The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-11-07

his people today.
First, it was wholly unexpected. 1t
came "after these things" These
things" are the events of Abraham's
life up to this point. They include his
call and his separation from his corfh-
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.
1t looked as though his life was COM
plete. He may have been thinking as
Job was when he said in Job 20 :1S, II
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, II 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 Its
value. II Abraham knew just why God
asked him to offer up Isaac he would
have seen what God saw and there
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. II We knew
why things are as they are, or II things
always went In a way we could ex-
plain, the trial Of our faith, (which Is
precious" would lose all value.
In the third place, II was unreason'
able, or so II would seem from the hu-
man viewpoint. Abraham was asked
to offer up his son, Isaac. Now think
who Isaac was and what he represent
ed. God had declared that his prom
ises would center In Isaac. II anything
should happen to this boy what would
become of the promises? How could
Gods word be fulfilled? If God YVES
not true to his Word the whole founda'
ton of faith would be destroyed and
Abraham would be found to have fol
lowed a false voice. 1t must certainly
have seemed to be unreasonable t
Abraham, and very often Gods deal
ings seem unreasonable to us. We are
SO often afraid, though perhaps we dc
not give the thought words, that Coo
is making a mistake. In some loss O.
friend or relative, or In the taking
away of some strong pillar of TIN
church, we say one TO another: "Thii
is great loss-this is irreparable.
d We act and talk as though In realit,
d. God was making mistake because hi
n dealings and provldences seem unrea
d sonable. But the event always prove
n the reasonableness of his actions an
5 we find he has ways above our reason
The action of Abraham under tes
If holds an example for US. His obedi
8 ence was prompt; no dragging Of foe
ID as he went to do the Lords bidding
Ell Putting of doing usually results In nc
Z. doing Mt all. II was unquestionini
81 When questioning comes in. huma
lie reason usually triumphs over divin
: revelation. II was unstinted. Pnrtif
" obedience gives God little chance q
ar bsstowing blessings.
ID The secret of Abraham's obedienc
I'd Is to be found. l think, In verse l.
r. where the Lord says: Now ! kno'
* tnat thou fearest God" Abraham
C. faith had received the promises an
IS row his fear obeys the precepts. NJ
a the servile fear Of the criminal afrai
DO of the vengeance OF the broken laS
but the godly reverence yielded to j
hovah' heading TO putting him In u
!, supreme place Of authority in the III
= Ahraham's fear which issued In obed
ence Is the proof Of Abraham's fait