Evening star., 1923-10-06
Sunday School Lesson

pure and spiritual religion of Juda-
ism, which has blessed the world for
centuries. Out Of 1t indirectly came
fuller light Of Christ. Jesus, which Is
destined to- illuminate all nations
and men by It's missionary nnessage.l Z
Friend OF God. 3
. Abraham had demonstrated his
faith not only in carrying out Gods
command for him to enter upon 2
missionary career. but he had testi-
yah by erecting affairs and worship
ping Him as he journeyed. The mis-
sionary finds In his prayer life the
sustaining grace he needs to endure
the trials or separation from the
have filled the history Of missions
with the story of martyrs deeds.
Abraham's life had not been free from
trials. In some cases on record he
had failed to exercise his faith as
he ought. :. He learned by his mis-.
recognized as the friend Of God. =.
"The secret Of the Lord is with
them that fear him." One day. as
Abraham was resting under the shell
ter of a great tree. in the heat OF the
day. at his home near Hebron, he saw
three persons approaching him, whom
he welcomed and treated with the
hospitality that characterizes the
near east The footsore and weary
travellers turned out to be heavenly MY
Lord. who confirmed the league OF
friendship that He had made with
Abraham by assuring him that the
long-desired son should be porn
within a years time. Sarah, as wei
as Abraham, was convinced by the
Lords unanswered question, rs any
thing too hard for the Lord?", that
His promise would be fulfilled.
Abraham's compassion was aroused
by the secret that God revealed 70
His friend concerning the coming
doom Of Sodom. He justified the con-
fidence of the Lord by pleading In the
name Of justice that the good shouid
not be destroyed with the evil. Wen
has one said that "Nowhere else does,
simple, so bold yet so deferentiai.
80 much man yet 80 nobly disposed,
30 humane. 80 rich In the large
minded absorption In the Affairs OF
His s p the
of every great missionary can be
found in his prayer life. The possi-
bility Of approaching danger to the
land where he has been assigned to
labor summons the missionary always
to pray for the endangered people. -.
Meets sacrihciai Test.
Trials test our faith. They prove
SnF ways hs When God rss
we should recognize in them the evi.
dence of His confidence. Jehovah.
whom Abraham had come to know
as the Almighty and Everlasting
the tenderest spot. The Lord recog-
nized that Abraham was idolizing his
son Isaac in such a way tnat thers
was danger of his loving the LAD
more than God .crefS, JesGyah tea, sailed ahieh ,h
proved conclusively that Abraham
loved the Lord, who had honored him
with His friendship, by promptly
Offering up his Son Isaac, whom he
loved more than his own life.
When Abraham understood Goa
command for him to sacrifice Isaac,
he faced the sacrificial test that every
missionary has had to meet In one
way or other. He knew the LORD
voice and had frequently observeo
demand Of their religion which re-
ouired them to give their first born
for their transgression-the fruit OF
their body for the sin Of their soul.
Cruel as the command to sacrince MS
own son appears to US. yet In its
essence the sacrificial test that Abra-
ham had to meet was nothing more
tn IN what all true religion requires
of men. While the Scriptures would
indicate ths, there was was and S9nhSo deSotien
to the Lord. the faith Of Gods friend
never wavered. He believed that In
some way the Lord could restore to
him his son from the dead.
Abraham was not permitted to s!ay
his SON. His feaith was rewarded
by Gods acceptance and approval OF
the way Abraham met the sacrificiai
test. He was taught by his expert
ence Gods plan to provide substi-
tute for the older and baser forms
Of sacrifice. From the eminence OF
Mount Moriah he was permitted to
look down the centuries and see the
coming Of the Christ, the Lamb OF
God which taketh away the sin OF
the world" He returned home with
a larger faith. rejoicing In the assur-
ance that Jehovah promised to make
his life q blessing to all humanity
He was encouraged to see In the
coming centuries his seed multiply
and become as numerous "as the stars
of heaven" He rejoiced In the pros
pect that "the cities of his adver-
saries" should be inherited by his
descendants. His faith gained him
a place in the Scripture hall OF fame
recorded in the epistle to the He
brews Abraham, the pioneer mis-
sionary, had faith. He possessed the
spirit of supplication and sacrince
He had a vision of future success
that enables q missionary to meet
the tests of their daily life confident
Of coming victory.
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