Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-08-11

which he and his rather had dug? Must
he continue 10 be a wanderer in the land
which God had promised 10 give TO
Abaham and 10 his seed? Was it not
time that he gained and held possession
of the land by force? These were the
questions which rose In his mind
But in the midst OF the bitter thoughts
and the sore temptation. another cur
rent OF thought set in, and instead OF
impatiently turning from it, he sought
90 know Gods will He recalled the
story his father had so often told him OF
Lots choice OF how his father had sub
mitted TO a seeming injustice rather
than quarrel for his rights. and how
God had blessed him. He remembered
his fathers words, repeated over and
over again The Lord hath spoken
good concerning thee and thy seed.
Only be patient, my son. and wait In
faith on Him" And then he recalled
the vision he had had while yet in Ger
ar and how the Lord had spoken unto
him, saying:
Unto thee and unto thy seed. | will
give all these countries, and | will per-
form the oath which sware unto Abra
ham thy father; and will make thy
seed TO multiply as the stars OF heaven,
and will give unto thy seed all these
countries; and In thy seed shall all the
nations OF the earth be blessed; be-
cause that Abraham obeyed My voice.
and kept My charge. My command
ments My statutes and My laws"
The fierce spirit within him smoldered
and died away. In the face OF Gods
promises, In the light of his fathers ex-
ample, he could wait He would not
right his own wrongs. He would wait on
God. And thus did faith again win the
victory, and preserve as a heritage 10
his seed the blessings promised OF God.
Quietly facing his followers. who were
still burning for revenge. he said
Let us restore the well as Abraham,
our father. left It,"
My master" interposed the chief
steward, pardon. | pray thee my bold
ness; but of what use will il be TO redig
the well seeing that the Philistines will
surely come and rob thee Of thy re-
ward?"
We must leave that with God Our
duty is TO restore the well 10 its refresh
ing ministry" Isaac replied with firm
but gentle voice
The chief steward accepted the stu
alton with as good grace as possible,
and soon had the men busy removing
the dirt and rock with which the we'll
was choked And while the work went
7 81. L.,
company OF his people
"Didst thou find water" was the first
anxious inquiry OF Rebekah.
We have found the we'll which my
/ father dug. but II has been filed up and
/ we could get no water But the men are
| busy cleaning out the dirt and rock.
/ and there will be an abundance Of water
when the work is finished
A relieved look came into the woman j
face, and she said. with sigh:
Il wish we might remain here In
peace am weary OF this wandering. %
1T is as God wills "
Nay. rather. il seems as he Philis-
tines will" was the impatient response
Some Of them have this day been spy
! ing out our movements"
An anxious look came into the face
OF Isaac, but his only reply was
God has promised us the land. and
will make a place for us somewhere
where We may live at peace"
Further conversation was inter.
rupted by arrival at the we'll. and the
work OF pitching the tents and prepar.
ing for the night Before dark enough
OF the dirt and rock had been removed
20 obtain a scant supply OF water
and with the promise OF an abundance
as soon as the work was completed in
the morning. the camp settled down
for the night. while the focks and
herds spread out over the valley and
browsed under the watchful eyes of
the herdmen. Thus the night passed
uneventfully and the next day the
work On the well was completed and
flocks and herds and people settled
down contentedly in the spot. hoping
10 be left in peaceful possession.
On the morning OF the third day
Isaac was aroused by angry voices
and the sound OF violent conflict. He
caught the words
The water is ours"
Rushing from the tent he found his
herdmen engaged Nin ferc conflict
with some Philistine herdmen who
had come thither with their 1ocks
and had taken possession OF the well
The struggle was sharp but short the
Philistines being worsted in the fight
and when Isaac came up he found his
men preparing to drive the strangers
and their iocks away.
Nay, my sons. spoke up Isaac
treat not thine enemies so. Draw
water that their locks may drink
None shall come 20 a well OF Abraham
and turn thirsty away
We'll. it's our water" doggedly
muttered the Philistines as they
watched their thirsty fiocks drink
We will not suffer strife over its
possession" spoke up Isaac Take it
and the Lord reward thee according
to thy deserts"