The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-03-08

peacemakerS, Tor tney Sndli pe NahcN 80
children of God"-Matt SO.
TIME.-According to time given in
Bible margins Isaac was born about
1896 d. c. and died l7l6 b. c. at the age
Of 1870 years.
PIACE.-Born in Beersheba, he spent
most of his life in the south, including
such places as Hebron, Beersheba,
Gerar. Decentralization.
sCRIPTURAL REFE RI n c II s.
Prophesies and promises concerning
Isaac: Gen. 17:16-H; S:lO-h; AIE; ~.
"a: Eek. s2I3: / Chron. 1916; Rom s1'
Gal 4:2S.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
A Lonq, Simple Life Of Peace
VS.. 1926. Isaac lived with his father
in the great encampment OF Inc
Oaks" near Hebron, till Abrahams
death, B. C. 1921. He Inherited his
fathers property and position. ana
continued the same kind OF life as
farmer chieftain.
Moving towards the we'll OF Lahai-
roi. THE well OF the Living One that
Seeth Me-" George Adam Smith ana
Henderson in Hastings Bible Dctlo"-
ary place it about so miles south (and
a little southwest) of Beersheba, on
one of the caravan routes to Egypt.
|
Hagar found a resting place and
fountain OF water after her hopeless
wanderings in the desert.
Alexander Whyte thinks that Isaac
was attracted to this place. and pitch
ed his tent toward Beerlahai-roi, BE-
cause he had heard from his nurse
Hagar's lips her wonderful story or
this place. Isaac could never walk
round that we'll, or sit down beside IL,
or drink out Of it, but his tears would
} come fast for poor, ill-used Hagar ana
moor. outcast Ishmael. till he wished
again that he had never been born
! rather than that they should both De
outcast from their proper home on
his account" and here God visited
Isaac also."
"a. The Lord Appeared Unto Him.
In what way we know not, but prob
ably as in other appearances to ms
people "The God of Abraham" God
is not the God of the dead, but OF the
living" Therefore he is assured
that Abraham is not lost by death,
nor Gods covenant with him lost'
Fear not" AS a man of peace, un'
willing to strive or fight, he may nave
feared that his enemies would take
advantage of his good disposition, and
iniure him. God forbids him to nave
no fear so long as he is serving God
and doing right. He is assured against
any doubts or fears he may have mad,
or any feeling of unworthiness from
his having so different a career from
his father. that the covenant with
Abraham. with all its blessings, is
continued to him, the son and heir.
The Man of Peace.-The only way
to overcome evil is with good. Pull
ing ND weeds never, alone, makes
good garden. 1t is true that so long
as there is evil in the world there will
be conflict and commotion.
al Peacemaking does not mean tha'
we are not to oppose that which Is
wrong or disturb the quiet of corrup
tn ton and crime. Nothing is settled
Nv till it is settled right. There can be
at no peace to the wicked. Our mrs
nd duty. therefore. is. at any cost OF dis
turbance, to get things where peace Il
VS. possible.
nd Character Study Of Isaac.-Ther'
Dy are two kinds of men useful as exam
&c pies:
nt' First. There are those who do he
&c roic things. great, grand and visibl!
Glorious. who are ideals set before us
Tat mostly far, far beyond our hope OF at
ne tanning but yet visible illustration
zoe of spiritual greatness and heroisn
nu without which every life and tn
l.. I'D
Second. There are those who liv
on our common, everyday life with sue
OF nobleness, such sweet and holy spirit
a' doing everything from the highest me
IT'S tives. living" as Starr King ono
'lS said. "all the beatitudes daily" tina
WI they are a perpetual inspiration
us every day OF our lives. They touc
our character, not in special enc
ue genciss. but in every act OF every da!
pc Jesus Christ embodies both qualities
~. His coming TO save, his death on tn
"a cross, and. in sense. all Detwee
we're the utmost heights OF heroisi
- and self-sacrifce. But his daily III
''N was. IN many ways. like that of the o
binary man brought up to the perfe'
"a! ideal And this kind of life, touchin
GU our daily needs and cares and dutie
Jul was essential TO our best welfare.
ny, Now, Isaac was an example of dali
a.. living. such as belongs to us, nile
'.s with the spirit which should pervad
inspire. and elevate our daily live
His life was uneventful, almost m
49, notonous. He has been called I'll
Wordsworth OF the Old Testament
AZ We find in him those refined. sens
nc tive, pleasant. passive virtues whi'
Tow make tender and helpful the home r
om. lations. and which are the grace of a
for social intercourse"
Practical Points.
by We are apt TO underestimate u
do value Of commonplace, uneventf
Just lives. On the contrary we shou