The Dermott news., 1918-10-17
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUND6YSQl0OL
 LESSON By REV. P. B. FITZWATER. D. D. Teacher of English Bible In the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago) tCopyright, 1918 Western Newspaper
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LESSON FOR OCTOBER 20
ABRAHAM GIVING ISAAC TO GOD.
LESSON TExT-Genesis 2c:1-1.


 LESSON TEXT-Genesis 22;l-n
 GOLDEN TEXT-I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his lfe,-l Sam uel II.
 DEVOTIONAL READING-Luke H:2s- ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR TEACHERS-Genesis ts.l-6 lN.9-l5, 21-l-l2.
 i. Abraham Tested tvy. l, @).
 God does not tempt men to sin Games :13). but he subjects them to rigid tests to prove them. In the treat- ment of Abraham We have q supreme example. God tested Abraham, not Lot. Sadom tested Lot. God tests the man who Is proof against the tests of Sodom. God had promised Ahra- ham an heir through whom blessings were to come to the world. For many years his faith WIS sorely tried in wait- ing for it's fulfllment At length. his heart rejoiced in the realization of that hope. In the lad in 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 n new nation WAS to spring from him. and Isaac was the sole link making the connection. Then, too. he saw the coming Rcdecmcr, for Abraham saw my day and was glad" (John S:56). It Is only as We thus See all that Isaac meant 10 his fa- ther and Gods purpose for the future of the world. that We really can appre- ciate the crucal test that came to 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 al- tar of his service The test Is some thing terrific. as some who have given up sons and daughters fer the mission field can testify. Ii Is only aS God Is known to be almighty Genesis 1T:D shall ability be given to give them up.
 IT, Abraham Standing the Test (Yv. 2-10).
 1. On the way (yv. 3. 4). Abraham promptly oheycd. There Was neither hestaucy nor arguing God had is- sued the command. At his call Abra- ham said: Here an T. (v. n. He could not say "No" to God. In the ordinary afInirs 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 "No" to God. We count strong Early in the morning he was on the way 10 the place of which God had told him. All who really believe In Ged will yield themselves in him without question. reserve, ar shrinking. Anything short of this Is hot eouSeera- tion We should not stop to ask how or why IL is enough to know that God has spoken.
 2. Abide ye here" (v. 5). This test ing experience was too sacred for hu- man eyes to gaze upon. How Ike this the words of Jesus in GothSem- ane: "Tarry ye here" Human Sympa- thy is sweet and Is 10 he przed, hut We need to be alone In times of grcnt testing There are times when hu- man sympathy flinders us from doing our duty When Abraham said: We will come down again to Nou,' he spoke sincerely, for he believed that God would give him Isaac back from the dead (Heb. II l9).
 3. Isaac hearing the wood upon which he Is to be offered (vv. 6, '. This reminds us of Christ bearing the cross on the way to Calvary. Isaac must have been now n young man. He did not resist or cry out, but graclously submitted. showing that he Is making willing sacrifice.
 I The angel of the Lord calls (yv. S-l2l. Al the critical moment when Ahraham'S hand had lifted the gleam- ing Made to make real the offering. God interfcrcd. God did not want hu- man sacrifice as Il burnt offering. but he wanted Abraham to give up to him his best, the surrender of his will to him. God Is always pleased with submissive obedience. "To obey Is better than sacrifice" Many tines We are face to face with the test If giving up our fondest hopes and pur- poses, but when We have met the test IS Abraham did. We get back eur offer Ing or greater things instead
 iIl. God WilI Provide Himself a Lamb (yv. 13, lD.
 Just behind Abraham was q ram caught in thicket by his horns. Him Abraham offered instead of his son. In the words God will provide himself lamb (v S) we have the whole plan of redemption outlined. God has pro- vidcd the costly sacrifice of his Son to satisfy himself.
 He who has no taste for order will ] l. In, i,,l rll