patriarchs and prophets-第26章

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and　boastful；　and　treated　her　mistress　with　contempt。　Mutual　jealousies
disturbed　the　peace　of　the　once　happy　home。　Forced　to　listen　to　the
complaints　of　both；　Abraham　vainly　endeavored　to　restore　harmony。　Though　it
was　at　Sarah's　earnest　entreaty　that　he　had　married　Hagar；　she　now
reproached　him　as　the　one　at　fault。　She　desired　to　banish　her　rival；　but
Abraham　refused　to　permit　this；　for　Hagar　was　to　be　the　mother　of　this
child；　as　he　fondly　hoped；　the　son　of　promise。　She　was　Sarah's　servant；
however；　and　he　still　left　her　to　the　control　of　her　mistress。　Hagar's
haughty　spirit　would　not　brook　the　harshness　which　her　insolence　had
provoked。　〃When　Sarai　dealt　hardly　with　her；　she　fled　from　her　face。〃

She　made　her　way　to　the　desert；　and　as　she　rested　beside　a　fountain；　lonely
and　friendless；　an　angel　of　the　Lord；　in　human　form；　appeared　to　her。
Addressing　her　as　〃Hagar；　Sarai's　maid；〃　to　remind　her　of　her　position　and
her　duty；　he　bade　her；　〃Return

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to　thy　mistress；　and　submit　thyself　under　her　hands。〃　Yet　with　the　reproof
there　were　mingled　words　of　comfort。　〃The　Lord　hath　heard　thy　affliction。〃
〃I　will　multiply　thy　seed　exceedingly；　that　it　shall　not　be　numbered　for
multitude。〃　And　as　a　perpetual　reminder　of　His　mercy；　she　was　bidden　to　call
her　child　Ishmael；　〃God　shall　hear。〃

When　Abraham　was　nearly　one　hundred　years　old；　the　promise　of　a　son　was
repeated　to　him；　with　the　assurance　that　the　future　heir　should　be　the　child
of　Sarah。　But　Abraham　did　not　yet　understand　the　promise。　His　mind　at　once
turned　to　Ishmael；　clinging　to　the　belief　that　through　him　God's　gracious
purposes　were　to　be　accomplished。　In　his　affection　for　his　son　he　exclaimed；
〃O　that　Ishmael　might　live　before　Thee！〃　Again　the　promise　was　given；　in
words　that　could　not　be　mistaken：　〃Sarah　thy　wife　shall　bear　thee　a　son
indeed；　and　thou　shalt　call　his　name　Isaac：　and　I　will　establish　My　covenant
with　him。〃　Yet　God　was　not　unmindful　of　the　father's　prayer。　〃As　for
Ishmael；〃　He　said；　〃I　have　heard　thee：　Behold；　I　have　blessed　him；　。　。　。　and
I　will　make　him　a　great　nation。〃

The　birth　of　Isaac；　bringing；　after　a　lifelong　waiting；　the　fulfillment　of
their　dearest　hopes；　filled　the　tents　of　Abraham　and　Sarah　with　gladness。
But　to　Hagar　this　event　was　the　overthrow　of　her　fondly　cherished　ambitions。
Ishmael；　now　a　youth；　had　been　regarded　by　all　in　the　encampment　as　the　heir
of　Abraham's　wealth　and　the　interior　of　the　blessings　promised　to　his
descendants。　Now　he　was　suddenly　set　aside；　and　in　their　disappointment；
mother　and　son　hated　the　child　of　Sarah。　The　general　rejoicing　increased
their　jealousy；　until　Ishmael　dared　openly　to　mock　the　heir　of　God's
promise。　Sarah　saw　in　Ishmael's　turbulent　disposition　a　perpetual　source　of
discord；　and　she　appealed　to　Abraham；　urging　that　Hagar　and　Ishmael　be　sent
away　from　the　encampment。　The　patriarch　was　thrown　into　great　distress。　How
could　he　banish　Ishmael　his　son；　still　dearly　beloved？　In　his　perplexity　he
pleaded　for　divine　guidance。　The　Lord；　through　a　holy　angel；　directed　him　to
grant　Sarah's　desire；　his　love　for　Ishmael　or　Hagar　ought　not　to　stand　in
the　way；　for　only　thus　could　he　restore　harmony　and　happiness　to　his　family。
And　the　angel　gave　him　the　consoling　promise　that　though　separated　from　his
father's　home；　Ishmael　should　not　be　forsaken　by　God；　his　life　should　be
preserved；　and　he　should　become　the　father　of　a　great

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nation。　Abraham　obeyed　the　angel's　word；　but　it　was　not　without　keen
suffering。　The　father's　heart　was　heavy　with　unspoken　grief　as　he　sent　away
Hagar　and　his　son。

The　instruction　given　to　Abraham　touching　the　sacredness　of　the　marriage
relation　was　to　be　a　lesson　for　all　ages。　It　declares　that　the　rights　and
happiness　of　this　relation　are　to　be　carefully　guarded；　even　at　a　great
sacrifice。　Sarah　was　the　only　true　wife　of　Abraham。　Her　rights　as　a　wife　and
mother　no　other　person　was　entitled　to　share。　She　reverenced　her　husband；
and　in　this　she　is　presented　in　the　New　Testament　as　a　worthy　example。　But
she　was　unwilling　that　Abraham's　affections　should　be　given　to　another；　and
the　Lord　did　not　reprove　her　for　requiring　the　banishment　of　her　rival。　Both
Abraham　and　Sarah　distrusted　the　power　of　God；　and　it　was　this　error　that
led　to　the　marriage　with　Hagar。

God　had　called　Abraham　to　be　the　father　of　the　faithful；　and　his　life　was　to
stand　as　an　example　of　faith　to　succeeding　generations。　But　his　faith　had
not　been　perfect。　He　had　shown　distrust　of　God　in　concealing　the　fact　that
Sarah　was　his　wife；　and　again　in　his　marriage　with　Hagar。　That　he　might
reach　the　highest　standard；　God　subjected　him　to　another　test；　the　closest
which　man　was　ever　called　to　endure。　In　a　vision　of　the　night　he　was
directed　to　repair　to　the　land　of　Moriah；　and　there　offer　up　his　son　as　a
burnt　offering　upon　a　mountain　that　should　be　shown　him。

At　the　time　of　receiving　this　command；　Abraham　had　reached　the　age　of　a
hundred　and　twenty　years。　He　was　regarded　as　an　old　man；　even　in　his
generation。　In　his　earlier　years　he　had　been　strong　to　endure　hardship　and
to　brave　danger；　but　now　the　ardor　of　his　youth　had　passed　away。　One　in　the
vigor　of　manhood　may　with　courage　meet　difficulties　and　afflictions　that
would　cause　his　heart　to　fail　later　in　life；　when　his　feet　are　faltering
toward　the　grave。　But　God　had　reserved　His　last；　most　trying　test　for
Abraham　until　the　burden　of　years　was　heavy　upon　him；　and　he　longed　for　rest
from　anxiety　and　toil。

The　patriarch　was　dwelling　at　Beersheba；　surrounded　by　prosperity　and　honor。
He　was　very　rich；　and　was　honored　as　a　mighty　prince　by　the　rulers　of　the
land。　Thousands　of　sheep　and　cattle　covered　the　plains　that　spread　out
beyond　his　encampment。　On　every　side　were　the　tents　of　his　retainers；　the
home　of　hundreds　of　faithful　servants。　The　son　of　promise　had　grown　up　to
manhood　by　his　side。　Heaven　seemed　to　have　crowned　with　its

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blessing　a　life　of　sacrifice　in　patient　endurance　of　hope　deferred。

In　the　obedience　of　faith；　Abraham　had　forsaken　his　native　countryhad
turned　away　from　the　graves　of　his　fathers　and　the　home　of　his　kindred。　He
had　wandered　as　a　stranger　in　the　land　of　his　inheritance。　He　had　waited
long　for　the　birth　of　the　promised　heir。　At　the　command　of　God　he　had　sent
away　his　son　Ishmael。　And　now；　when　the　child　so　long　desired　was　entering
upon　manhood；　and　the　patriarch　seemed　able　to　discern　the　fruition　of　his
hopes；　a　trial　greater　than　all　others　was　before　him。

The　command　was　expressed　in　words　that　must　have　wrung　with　anguish　that
father's　heart：　〃Take　now　thy　son；　thine　only　son　Isaac；　whom　thou　lovest；　。
。　。　and　offer　him　there　for　a　burnt　offering。〃　Isaac　was　the　light　of　his
home；　the　solace　of　his　old　age；　above　all　else　the　inheritor　of　the
promised　blessing。　The　loss　of　such　a　son　by　accident　or　disease　would　have
been　heart　rending　to　the　fond　father；　it　would　have　bowed　down　his　whitened
head　with　grief；　but　he　was　commanded　to　shed　the　blood　of　that　son　with　his
own　hand。　It　seemed　to　him　a　fearful　impossibility。

Satan　was　at　hand　to　suggest　that　he　must　be　deceived；　for　the　divine　law
commands；　〃Thou　shalt　not　kill；〃　and　God　would　not　require　what　He　had　once
forbidden。　Going　outside　his　tent；　Abraham　looked　up　to　the　calm　brightness
of　the　unclouded　heavens；　and　recalled　the　promise　made　nearly　fifty　years
before；　that　his　seed　should　be　innumerable　as　the　stars。　If　this　promise
was　to　be　fulfilled　through　Isaac；　how　could　he　be　put　to　death？　Abraham　was
tempted　to　believe　that　he　might　be　under　a　delusion。　In　his　doubt　and
anguish　he　bowed　upon　the　earth；　and　prayed；　as　he　had　never　prayed　before；
for　some　confirmation　of　the　command　if　he　must　perform　this　terrible　duty。
He　remembered　the　angels　sent　to　reveal　to　him　God's　purpose　to　destroy
Sodom；　and　who　bore　to　him　the　promise　of　this　same　son　Isaac；　and　he　went
to　the　place　where　he　had　several　times　met　the　heavenly　messengers；　hoping
to　meet　them　again；　and　receive　some　further　direction；　but　none　came　to　his
relief。　Darkness　seemed　to　shut　him　in；　but　the　command　of　God　was　sounding
in　his　ears；　〃Take　now　thy　son；　thine　only　son　Isaac；　whom　thou　lovest。〃
That　command　must　be　obeyed；　and　he　dared　not　delay。　Day　was　approaching；
and　he　must　be　on　his　journey。

Returning　to　his　tent；　he　went　to　the　place　where　Isaac　lay　sleeping　the
deep；　untroubled　sleep　of　youth　and　innocence。　For

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a　moment　the　father　looked　upon　the　dear　face　of　his　son；　then　turned
tremblingly　away。　He　went　to　the　side　of　Sarah；　who　was　also　sleeping。
Should　he　awaken　her；　that　she　might　once　more　embrace　her　child？　Should　he
tell　her　of　God's　requirement？　He　longed　to　unburden　his　heart　to　her；　and
share　with　her　this　terrible　responsibility；　but　he　was　restrained　by　the
fear　that　she　might　hinder　him。　Isaac　was　her　joy　and　pride；　her　life　was
bound　up　in　him；　and　the　mother's　love　might　refuse　the　sacrifice。

Abraham　at　last　summoned　his　son；　telling　him　of　the　command　to　offer
sacrifice　upon　a　distant　mountain。　Isaac　had　often　gone　with　his　father　to
worship　at　some　one　of　the　various　altars　that　marked　his　wanderings；　and
this　summons　excited　no　surprise。　The　preparations　for　the　journey　were
quickly　completed。　The　wood　was　made　ready　and　put　upon　the　ass；　and　with
two　menservants　they　set　forth。

Side　by　side　the　father　and　the　son　journeyed　in　silence。　The　patriarch；
pondering　his　heavy　secret；　had　no　heart　for　words。　His　thoughts　were　of　the
proud；　fond　mother；　and　the　day　when　he　should　return　to　her　alone。　Well　he
knew　that　the　knife　would　pierce　her　heart　when　it　took　the　life　of　her　son。

That　daythe　longest　that　Abraham　had　ever　experienced　dragged　slowly　to
its　close。　While　his　son　and　the　young　men　were　sleeping；　he　spent　the　night
in　prayer；　still　hoping　that　some　heavenly　messenger　might　come　to　say　that
the　trial　was　enough；　that　the　youth　might　return　unharmed　to　his　mother。
But　no　relief　came　to　his　tortured　soul。　Another　long　day；　another　night　of
humiliation　and　prayer；　while　ever　the　command　that　was　to　leave　him
childless　was　ringing　in　his　ears。　Satan　was　near　to　whisper　doubts　and
unbelief；　but　Abraham　resisted　his　suggestions。　As　they　were　about　to　begin
the　journey　of　the　third　day；　the　patriarch；　looking　northward；　saw　the
promised　sign；　a　cloud　of　glory　hovering　over　Mount　Moriah；　and　he　knew　that
the　voice　which　had　spoken　to　him　was　from　heaven。

Even　now　he　did　not　murmur　against　God；　but　strengthened　his　soul　by
dwelling　upon　the　evidences　of　the　Lord's　goodness　and　faithfulness。　This
son　had　been　unexpectedly　given；　and　had　not　He　who　bestowed　the　precious
gift　a　right　to　recall　His　own？　Then　faith　repeated　the　promise；　〃In　Isaac
shall　they　seed　be　called〃a　seed　numberless　as　the　grains　of　sand　upon　the
shore。　Isaac　was　the　child　of　a　miracle；　and　could　not　the　power　that

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gave　him　life　restore　it？　Looking　beyond　that　which　was　seen；　Abraham
grasped　the　divine　word；　〃accounting　that　God　was　able　to　raise　him　up；　even
from　the　dead。〃　Hebrews　11：19。

Yet　no