patriarchs and prophets-第37章
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〃Abraham； Abraham！〃 He quickly answers； 〃Here am I；〃 And again the voice is
heard； 〃Lay not thine hand upon the lad； neither do thou any thing unto him：
for now I know that thou fearest God； seeing thou hast not withheld thy son；
thine only son； from Me。〃
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Then Abraham saw 〃a ram caught in a thicket；〃 and quickly bringing the new
victim； he offered it 〃in the stead of his son。〃 In his joy and gratitude
Abraham gave a new name to the sacred spot〃Jehovah…jireh；〃 〃the Lord will
provide。〃
On Mount Moriah； God again renewed His covenant； confirming with a solemn
oath the blessing to Abraham and to his seed through all coming generations：
〃By myself have I sworn； saith Jehovah； for because thou hast done this
thing； and hast not withheld thy son； thine only son； that in blessing I
will bless thee； and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of
the heaven； and as the sand which is upon the seashore； and thy seed shall
possess the gate of his enemies； and in thy seed shall all the nations of
the earth be blessed； because thou hast obeyed My voice。〃
Abraham's great act of faith stands like a pillar of light； illuminating the
pathway of God's servants in all succeeding ages。 Abraham did not seek to
excuse himself from doing the will of God。 During that three days' journey
he had sufficient time to reason； and to doubt God； if he was disposed to
doubt。 He might have reasoned that the slaying of his son would cause him to
be looked upon as a murderer； a second Cain； that it would cause his
teaching to be rejected and despised； and thus destroy his power to do good
to his fellow men。 He might have pleaded that age should excuse him from
obedience。 But the patriarch did not take refuge in any of these excuses。
Abraham was human； his passions and attachments were like ours； but he did
not stop to question how the promise could be fulfilled if Isaac should be
slain。 He did not stay to reason with his aching heart。 He knew that God is
just and righteous in all His requirements； and he obeyed the command to the
very letter。
〃Abraham believed God； and it was imputed unto him for righteousness： an he
was called the friend of God。〃 James 2：23。 And Paul says； 〃They which are of
faith； the same are the children of Abraham。〃 Galatians 3：7。 But Abraham's
faith was made manifest by his works。 〃Was not Abraham our father justified
by works； when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar？ Seest thou how
faith wrought with his works； and by works was faith made perfect。？〃 James
2：21； 22。 There are many who fail to understand the relation of faith and
works。 They say； 〃Only believe in Christ； and you are safe。 You have nothing
to do with keeping
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the law。〃 But genuine faith will be manifest in obedience。 Said Christ to
the unbelieving Jews； 〃If ye were Abraham's children； ye would do the works
of Abraham。〃 John 8：39。 And concerning the father of the faithful the Lord
declares； 〃Abraham obeyed My voice； and kept My charge； My commandments； My
statutes； and My laws。〃 Genesis 26：5。 Says the apostle James； 〃Faith； if it
hath not works； is dead； being alone。〃 James 2：17。 And John； who dwells so
fully upon love； tells us； 〃This is the love of God； that we keep His
commandments。〃 1 John 5：3。
Through type and promise God 〃preached before the gospel unto Abraham。〃
Galatians 3：8。 And the patriarch's faith was fixed upon the Redeemer to
come。 Said Christ to the Jews。 〃Your father Abraham rejoiced that he should
see My day； and he saw it； and was glad。〃 John 8：56； R。V。； margin。 The ram
offered in the place of Isaac represented the Son of God； who was to be
sacrificed in our stead。 When man was doomed to death by transgression of
the law of God； the Father； looking upon His Son； said to the sinner； 〃Live：
I have found a ransom。〃
It was to impress Abraham's mind with the reality of the gospel； as well as
to test his faith； that God commanded him to slay his son。 The agony which
he endured during the dark days of that fearful trial was permitted that he
might understand from his own experience something of the greatness of the
sacrifice made by the infinite God for man's redemption。 No other test could
have caused Abraham such torture of soul as did the offering of his son。 God
gave His Son to a death of agony and shame。 The angels who witnessed the
humiliation and soul anguish of the Son of God were not permitted to
interpose； as in the case of Isaac。 There was no voice to cry； 〃It is
enough。〃 To save the fallen race； the King of glory yielded up His life。
What stronger proof can be given of the infinite compassion and love of God？
〃He that spared not His own Son； but delivered Him up for us all； how shall
He not with Him also freely give us all things？〃 Romans 8：32。
The sacrifice required of Abraham was not alone for his own good； nor solely
for the benefit of succeeding generations； but it was also for the
instruction of the sinless intelligences of heaven and of other worlds。 The
field of the controversy between Christ and Satanthe field on which the
plan of redemption is wrought outis the lesson book of the universe。
Because Abraham had
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shown a lack of faith in God's promises； Satan had accused him before the
angels and before God of having failed to comply with the conditions of the
covenant； and as unworthy of its blessings。 God desired to prove the loyalty
of His servant before all heaven； to demonstrate that nothing less than
perfect obedience can be accepted； and to open more fully before them the
plan of salvation。
Heavenly beings were witnesses of the scene as the faith of Abraham and the
submission of Isaac were tested。 The trial was far more severe than that
which had been brought upon Adam。 Compliance with the prohibition laid upon
our first parents involved no suffering； but the command to Abraham demanded
the most agonizing sacrifice。 All heaven beheld with wonder and admiration
Abraham's unfaltering obedience。 All heaven applauded his fidelity。 Satan's
accusations were shown to be false。 God declared to His servant； 〃Now I know
that thou fearest God ＇notwithstanding Satan's charges＇； seeing thou hast
not withheld thy son； thine only son from Me。〃 God's covenant； confirmed to
Abraham by an oath before the intelligences of other worlds； testified that
obedience will be rewarded。
It had been difficult even for the angels to grasp the mystery of
redemptionto comprehend that the Commander of heaven； the Son of God； must
die for guilty man。 When the command was given to Abraham to offer up his
son； the interest of all heavenly beings was enlisted。 With intense
earnestness they watched each step in the fulfillment of this command。 When
to Isaac's question； 〃Where is the lamb for a burnt offering？〃 Abraham made
answer； 〃God will provide Himself a lamb；〃 and when the father's hand was
stayed as he was about to slay his son； and the ram which God had provided
was offered in the place of Isaac then light was shed upon the mystery of
redemption； and even the angels understood more clearly the wonderful
provision that God had made for man's salvation。 1 Peter 1：12。
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Chapter 14
Destruction of Sodom
Fairest among the cities of the Jordan Valley was Sodom； set in a plain
which was 〃as the garden of the Lord〃 in its fertility and beauty。 Here the
luxuriant vegetation of the tropics flourished。 Here was the home of the
palm tree； the olive； and the vine； and flowers shed their fragrance
throughout the year。 Rich harvests clothed the fields； and flocks and herds
covered the encircling hills。 Art and commerce contributed to enrich the
proud city of the plain。 The treasures of the East adorned her palaces； and
the caravans of the desert brought their stores of precious things to supply
her marts of trade。 With little thought or labor； every want of life could
be supplied； and the whole year seemed one round of festivity。
The profusion reigning everywhere gave birth to luxury and
pride。
