Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-09
Christian Endeavor Hour
Conducted by Grace Livingston Hill-Lutz.
For Sunday, March TO- 1907.
Topic: lessons From the Patriarchs-H. Abra
ham" Hebrews II $40.

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From the Twentieth Century New Testament.
1t was faith that enabled Abraham to
obey the call that he received and to set
out for the place which he was afterward
to obtain as his own, and he did so with
out knowing at the time where he was
going. 1t was faith that made him go to
the promised land a stranger to a strange
country and live there in tents with Isaac
and Jacob, who shared the promise with
him. He was looking for the city with
the sure foundations. whose architect and
builder is God. Again, it was faith that
enabled Sarah to conceive Though she
was past the age for child bearing), because
she felt sure that he who had given her the
promise might be trusted. And so from one
man-and that when his powers were dead
there sprang a people as numerous as the
stars in the heavens or the countless grains
of sand upon the shore.
All those whom 1 have mentioned died
without losing faith. They did not obtain
the promised blessings, but they saw them
from distance and welcomed the sight
ana t h,iy acknowledged themselves to be
only aliens and strangers on the earth
Inose who speak thus show plainly that
they are seeking their fatherland II thew
mad been thinking of the land which thew
had left they could have found onnor,
tunities to return. But no, they were
longing for better, a heavenly. landi
And therefore God was not ashamed 10 he
| called their God; indeed, he had a,readv
prepared them a city.
II was faith that enabled Abraham whom
put to the test to offer Isaac as a sacri-
hce-he who had received the promises Of
| ierlng up his only son. of whom n had
| Deen said, 1t Is through Isaac that there
shall be descendants to bear thy name >:
For For he argued that God was able even to
| nguratvely speaking. Abraham did receive
| Isaac back from the dead.
| The Lesson.
Grand old Abraham stands out in history
monument to faith. His gentle, kindly,
| forgiving, loving character makes u; honor
\ and admire him. and at his marvellous faith
i we wonder. Yet we take comfort from the
| fact that his faith sometimes wayered.
| even as ours, and that yet, in spite of his
| weakness on more than one occasion. God
| honored him and blessed him. We learn
| from this that faith, even as a grain of
mustard seed. is great In Gods sight and
! dear to His heart. When Abraham was
! walking in the way God had commanded
| leaving his home and going to far coun-
ttry, then his faith was great. When he
! got among worldly people and began to
/ think about himself and fear and do wrong
for he knew he was doing wrong In CALI
\ ing Sarah his sister instead OF his wife, and
| he knew he was wrong in trying to plan
matters for God to keep His promise in
/ stead of waiting Gods good time and way
| then his precious faith and assurance left
him. The more he doubted the more he
| was uncertain of God. And In those days
we do not hear of his building so many
affairs to God. But afterward, when God s
loving kindness sent angel messengers once
more, to assure him of the promise and to