Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1919-11-21

i lifoC outstanding
- features of this
test of faith are
found in many of Gods dealings with
his people today.
First, it was wholly unexpected. It
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. It looked to
human sight as though his active life
was over and he had but to rest quiet
~ through the few years left on earth.
1t looked as though his life was conf
rlete. He may have been thinking as
Job was when he said in Job 20 :1S Il
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
have seen what God saw and there
could be no proper test of faith We
are continually asking "Why?" at
every turn in Gods dealings and are
frequently in danger of disobeying God
because he does not cCndescend 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 a 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 fEom the hui
man viewpoint. Abraham was asked
to offer up his son, Isaac Now think
who Isaac was and what Ire 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
ton of faith would be destroyed anC
Abraham would be found to have fol
loWed-a false voice. 1t must certainly
have seemed to be unreasonable tx
Abraham, and very often Gods deal
ings seem unreasonable to Us. We arr
so often afraid, though perhaps we DE-
not give the thought words, that Coo
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 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 an
we find he has ways above our reason
The action Of Abraham under ties
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. It was unquestionine
When questioning comes in, human
reason usually triumphs over divin
revelation. 1t was unstinted. Partis
obedience gives God little chance Q
bestowing blessings.
The secret Of Abraham's obedienc
Is to be found, l think, in verse 1:
where the Lord says: "Now I kno,
that thou fearest God" Abraham
faith had received the promises an
now his fear obeys the precepts NJ
the servile fear of the criminal afrai
of the vengeance of the broken Law
but the godly reverence yielded to J,
hovah leading to putting him in tn
supreme place of authority in the lif
Abraham's fear which issued in obed
ence is the proof Of Abraham's fait]
AS James puts it, Faith withor
works is dead