The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-24
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.
Lesson Wis Trial of Faith
Genesis xii. LA.


Crossing High Bridge the other day. a fellow
traveller told me of the test made of that re-
markable structure when completed. Twenty
platform cars. loaded to the maximum Of their
capacity with steel rails. pushed and drawn
by five locomotives, formed the trial train.
First they crossed the bridge at full-head OF
speed: then backed slowly. Next they dashed
forward, suddenly reversing the engines and
~clapping on the brakes. so as to throw the whole
ponderous weight dead upon the central span.
Every atom felt the strain. but the bridge
stood the fearful test. and thousands OF intensely
interested spectators broke forth in applause
Hundreds of thousands OF travellers have since
crossed that fearful gulf with perfect equanimity
because the bridge was once so thoroughly tested.
and endured the ordeal. Abraham. now
advanced to l25 years. was sojourning on the
southern boundary OF Canaan-at Beersheba. the
we'll that marked the spot where he had entered
into the covenant of reciprocity with Abimelech.
The bondwomsn and her hayward son were
gone. Isaac, his very name signifying the joy
Gus laughter In which his parents INDUCED when
he was born. was now probably twenty-five years
old. and so tractable and compsnionable as COM
pared with banished lshmael. There was peace,
plenty. happiness. in the great sheik's camp.
No wonder he planted a grove that should serve
him as a domestic oratory. where he might duly
Hd Ills Oflc0nN. II graz anu Uif
cious promises of God were now fulfilling.
Like a clap Of thunder in a clear sky
came the inexplicable and remorseless command
Take thy son. and offer him for a burnt Of
fering.'' The bridge of Abraham's faith was TO
be tested by the dead drop upon 1t of an indie
scribable weight. All the numerous other tests
that had already been made were inhnitesimal
as compared with this. The test was not neces-
sary. as far as God was concerned; for He al
ready knoweth all things. 1t was for Abraham's
self, his descendants. and for us. The
second verse records the command. the third
the obedience. There is no mention Of the Geth-
semane between. The battle was fought, vic
tory achieved. deed done. when morning broke
on the camp by THE we'll of the oath" The
preparations were made expeditiously. but with
such care that nothing was forgotten. The jour
ney consumed three days. The exact site of the
sacrifice. whether il was the spot on Mount
Moriah. where the altar of Solomon's temple
afterward stood. or Calvary. where the cross
was erected-cannot be determined. as the data
are insufficient. 1t is comparatively unimpor-
tant. II was in the neighborhood Of the sacred
place where "a greater Father afterward offered
a greater Son. " So Isaac went up the
mount. carrying the wood that was to consume
him, as the greater Son" afterward carried
His cross up the Via Doorosa. Whether Abra-
ham expected an immediate restoration of his
son cannot be decided. Some have thought so,
from his remark TO the young men attendants,
1--WE will worship and 1--WE will come again to
you" . Keener than the knife which
Abraham carried in his hand was the innocen,
query of his unsuspecting son. Where is the
lamb?" May not the fathers answer be tinged
with the hope of a substitute when he replied,
God will provide?' Abraham had built many
affairs before. but never one like this and with
81 -,,ol, ne ,nur rna In hf- L~.-4 l.
innocence. silence. submission of Isaac. made
him a speaking type of the Lamb who. 1000 years
later. was TO be led to the slaughter in this
very vicinity. " . As far as Abraham was
concerned. the Offering was made. the deed done.
In mercy God stayed the literal sacrafce. IL
was the spirit he wanted. not the letter.
The letter killeth, but the spirit maketh alive.
Out Of heaven itself descended upon the pa
triarch the divine blessing as he stood beside
the altar blazing with a victim the Lord himself
had provided. . The bridge OF Abraham
faith had stood the fearful shock. Its thorough
going soundness was demonstrated for all time
by such an ordeal as no human heart has. ever
been subjected to before nor since. PsternaI
instinct and affection. family ambitisn. fond
hopes. and all that. were as small dust when
faith and obedience were put into the other scale.
Abraham could not see how the glowing promises
were TO be fulfilled il Isaac were slain. But.
then, he was not walking by sight. but by faith.
The severest test Of faith also witnessed its sub
FINEST victory.
THE
Environed with great difficulties this lesson
certainly is. II Abraham heard and needed such
a call. why should not men do 50 now7 And
why should they not be exempt from legal pen
atty on their affirmation that what they did was
in obedience TO a divine commando Well. Abra-
ham lived in a different age and dispensation
from ours: the age Of the Theophany. when God
appeared visibly and spoke audibly with men.
There was no chance Of mistake on Abraham's
part. The call 10 sacrifice Isaac came in the
same striking form as the call TO quit Ur OF the
Chaldees and all the numerous communications
between. But we live under an entirely
new dispensation. Abraham had no Bible. lie
depended upon the audible voice OF God. We
turn TO the written Word. II any man should
say he was called Of God 10 slay his son. Il
such a duty upon him in the Bible. Impressions.
dreams. visions. voices-these are no proper
guides in our day. To the law and 10 the testi-
mony. O Israel, Try the spirits with the touch
stone OF the Bible. The Bible Is the sole and
sufficient rule both OF our faith and practice.
. The superlative strength OF Abrahan's
faith would never have been fully revealed TO
himself. 10 angels. or IN men. aad II been sub
Jected TO any less crucial test than this For
Abraham. everything centered in Isaac. In Ian
guage OF Wesleyan hymn, he was his dearest
idol" He had waited some thirty years for
hts h'-th. and bad enjoyed hs swe-t m. ,a,.a-