The Elbert County tribune., 1918-10-18
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 20
AsRAAAm GIVING ISAAC TO GOD

LESSON TExr-Genesis sza-1l.
GOLDEN TEXT will give him unto
the Lord all the days of his iife.--I Sam
uel III
DEVOTIONAL READING-Luke 14:n-
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
observation-disclosures 16:1-s; 1s:s-1s: n-1-1A
I. Abraham Tested wv. 1, y.
God does not tempt men to sin
(James :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 fulfiilment. 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 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 $3.50. It 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 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 for the mission
field can testify. 1t is only as God is
known to be almighty Genesis 17:D
shall ability be given to give them up.
II. Abraham Standing the Test wv.
2-1O).
1. 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 T. ". ~. 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 "No" to God, we count
strong. Early In the morning he was
on the way to the place of which God
had told him. Ali who really believe
in God will yield themselves to him
without question, reserve, or Shrinking.
Anything short Of this is not consecra-
ton. We should not stop to ask how
or why. 1t 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: 'sTarry 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 hinders us from doing
our duty. When Abraham said: "We
will come down again to you," he
spoke sincerely, for he believed that
God would give him Isaac back from
the dead (Heb. IL :19).
8. Isaac bearing the wood upon
which he is to be offered wv. 6, 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 graclously
submitted. showing that he is making
willing sacrifice.
4. The angel OF the Lord calls wv.
3-12). At the critical moment when
Ahrahorn'a hand bad 1fftad tho olaorn.
ing blade to make real the offering,
God interfered. God did not want hui
man sacrifice as 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 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.
III. God VIII Provide Himself a
Lamb wv. 13, 14).
Just behind Abraham was ram
caught in a thicket 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-
vided the costly sacrifice of his Son to
satisfy himself.
He who has no taste for order will
be often wrong in his judgment and
seldom considerate or conscientious in