Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-07-23

t@s w promise" says the
apostle In Gal.
4:28, and thus explicitly sets. Isaac be-
fore us ds figure Of the believer IN
the Lord JESUS.
And the first particular In which ne
represents us Is his miraculous birth.
For he was born Of divine power, con-
trary to nature. or his father IT Is
written: "He considered not his own
body now dead, when he was about an
hundred years old neither yet the
deafness of Sarah's womb" Under
such conditions was Isaac born.
Just so has every believer been be-
gotten Of divine power las many as
received him, to them gave he power
to become the children Of God" NO
power had we for this. God must give
1t BLESSED be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which ac-
corlng to his abundant mercy hath be-
gotten u.s." Born of God! What q
word And thus his children, possessed
of his life and his nature.
2. When this promised son was born,
Abraham's house was filled with
laughter and they gave him name to
commemorate it. For Isaac means
daughter" 1t tells Of nothing that he
was In himself, but proclalms IA
theirs Joy over the child of his live.
And does not our Lord, In parable,
tell Of feast In fathers house by
which that father gives expression to
his joy over the recovery of Il lost Onef
Yea, and he speaks of music and
dancing, saying, "They began TO be
merry" (but not that they ceased y.
And 1t is all his own portrayal OF the
Joy in the heart of our Father God over
you and me who have brought nothing
to him save our sin. Isaac! That Is
your name, my fellow-believer, and 1t
Is mine. 1t describes not us but lays
bare the heart Of our God.
3. And of this child, thus born and
bringing such gladness to his father, 1t
is written that Abraham gave all that
he had to him. That vast estate, de-
scribed In Gen. "a, made over without
reserve. And it SIS written for our
learning" a faint shadowing forth of
our riches In Christ "He that spared
not his own Son, but delivered him up
for us all, how shall he not with him
freely give us all things?" "All things
are yours" "ln everything enriched by
him." How shameful that Gods peO-
pie should live like beggars when all
the Fathers wealth Is theirs Theirs
for present enjoyment as well as for
the future.
4. With these facts relating to Isaac
known, we are not surprised at his per-
sistent dwelling in Canaan. He never
leaves the land. Canaan was good
enough for Isaacl Is 1t for you? Ca
naan is the well-known figure Of that
place to which, In Christ, God has
raised all his own: ale hath raised us
up together and made us sit together in
the heavenlles In Christ" and his con-
slant appeal to us is to be there in
heart and mind. 1t is the place of our
blessing, for "he hath blessed us With
all spiritual blessings in the heaven
lies" Isaac, dwelling in Canaan, shows
us the child of God abiding in the
serene enjoyment of his God-given por-
ton.
5. In Canaan, Isaac is found by the
well of sprlnging water. And here,
again, is holy symbolism which the
Lord has interpreted for us. "a foun-
tain Of living water springlng up unto
everlasting llfe.' "Out of his inner
most being shall flow rivers Of living
water" There is no mistaking 1t;
It is the ministry Of the Holy Spirit to
the regenerated man, making Christ
present reality, satisfying his craving
heart so that, no longer craving, 1t be-
comes channel Of blessing to all
around. This is Isaac's portion and It
Is yours and mine. But If these figures
of such blessing are to become reality
we must dwell by the well.
6. But this well of Isaac's has u spe-
cial name. "Lahairoi'-''th well Of
him that Iiveth and seeth me" Oh,
how that name speaks to us Of the low
ing aud endless care Of our unfaillng
God How it tells of his regard for us,
as though each were his only child and
his solitary care! All our affairs his
particular concern! What perfect
peace and rest for the hearth
My times are in thy tand;
Oh God. | wish them there.
1t is enough Let me be found DWELL
ing by the well where l may daily
realize so great blessing.