The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-12
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A-BlBEE.sTUDY.oNA ~
Abraham's Faith Tested


Genesis 22:1-13-March 16
Il desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and
the knowledge of God more than burnt
offerings. Hosea 6:6.
Today's study tells us one reason why
Abraham was styled the Father of the
Faithful. His entire history, as depicted
in the Bible, is one of trust in the Di-
vine promises; but the final test, which
we study today, was terribly severe, and
marked him very high. according to every
standard-divine and human. Evidently
Abraham's faith grew stronger as the
years of his acquaintance with God null
tiplied. The faith recorded in our lesson
is SO colossal as to amaze us! Only a
person very intimately acquainted with
the Almighty could possibly have en-
dured such a test.
This test came through the Divine COM
mand that Abraham should take his only
son, Isaac, in whom centered the prom
ises, and offer him in sacrifice on Mt.
Moriah. To appreciate the situation, we
must remember that Abraham was now
| 125 years old, and that Isaac was the
son whom the Lord had indicated to be
the channel for the blessings promised.
We must also recall the long period when
Abraham wandered as stranger, and
waited for the fulfillment of Gods prom
| Use.
| Now after half century of waiting
and trusting, could it be that God wished
him to sacrifice all this to demonstrate
| his loyalty, his faith? 1t was SO. He
had positive assurance of the command.
| 1t was no Imagination. 1t was no whis-
pering of witches or. wizards. 1t was no
dream.
| To one of Abraham's character, the
Divine command meant prompt obedi-
ence. Forthwith he journeyed, accom-
panied part of the way by his servants.
Then leaving them, Abraham and Isaac
| journeyed to the top of Mt. Moriah,
which was afterward the site of the
| temple. The very rock upon which Isaac
| is supposed to have been bound, became
| the location for the brazen altar
| The grand old man, accompanied by
his son, the heir of the promise, came to
| this spot. There the wood was placed.
Then Abraham, with faltering lips. but
determined heart, told his son of the Di-
vine command There he offered his son,
even though the knife did not strike the
fatal blow The offering was complete
| in the sight of heaven; the hand was
stayed and as the apostle explains;
| "Abraham received his son from the dead
| in a figure. .'-HebreWs ll.l9
The Antitype of All This
| These incidents of olden time had their
effect upon the actors; but to Gods con-
secrated people, enlightened by the Holy
Spirit. they have still further meaning.
Abraham serves as a type of the Al
mighty and Isaac as type or the Christ
head and body. In the antitype God
| freely Offered His Son on our behalf, for
the sins of the world. God gave His
only Begotten Son, that whosoeyer be-
Eleventh on Him might not perish, but
have everlasting life"-that IN Him all
the families of the earth might, be
blessed.
| Gods great sacrifice of His Son did not
| mean His eternal destruction. 1t meant
| merely that Christ should die to all
earthly interests and hopes, but should
be begotten by the Holy Spirit to heav-
enly interests and hopes. God left not
His Son In death when He freely offered
Him up. nor did He leave our Lord in
| the human condition of sacrifice. The
Father raised Him from the dead. on the
| third day, to a glory far above angels
Municipalities, powers ana every name.'
| Here we have the antitype OF Abraham's
offering up Isaac, his beloved son.
"If We Suffer With Him.
| There is more to the antitype. In Gods
providence He arranged that Jesus should
he the Head of the church, which Is His
| body. Hence the sufferings of Christ
accomplished by Jesus the Head, were
only a part of the suffering of the anti
| typical Isaac Here the apostle declares
| eve. brethren, as Isaac was, are the
I children of promise.
! The Church of Christ Is required Ia
! nrove her worthiness of sharing in the
| first resurrection. by being made con-
| formable TO Christ's death. The cup OF
suffering and ignominy which the Father
| gave TO Jesus was test to- prove His
faifhf,lness and loyalty. This Gus He
passed on to His followers, saying
| '.Drnk we all of it, following My ex-
ample in demonstrating your love and
| LOYALTY to God and His cause, even unto
death.
| That the Lord Jesus guards His sheer