The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-10-10
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 20
ABRAHAM GIVING ISAAC TO GOD.

LESSON TExT-GenesIs 221-N
GOLDEN TEXT will give him unto
the Lord all the days OF his life.-I Sam
uei Ill.
DEVOTIONAL READING-Luke it:25-
IS.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERs-Genesis i5;1-s: 1915: zi-1-12
I. Abraham Tested wv. I, p.
God does not tempt men TO sin
flames I .i3). but he subjects them 10
rigid tests TO prove them. In the treat
ment Of Abraham we have 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
xcre TO come TO the world. For many
years his faith was sorely tried In wait
ing for It's fulhllment. At length. his
heart rejoiced In the realization OF
that hope. In the lad I'm the patri-
arch's tent were wrapped Abraham's
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 new nation was
20 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 $500. II is only as we thus
see all that Isaac meant 10 his IA
Their 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 90 many Christian fathers
and mothers. God Is calling for sons
and daughters 10 be offered on the al
tar Of his service. The test Is some
thing terrific. as some who have given
up sons and daughters for the mission
field can testify. II Is only ms God is
known to be almighty Genesis ND
shall ability be given 10 give them up.
~. Abraham Standing the Test wv.
2-10).
I. on the way wv. 3, ~. Abraham
promptly obeyed. There was neither
hesltnncy nor arguing. God had Is
sued the command. At his call Abra-
ham said: "IIere am T. w. ~. 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 will Of his own: but the man who
could not say mo" 10 God. we count
strong Early In the morning he was
on the way TO the place OF which God
had told him. All who really believe
In God will yield themselves TO him
without question. reserve. OF shrinking.
Anything short Of this Is not consecra-
or why. II is enough ~ know that God
has spoken.
2. "Ablde We here" ". 81. This test
Ing experience was too sacred for hui
man eyes 10 gaze upon. How like
this the words OF Jesus in Gethsem-
ane: 'Tarry ye here" Human sympa-
thy II sweet, and is TO be priced. but
we need 10 be alone in times Of great
testing. There are times when hui
man sympathy binders us from doing
our duty. When Abraham said: "We
will come down again 10 you" he
spoke sincerely. for he believed that
God would give him Isaac back from
the dead CHeb. 1:19).
3. Isaac bearing the wood upon
which he Is TO be offered wv. O. y.
This reminds us OF Christ bearing the
cross on the way "a Calvary. Isaac must
have been now young man. He did
not resist or cry out. but graciously
submitted. showing that he is making
a willing sacrifice.
4. The angel Of flle Lord calls wv.
S-l2). At the critical moment when
Abraham's hand had lifted the gleam-
ing blade To make real the Offering,
God lnterfereG. God did not want hui
man sacrifice as n burnt Offering but
he wanted Abraham 10 give up to him
his best, the surrender Of his VIII
10 him. God Is always pleased with
submissive obedience. '"rO obey Is
better than sacrifice" Many times
we are face to face with the test Of
giving up our fondest hopes and pur-
poses. but when we have met the test
as Abraham did. we get back our offer
ing or greater things instead.
~. God viii Provide Himself q
Lamb wv. 10, 1D.
Just behind Abraham was a ram
caught in thlcket by his horns. Him
Abraham offered instead OF his son.
In the words "God will provide himself
a lamb ". 81 we have the whole plan
OF redemption outlined. God has pro-
vlded the costly sacrifice Of his Son to
satisfy himself.