The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-05-13


and meditation alone In the starlight
Ere he realized whittier his steps were
bearing him he found himself beside
the altar which he had builded when
he first came to Hebron. Falling prone
upon the ground, he lifted his heart To
God In prayer, for he was singularly
oppressed and troubled In spirit. The
way had seemed all so clear while he
had talked with Sarah. but now he
seemed in greater doubt than ever.
How long he remained bowed to the
ground he knew not, but at last he re-
allied that he was not alone. but that
Jehovah stood by his side, and he
heard Him say:
Fear not. Abraham! am thy shield
and thy exceeding great reward"
what wilt Thou give me. oh Lord,
seeing go childless? Shall not this Eli
ezer OF Damascus become my son and
heir? l beseech Thee that Thou wilt
look with favor upon him." pleaded Abb
raham earnestly, as he unfolded the plan
of his own heart and that OF Sarah.
A deep and long silence followed. one
when the heart Is waiting before Col
and He would have 1t search for and long
to know the Divine will. Then came the
message:
This man shall not be thine heir; but
he that shall come forth out of thine own
bowels shall be thine heir. Come! |
have somewhat to show thee" and lead
ing him forth God brought him to the
mountain top and said Look now to-
ward heaven, and number the stars, II
thou be able to number them"
In obedience TO Gods word, Abraham
lifted his eyes to the vast stretch OF
heavens, and as his gaze swept from
horizon to zenith and from zenith to the
horizon in every direction, each one Of
the countless hosts of heaven seemed to
be flashing forth challenge for him to
number them. Bewildered and abashed
at the impossible task, he bowed his
head, and God said, in measured tones:
all-thy-seed-be..
And Abraham believed God. 1t was
with 1.-THE step and buoyant heart that he
descended the mountain and retraced
his steps to his abode. Eagerly he sought
his wife's side. and, arousing her from
her slumbers related all the wonderful
experiences of the night.
Descendants as the stars of heaven!
Abraham's seed and not Eliezer! How
could IL be-? Sarah doubted not Gods
promise, but she could not understand
how 1t could be brought to pass. All
night long she pondered the thought,
and then fell into fitful slumber, dur
ing which she thought she had fallen
into sore trouble, and saw Hagar. her
Egyptian maid. coming to her help, but
just before she reached her, she awoke.
All during the day her mind was filed
with the story of Abraham, and strange
ly enough her dream kept ever recurring
to her in connection Herewith. Abra-
ham was not near to confide in, for he
had left early in the day for the mountain
with the heifer and the goat and the
ram. the turtle-dove and the young pi-
geon, as the Lord commanded him in re-
Spouse to his request for a sign. And
while Abraham was thus occupied in
that wonderful symbolic service and
vision, Sarah planned how Gods prom
ise was to be realized. In accordance
with the common custom of her country
and people. she would give her bond
slave. her maiden, to Abraham as wife,
that by her the son and heir might be OBJ
tanned.
Thus II came to pass on Abraham's re-
turn late that night that Sarah told him
all that was in her heart.
Ishmael was born, but how little Joy
and comfort it brought to Sarah's heart.
but not the child Of Gods promise. and
how can there be real joy or comfort
apart from the will and purpose of God?
And the years which followed how bar
rem of spiritual blessing. Thirteen years
and no vision from God, no word from
Him.
One day the faithful Eliezer came to
Abraham and said
my master, remembered thou not
that Ishmael is already IL years of age
and naught has been done towards pre-
pairing him as thine heir to take his place
as the head of the house when thou art
gomez"
Sarah overheard the speech. The bit
terness which had come with the birth
of Ishmael had not yet left her heart,
and without knowing why she spoke up
sharply:
+Tshmael shall not be thine heir!"
All effort to induce his wife to explain
her strange speech were unavailing, and
indicating to Eliezer that he would talk
with him later. Abraham withdrew to
his favorite retreat by Gods altar, there
to mediate. And the Lord appeared to
him there, and said:
II am God Almighty; walk before Me,
and be thou perfect. And will make My
covenant between thee and Me, and will
multiply thee exceedingly"
And Abraham fell on his face before
the Lord. All the pent-up feelings of the
years gushed forth, the darkness and
doubt were fed away, and, lifting his
voice OF pleading. he said:
"Oh that Ishmael might live before
Thee!"
NAY, but Sarah thy wife shall bear
thee son; and thou shalt call his name
Isaac: and will establish My covenant
with him for an everlasting covenant