The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-10-17
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUND6YSQ1QQL
LESSON
By REV. p. B. FITZWATER. D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright, 1918. Western Newspaper
Union)
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 20
ABRAHAM GIVING ISAAC TO GOD.
LESSON TExT-GenesIs 2z:1-14.

HonN'H" SINiNS iSSHS ~ SSSs
LESSON TExT-Genesis 22:1-14.
GOLDEN TEXT will give him unto
the Lord all the days Of his life.-I Sam.
uel Ill.
DEVOTIONAL READING-Luks 1925.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Genesis 15:1-s: 1S:9-1b; z-1-n
I. Abraham Tested wv. 1, p.
God does not tempt men to sin
(James 1:13), but he subjects them to
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
were to come to the world. For many
years his faith was sorely tried in walt
ing for It's fulfilment. At length, his
heart rejoiced in the realization OF
that hope. In the lad In the patrl-
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 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 8:56). 1t Is only as we thus
see 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 to
Abraham. A test I'm some sense sim.
liar comes to many Christian fathers
and mothers. God Is calling for sons
and daughters to 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. 1t is only as God Is
known to be almighty Genesis IT'D
shall ability be given to give them up
u. Abraham Standing the Test (vv
| 2-1O).
/. On the way wv. 3, ~. Abraham
promptly obeyed. There was neither
hesitancy nor arguing. God had is
sued the command. At his call Abra'
ham said: "Here am Il ". y. He
= could not say "No" to God. In the
ordinary affairs of life we call man
weak who cannot say NO." who has
no will Of his own; but the man who
could not say "No" to God, we count
strong. Early in the morning he was
on the way to the place of which Goo
had told him. All who really believe
In God will yield themselves to hin
without question, reserve, or shrinking
Anything short of this is not consecra
ton. We should not stop to ask how
or why. It Is enough to know that Goo
has spoken.
2. "Ablde We 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: "Tarry ye here" Human sympa
thy Is sweet, and Is to be priced, but
we need.tO be alone In times OF great
testing. There are times when hu
man sympathy hlnders us from doin,
our duty. When Abraham said: 1--WE
will come down again to you" III
spoke sincerely, for he believed tha
God would give him Isaac back from
the dead (Heb. II 10Y.
3. Isaac bearing the wood upor
which he is to be offered wv. O, y
This reminds us Of Christ bearing th'
cross on the way to Calvary. Isaac mus
have been now young man. He dl'
not resist or cry out, but graclousl.
submitted. showing that he Is making
willing sacrifice.
4. The angel OF the Lord calls wv
8-12). At the critical moment whel
Abraham's hand had lifted the CLEAN
Ing blade to make real the offering
God interfered. God did not want hu
man sacrifice as Il burnt Offering, bu
he wanted Abraham to give up to hin
his best, the surrender Of his vii
to him. God Is always pleased wit
submissive obedience. "To obey !
better than sacrifice" Many time
we are face to face with the test o
giving up our fondest hopes and put
poses, but when we have met the tes
as Abraham did we get back our Offer
ing or greater things instead.
III. God viii Provide Himself
Lamb (vv. 13, 14).
Just behind Abraham was n rar
caught in thicket by his horns. Hlr
Abraham offered instead of his sor
In the words "God will provide himsel
n lamb ". 81 we have the whole pla
Of redemption outlined. God has pre-
.vided the costly sacrifice of his Son
satisfv himself.