The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-10-18
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LESSON
~ REV. p. B. FITZWATER, D. D..
1eachsr OF English Bible In the Moody
1sose institute Of Chicago)
eceD0right 1S1A Western Newspepae
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LESSON FOR OCTOBER 20
ABRAHAM GIVING ISAAC TO GOD.

LESSON TEXT-Genesis ELLA
GOLDEN TEXT-I will give him unto
she Lord an the days Of his nfe.-I Sam
uel iii.
DEVOTIONAL READINo-Luks l:x.
q
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
!. Abraham Tested wv. I. p.
God does not tempt men to sin
CJames 1 :13). but he subjects them to
rigid tests to prove them. In the treat
ment Of Abraham we have a supreme
example. God tested Abraham. not
Lot Sodom tested Lot. God tests
the man who Is proof against the tests
Of Sodom. God had promised Abra-
ham an heir through whom blessings
were to come to the world. For many
years his faith was sorely tried in wait.
ing for its fulfillment. At length, his
heart rejoiced in the realization OF
that hope. In the lad in the patri.
arch's tent were wrapped Abrahamt
hopes Of the future when his seed
should be as the stars for multitude
His was no ordinary expectation. The
human affections and hopes were, no
doubt, included but q new nation was
to spring from him, and Isaac was the
sole link making the connection. Then.
too, he saw the coming Redeemer, for
"Abraham saw my day and was glad"
(John S:56). It is only as we thus
zee all that Isaac meant to his IA.
ther and Gods purpose for the future
Of the world. that we really can appre-
ciate the crucial test that came 10
Abraham. A test in some sense SIM
liar comes to many Christian fathers
and mothers. God is calling for sons
and daughters to be offered on the IL
tar Of his service. The test In some.
thing terrific, as some who have given
up sons and daughters for the mission
Geld can testify. It ia only as God IL
known to be almighty Genesis 17:1)
shall ability be given to give them up.
u. Abraham Standing the Test Nv.
2.1o).
I. On the way wv. 8, ~. Abraham
promptly obeyed. There was neither
hesitancy nor arguing. God had is
sued the command. At his call Abra-
ham said: "Here am r. ". u. He
could not say "No" to God. In the
ordinary affairs Of life we call a man
weak who cannot say ''No." who has
NO win Of his own; but the man who
could not say mo- to God. we count
strong. Early In the morning he was
ON the way to the place Of which Coo
had told him. All who really believe
In God will yield themselves to him
without question, reserve. or shrinking.
Anything short Of this Is not consecra.
tion. We should not stop to ask how
or why. It is enough to know that God
has spoken.
2. "Abide ye here" ". 81. This test
ing experience was too sacred for hu-
man eyes to gaze upon. How like
this the words Of Jesus in Gethsem-
ane: '.rarry ye here" Human sympa-
thy II sweet, and is to be priced, but
We need to be alone In times Of great
testing. There are times when hu.
man sympathy hinders us from doint
our duty. When Abraham said: 1--WE
will come down again to you." he
spoke sincerely, for he believed that
God would give him Isaac back from
the dead (Heb. II :19).
8. Isaac bearing the wood upon
which he IL to be offered wv. q y.
This reminds us Of Christ bearing the
Cross on the way to Calvary. Isaac must
have been now . young man. he did
not resist or cry out, but gfacit'usly
submitted. showing that he is making
q willing sacrifice.
4. The angel Of the Lord calls Nv.
6-12). At the critical moment when
Abraham's hand had lifted the gleam.
ing blade to make real the offering
God interfered. God did not want hu
man sacrifice as a burnt Offering, nut
he wanted Abraham to give up to him
his best, the surrender Of his WIN
to him. God is always pleased with
submissive obedience. ITO obey is
better than sacrifice" Many tmea
we are face to fsee with the test Of
giving up our fnadest hopes and puf.
poses, but when we have met the test
as Abraham did, we get back our offer.
ing or greater things instead. I,
ut. God Will Provide Himself q
Lamb wv. 18. 14).
Just behind Abraham was q ram
caught In q thicket by his horns. Him
Abraham offered instead of his son.
In the words "God will provide himself
q lamb ". 81 we have the whole plan
Of redemption outlined. God has pro.
vided the costly sacrifice Of his Son 10
satisfy himself.
He who has NO taste for order WIN
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