Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-06-23
her was useless. and the longing filled


his heart that God In some way would !
reveal His purposes to her.
Thus the days went by. The search |
for pasturage became more difficult, and |
the focks and herds wandered farther |
and farther down the valley. Eliezer |
was quite in despair. and found increas-
Ing difficulty in keeping close supervi- |
sion over the herds. But To his repeated |
appeals, Abraham returned the same |
reply as that given at the first inter-
view.
One day ElieZer's duties took him to
a distant point, and Ishmael, vigor-
GUS youth of 13, pleaded to go with him.
Let the boy 60" was the response
which Abraham gave when appealed 10,
and the eyes of the aged patriarch fol-
lowed the youth as he bounded away,
and the words which God had spoken
came TO him. AS though to strengthen
his faith, he repeated them aloud:
Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear
thee a son; and thou shalt call his name
Isaac; and | will establish My covenant
with him for an everlasting covenant
for his seed after him"
A faint sound Of derisive laughter
came from the interior of the tent. 1t
fretted him, and, longing to get alone
by himself, he said within his heart:
Il will get me up to the altar of the
Lord on the mountain top when the heat
of the day is passed. II may be that
God will speak TO me there as on former
occasions"
Lifting his eyes with the thought
towards the adjacent mountain, his at
tention was attracted by three strangers
coming down the path. Abraham S first
impulse was one of impotence, for he
feared their coming would hinder his
visit to his wonted place OF worship.
He desired solitude at this time. Ii did
not seem to him that he could act the
part OF host. He wanted TO be left alone
TO his meditation.
But here were strangers. They were
weary with the journey. The heat OF the
day was oppressive and they needed
shelter and refreshment. Thus think
ing. Abraham graciousy put aside his
own feelings and desires, and arose to
greet the strangers, who had paused
short distance down the path, as though
waiting for invitation to come in and
rest.
Quickly slipping on his sandals Abra-
ham ran to meet them, and salaamiHg
low before them, he said.
MY lord. if now | have found favor
in thy sight. pass not away, pray thee,
IRON thy servant Let now little water
be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest
; yourselves under the tree And | will
: fetch a morsel of bread and strengthen
ye your hearts
With gracious sweetness and ease the
strangers accepted the proffered hos
pitality, saying:
so do. as thou hast said.
Bidding a servant bring water for the
4 feet OF the guests, Abraham FASTENED
r into the tent TO find Sarah, wondering
= who his guests might be, and yet con-
e scious of feeling of their superiority
( Was il TO show how thoroughly was his
] repentance for his first ungracious and
inhospitable feelings? Or was there an
e indefinable something about his guests
[ which appealed to the best impulses
J. within him? Or was 1t combination
e of both these elements? Whatever II
. was. certain ii is that Abrahams graz
a cious feelings of hospitality overtiowed
$ that day. and. finding Sarah, he eagerly
said
d Make ready quickly three measures
of fine meal, knead II, and make cakes
such as thy skillful hands know 50 vel
Il how TO prepare.
!. And without giving his wife oppor
he =
}. to the herd.
@ Selecting the finest calf his discerning
> eye could pick. he hurried back with 1t
- He was too intent on the matter in hanC
o to note the wondering looks of the herd
q man in charge. or hear his half-mut
d tered protest:
4 The most likely calf in all the herd
II II Eliezer had been here he would no
a have taken it,.
~ soon the repast was ready. and a
Abraham set it before his guests h
q. loneed TO ask them who they were. AM
" from whence they had come. but h
20 burst not
% Where is Sarah. thy wife, was tn
~ question which startled him when tn
n meal was ended.
Who had told these strangers IN
- name OF his wife? What peculiar thin
g, was this that they should ask after
~ mans wife?
-. 10 Sarah. thy wife. shall have
~ som" they continued.
=, As the words fell upon Abraham
- ears his eyes were opened. and he be
q, held. no longer strangers. but the Lor
and His angels. Bowling himself befor
~ them. a deep silence fell.
Wherefore did Sarah laugh. sayini
nj Shall | of a surety bear a child whic
~ am old? Is anything too hard for III
90. Lord >"
20 Abraham started TO his feet. Sara
II. laugh? He had heard no sound.
"a Il laughed not" she whispered in
- terrified voice as Abraham confronte
4, her in the tent, for she was afraid.
-, Aud the same Lord who had searcht