Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-11-07

found in many of Gods dealings with
his people today.
First, it was wholly unexpected. 1t
came latter these things "These
things" are the events of Abraham's
life up to this point. They include his
call and his separation from his coun-
try and his fathers house; his expert
ence with Lot and Sodom and the de-
feat of the kings; the promise that his
family should increase and the expert
ence with Hagar and Ishmael; the
change of his name and the coming of
the promised son Isaac. 1t looked to
human sight as though his active life
was over and he had but to rest quiet
ly through the few years left on earth.
It looked as though his life was COM
plete. He may have been thinking as
Job was when he said in Job 20 :1S, 81
shall die in my nest" But we are re-
minded that perfection is never
reached in this life, and therefore the
training is never finished. No matter
how far advanced in Christian expert
ence, new lessons are to be learned
and unexpected trials of our faith are
to be looked for as long as we abide in
the flesh.
Secondly, it was unexplained. God
did not tell Abraham why he was put
/ ting this test upon him. Any explana
ton would have robbed the test of it's
value. If Abraham knew just why God
asked him to offer up Isaac he would
yhof Nod
could be no proper test of faith. We
are continually asking "WhyY at
every turn in Gods dealings and are
frequently in danger of disobeying God
because he does not condescend to
give US an answer to the "Why." We
know that all things work together for
| good to those that love God, and this
knowledge of the ultimate issue in
| good should make US more and more
hesitant in questioning the motives of
! Gods dealings with US. If we knew
why things are as they are, or if things
always went in way we could ex-
| plain, the trial of our faith, (which is
precious" would lose all value.
In the third place, it was unreason-
able, or so it would seem from the hu-
man viewpoint. Abraham was asked
to offer up his son, Isaac. Now think
4 who Isaac was and what he represent
ed. God had declared that his prom
ises would center in Isaac. If anything
should happen to this boy what would
become of the promises? How could
Gods word be fulfilled? If God was
not true to his Word the whole founda
tion of faith would be destroyed anG
Abraham would be found to have fol
lowed false voice. 1t must certainly
have seemed to be unreasonable tt
Abraham, and very often Gods deal
ings seem unreasonable to us. We are
so often afraid, though perhaps we d.
not give the thought words, that Goo
is making a mistake. In some loss o.
friend or relative or in the takin,
away of some strong pillar of tn
church. we say one to another: 'Thi
is a great loss-this is irreparable
We act and talk as though in realit,
God was making a mistake because hi
dealings and providences seem unrea
sonable. But the event always prove
the reasonableness of his actions ant
we find he has ways above our reason
The action of Abraham under tes
holds an example for US. His obedi
ence was prompt; no dragging of fee
as he went to do the Lords bidding
Putting off doing usually results in no
doing at all. 1t was unquestioning
When questioning comes in, human
reason usually triumphs over divin,
revelation. 1t was unstinted. Partia
obedience gives God little chance o
bestowing blessings.
The secret of Abraham's obedienc
is to be found, 1 think, in verse l.
where the Lord says: 'Now I know
that thou fearest God" Abraham
faith had received the promises an
now his fear obeys the precepts. No
the servile fear of the criminal afrai
, of the vengeance of the broken Law
but the godly reverence yielded to Je
| hOvah leading to putting him in tn
: supreme place of authority in the life
[ Abraham's fear which issued in obed
J ence is the proof of Abraham's faitl
AS James puts it, Faith withou
works is dead"