Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-06-10

- at @#-
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR JUNE Is.
Subject: Heroes Of Faith, Hebrews
.11:1-4O-Commit Verses "a, %
Golden Text, Hebrews 11:1-|
Commentary on Days Lesson
TIME.-Uncertain. PLACE-Un-
certain.
EXPOSIT1ON.-L What Is Faith,
1-3. Faith looks at the Word Of
God, sees what He promises and
rests assured that 1t will all come to
pass just as He says. It puts it to
the test by acting as If It were so.
1t asks no questions, but believes
what God says will come to pass and
obeys what God commands. To be-
lieve God is to rely upon or have un-
hesltating assurance OF the truth Of
Gods testimony " though it is un-
supported by other evidence, and to
rely upon and have unfa1tering as
urance of the fulfillment Of His
promises even though everything
seems against such fulfllment (cf.S
John $40, r. "; John. 5:24, R.
"; Acts 2~7:22-25; Rom. 4:3, 1921:
Heb. 11:13). It was in faith that
the elders" the heroes Of the past,
obtained a good report. Believing
God they went ahead and did as He
said. Faith in the certainty. Of Gods
Word lay at the foundation of all
their achievements. It is by faith
that we understand how the worlds
were made, i. e., by the mere word
Of God.
II. Four Heroes of Faith, 1922.
Abraham stands out as the first and
pre-eminent hero Of faith in the Old
Testament (Gal. 3:7-9). 1t was by
simple faith in God and His word
That he left his country and kindred
and went out, not knowing wither he
went, ". s; CT. Gen. 12:1-4). By
simple faith In God and His Word he
saw his seed Is the starsin the heavens
and sand on the seashorer innumer-
able (Gen. 1856; Heb. 11:12), and
1t was counted to him for righteous
ness (Gen. 1850. BY simple faith
IN the certainty Of Gods Word, when
he was commanded to offer up Isaac
for a burnt offering he did so.
Whether he was to actually STAY him
he did not know (Gen. 22:7, 81, but
be stood ready to do even that (Gen.
22:1O), 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 It was only when
his faith was tried that his faith
shone forth q Pet. 1:7). It was
through the trying of his faith that
ADraham's name came down for ad-
mlrat1on throughout the ages. The
sacrifice that God called upon Abra-
ham to make, God Himself made
lGen. 22:2. 16; CT John 3-16). So
Abraham became a type Of the Faith
er and Isaac a type of Christ There
had never been a case of resurrec-
ton before Abraham's time. yet
Abraham accounted that God was
able to do it, though he had never
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. 40!
1882, 81 though he had no ground
for expectation of the fuIflIment OF
the prophecy except the bare Word
Of God. Jacob followed In the steps
OF the faitn Of his father and grand
father. As he died he, prophesied
great things concerning the future
Of Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. As:
5-22). Joseph in turn followed in
J 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.
I ment concerning his. bones, that they
should be kept until the people re-
turned (Gen. 50:2A, 25)- His en-.
eofined bones were a constant indie.
finger pointing the children Of Israel
to che promised land.
H. How Moses Walked by Faith,
1929 A mighty king issued a strict
commandment, but. the father anl
mother OF Moses knew a mightie,
King than he and believed the might.
Ter Kings promises and were no;
afraid OF n mighty kings command
ment- Faith knows no fear. How
can a man who believes in God fea,
man? FPS. 27:1-3; Heb. 1876; Ps
1914: 1886; Is 8:12, IS: 41:1O
-, II; 51:7, IL; Dan. 3:16-18: 6
10; Matt. 10:78). It was a grea
honor to be called the son of tn,
mighty Pharaoh's daughter, but i
was a greater honor to be called tn,
child of God. Moses refused the for
mer for the sake of the latter. TIL,
path he chose was one of suferin,
affection (cf. 2 Tim. 3:11. 12)
W. are called to be soldiers and mus
expect to be glad to endure hardnes
e Tim. 2s3).s But It -is~better t
4 aH11ct1on with the people o
God than to enjoy the pleasures o
sin for a season. 1.-THE sorrows q
the. Christian are sweeter than tn
joys Of the world" Sin has ita pleas
ures, but they are hut for a season
(cf. Job .20;5; Ps. 73:12-2O; Luk
4 On y e i. q < 49, - -.