The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-06-02
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON
MENTs FOR JUNE 1S!

Subject: Heroes of Fais, Hebls
11:1-40-Commit Verses "a
Golden Text, Hebrews II
Commentary on Days Lessor
TIN! 4nT.-uneertatn< PnAcEA
EXPOSITION.-L. What is Fl
1-S. Faith looks at the Wore
God, sees whay He promises
rests assured that it will all com
pass just as He says. It puts
the test by acting as If 1t wer|
1t asks no questions, but bel
what God says will come to pass
obeys what God commands. I'd
lteve Coo is to rely upon or haY(
hesitating assurance Of the tru
Gods testimony even though 1T
supported by other evidence, al
rely upon and have unfalteripN
surance Of the fulfllmenti
promises even though eVeryth
seems against such fulfllment (ct
John $40, r. "; John 1924,
w.; Acts 27:22-25; Rom. ALB, 1919
Heb. 1913. 1t was In faith TIL
the elders" the heroes Of the pas
obtained a good report. BelieviI
God they went ahead and did as Il
said. Faith in the certainty Of God.
Word lay at the foundation Of ain
their achievements. It Is by faith
that we understand how the worlds,
were made; l.. E., by the mere word
Of God.
II. -Four Heroes of Faith, 1872.
Abraham stands out as the first and
pre-eminent hero of faith in the Old
Testament (Gal. 3:7-9). It was by
simple faith in God and His word
that he left his country and kindred
and went out, not knowing wither he
went ". 6; CT. Gen. 1914. By
simple faith in God and His Word he
saw his seed as the stars 1.-THE heayene
and sand on the seashore innumer-
able (Gen. 1875; Heb. 1912, and
1T was counted to him for righteous
ness" (Gen. 1850. BY simple faith
In the certainty of Gods Word, when
ne was commanded to offer up Isaac
for a burnt offering he did 80.
Whether he was to actually slay him
he did not know (Gen. 22:7, 81, but
he stood ready to do even. that Gen.
22:10), accounting that God was.'
able, If necessary, to raise him up
even from the dead. Abraham,s
faith stopped at no sacrifice. True
faith never does. 1t was only when
his faith was tried that his faith
shone forth q Pet. I'D. It was
through the trying of his faith that
Abraham's name came down for adj
mtration throughout the ages. The.
sacrifice that God called upon Abra-.
ham to make, God Himself made
(Gen. 22:2, 16; CT. John 3:16). So.
Abraham became a type of the Faith
eT and Isaac a type Of Christ. There
had never been q case of resurrec-
ton before Abraham's time, yet
Abraham accounted that God was
able to do 1t, though he had never.
heard OF such a thing. Isaac's return
home with his father was like a res
direction from the dead. Abraham
knew that Isaac would return with
him (Gen. $3.50. Isaac walked In
the steps of his fathers faith. He.
made prophecies of rich blessing on
both his SONS (Gen, 27:29, SO, 4O;l
1872, 81 though he had no ground
for expectation Of the ,fulflfment of
the prophecy except helbare, Word
Of God. Jacob followed in the steps
Of the faith Of his father and grand
father. AS he died he prophesied
great things concerning the future
of Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48:t
5-22). Joseph in turn followed in
the footsteps of his father, grand
father and great grandfather. He.
would not allow his bones to be bur-.
led In Egypt, nor even to be taken
over into the promised land at the
time of his death. He had Gods
Word for it that the whole people
were to return and gave command
ment concerning his bones, that they.
should be kept until the people re-
turned (Gen. 50:24, 25). His en-
cofined bones were a constant index
finger pointing the children of Israel
to the promised land.
III. How Moses Walked by Faith,
$3.50. A mighty king issued a strict
commandment, but the father and
mother of Moses knew a mightier9
King than he and believed the might
Ter Kings promises and were not
afraid of the. mighty kings command
ment. Faith knows no fear. How
can a mar who believes in God fear
man? FPS. 27:1-3; Heb. 1876; Ps.
1874; 1886; Is. SIP, 10; 41:10,
10, IA; SIT, IL; Dan. 3:16-1S; s:
10; Matt. 1929. 1t was a great
honor to be called the son of the
mighty Pharaoh's daughter, but it
was a greater honor to be called the
child of God. Moses refused the for
mer for the sake Of the latter. The
path he chose was n Of suffering
affection (cf. 2 Tim. 3:11, 12).
We are called to be soldiers and must
expect to be glad to endure hardness
g Tim. 2:3). But it is better to
suffer affection with the people of
God than to enjoy the pleasures Of
sin for a season. The sorrows Of
the Christian are sweeter than the
Joys of the world" Sin has its pleas
ures, but they are "but for a season.
(cf. Job 20:5; Ps. 73:12-20; Luke
1919, 20; 1925; James SIS: Rev.
1870. Moses bore the same kind of
reproach that Christ did, ,%reproach
because of loyalty to God Land the
eight. The Old Testament Scriptures
prophesy of the reproaches the Christ
(or Messiah) shall bear Cps. 69:7,
20; l Pet. lid. All who follow
Christ must suffer reproach (ch. 49,:
l3). Even the reproach of Christ is
greater riches than all the wealth Of
Egypt.
Ring Rack IL Tilted.