The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-03-15
International Sunday School Lesson
FIRST QUARTER. LESSON Xl. GEN
II: lib. March Is, 1918
The Test Of Abraham's Faith
Tho Story.

High Bridge. Kentucky. was tested
when completed. Twenty platform
cars, loaded to the maximum Of
their capacity with steel rails.
pushed and drawn by five loeomo-
tives, formed the trial train. First
they crossed the bridge at full
head of speed; then backed slowly.
Next they dashed forward. sudden
ly reversing the engines and clap
ping On the brakes, SO as to throw
the whole ponderous weight dead
upon the central span. Every atom
felt the strain, but the bridge stood
the fearful test; and thousands Of
intensely interested spectators broke
forth in applause. Hundreds OF
thousands of travellers have since
crossed that fearful gulf with per-
feet equanimity because the bridge
was once so thoroughly tested. and
endured the ordeal. Like a clap OF
thunder in a clear sky to Abraham
came the inexplicable and remorse-
less command, "Take thy son, and
offer him for burnt offering" The
bridge of the patriarch's faith was
to be tested by the dead drop upon
It Of an indescribable weight. The
second verse records the command,
the third the obedience. There is
no mention of the Gethsemane be-
tween. The battle was fought. vic
tory achieved. deed done. when
morning broke. The preparations
were made expeditiously, but with
such care that nothing was forgot
ten. The journey consumed three
days. The exact site of the sacri-
flee cannot be determined. 1t is
comparatively unimportant. It was
In the neighborhood of the sacred
place where "a greater Father aft
erward offered greater Son." So
Isaac went up the mount, carrying
the wood that was to consume him
as the greater Son" afterward car
ried his cross up the Via Dolorosa.
Keener than the knife which Abra-
ham carried was the innocent query
OF his unsuspecting son, where
is the lamb" May not the faith
er's answer be tinged with the
hope of a substitute when he re-
piled, "God will provide?" Abra-
ham had built many affairs before.
but never one like this and with
emotions such as now surged in his
heart. The innocence, silence, sub
mission of Isaac, made him a speak
Ing type Of the Lamb who. two
thousad years later, was to be led
to the slaughter in this very vicini-
ty. AS far as Abraham was con-
cerned, the offering was made, the
deed done. In mercy God stayed
the literal sacrifice. 1t was the
spirit he wanted, not the letter. The
letter killeth, but the spirit maketh
alive. Out OF heaven itself descen-
ded upon the patriarch the Divine
blessing as he stood beside the al
tar blazing with. a victim that the
Lord Himself had provided. The
bridge OF Abraham's faith had stood
tho fearful shock. Its thorough
going soundness was demonstrated
for all time by such an ordeal as
no human heart has ever been sub
iected to before nor since. Pater-
nal instinct and affection, family
ambition. fond hopes, and all that,
were as small dust when faith and
obedience were put into the other
scale. Abraham could not see how
the glowing promises were to be
fulfilled if Isaac were slain. But,
then, he was not walking by sight,
but by faith. Thee severest test