done when the will shows
| firm determination. God who looketh upon
| the heart regardeth the sacrifice as already
made. He will take the will for the deed,
but never the deed for the will.
II. ''The angel of the Lord" The very
person who was represented by this OF.
fering; the Lord Jesus, who calls HImself
Jehovah ". l6), and on His own authority
was ever the great Mediator between God
aad man. "Called unto him." When we
cannot see on any side. way, OF. escape,
then God comes and often shows us .
wonderful deliverance:
I2. "Lay not thine hand" The sacrifice
was virtually offered, the intention, the
purpose to do it, was shown in all sincerity
and fulness. ri know" The. best ey,-
dence of our fearing God is our being will
inc to honor Him with that which ID dear
est to us, and to part with all for Him.
STbat thou fearest Cod" This was faith
in action. Paul says that Abraham was
accepted by faith, and James says ne was
accepted by works Of obedience, but these
are only two sides of the same thing, tor
not A single act of faith can be named but
what has in it the nature Of OBEDIENCE.
i3, "Behold-a ram" Though Christ
was m typi6ed by Isaac, yet the offering OF
him was suspended, and in the meantime
the sacrifice Of beasts was accepted as
nIedGe of that expiation for sin which
sbouId Id be made in "the fulness of time"
the areat principle of the Mosaic economy
was the acceptance OF animal sacrlnces III
stead of human: >, mi :. nr,.
ID. "Jehovah-jireh." That is, The
Lord will see, or provide" 1T shall be
seen" The meaning is that this was the
SPOT of Gods choice for the manifestation
Of His visible presence, where the sane
tuary should be erected and sacrifices OF,
fered. After the ram had been offered
the angel of the Lord again called TO
Abraham and renewed the covenant that
God had made with him. Abraham then
returned tn Repr.sheha