Story 15: A'bra-ham Ordered To Sacrifice I'saac IV

   Then A'bra-ham looked behind him and saw a young ram caught by its horns in a thicket. He quickly released I'saac, seized the ram, and offered it upon the altar prepared for the sacrifice of his own son.
   The LORD then renewed the Covenant which He had previously made with A'bra-ham, and which had been repeated a number of times in the course of his life. The Covenant was now strengthened by God's solemn promise, and it was declared that all people should be saved through the descendants of A'bra-ham. In the willingness of A'bra-ham to sacrifice I'saac we are reminded of a love that was even greater. God spared the son of A'bra-ham, but freely gave His own Son to die for man's salvation. The rescue of I'saac was a prophecy of the resurrection of the Sav'ior, and of His return to glory. All of these truths may not have been grasped by A'bra-ham, but centuries later the LORD said: "A'bra-ham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it, and was glad."
   A'bra-ham and I'saac then went down the mountain together, returning to the young servants just as A'bra-ham had declared that they would.
   I'saac continued to be a faithful son. Gentle and gracious by nature, he remained obedient to the laws and duties of his father's religion. When he was fully grown in body, mind, and spirit he became the honored and worthy successor of his father. Of his career we shall learn in future chapters.

Story 15: A'bra-ham Ordered To Sacrifice I'saac lll

   A'bra-ham said to his young servants, "Remain here at the foot of this mountain while I'saac and I go up to the top for worship, and presently we will return." In these words he may have spoken more than he understood, yet he fully believed that God would provide a way by which I'saac would return with him, and still the offering could be made.
   The wood for the fire which was to consume the offering was placed upon I'saac , while A'bra-ham carried a knife and some glowing sticks from the fire which they had kindled at the foot of the hill.
   As the two walked up the mountainside I'saac turned to his father and said, "Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" In reply to this heart-rending question of his son, A'bra-ham uttered one of the most comforting statements to be found in the Bible. He said: "God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." Once again faith had moved him to speak more than he understood, making a prophecy that was soon to come true in a marvelous way, and which foretold the sacrifice of the LORD Je'sus for the world's sin.
   When A'bra-ham and I'saac reached the top of the mountain where the sacrifice was to be made, they proceeded at once to build an altar. A'bra-ham then tied the hands and feet of I'saac and placed him on the wood which had been laid upon the altar. He took a knife in his hand, raised up his arm to strike the fatal blow into the heart of his son, and was in the very act of offering him as a burnt sacrifice unto God.
   Suddenly an Angel spoke to him out of the Heavens, saying: "A'bra-ham, A'bra-ham; do not lay thy hands upon the lad, and do not harm him in any way: for now I know that thou truly fear God, because thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from the LORD."
   What joy and relief these words brought to the father's heart! He had been permitted to go just far enough to test his faith and obedience, and now God restrained his hand from an act of murder. A'bra-ham was spared the actual deed of slaying and burning his son because he had proved himself ready to do so if God really demanded it.
  

Story 15: A'bra-ham Ordered To Sacrifice I'saac ll

   For nearly three days A'bra-ham and his companions walked over the hills and valleys, up many steep and rugged paths, sleeping at night under the trees in the forests of that country. It must have been a sad, solemn journey for A'bra-ham, with bitter thoughts to fill his mind every step of the way. No doubt he thought most often of I'saac, the son and true heir whom God had given after long years of waiting. He knew that the death of I'saac would destroy all hope of the many descendants whom the LORD had promised, yet he seems not for a moment to have thought of disobeying God's command.
   A'bra-ham loved the LORD with all his heart, and there was no earthly possession that he would not quickly and happily yield to Him. He had faithfully given a tenth part of all his increase, and often much more. He had always taken the best if his sheep or cattle for burnt offerings unto the LORD. He firmly believed in God's word, trusted fully in His mercy, grace, and love, and had done without question whatever the LORD had asked. But never before had he been asked to give as a burnt offering his own son, the child he loved above everything else in the world, and through whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed. What greater trial could come to any man?
   A'bra-ham had a firm and conquering faith in the power of God. He had passed through many trials before, and his faith had always won. It had been hard to leave his father's home in Mes-o-po-ta'mia, to sojourn in Egypt, and to bear the separation from Lot. His faith had been tried by the ruin of Sod'om and Go-mor'rah, which he had tried to save for the sake of the few righteous people who lived in these cities. There had been great trials in the long years of waiting for the birth of I'saac, and the parting with Ha'gar and Ish'ma-el had filled him with sorrow. By these and many other trials his faith had been severely tested, yet never had failed. But now he must face a trial far greater than all the others combined. Could he trust God even now?
   Yes, he had faith to believe that even though his son should be slain and the body burnt into ashes, God was able to give the child back to him from the dead. How this could be done was more than A'bra-ham could understand, for the ways of God are too wonderful to be known by even the best of men. And yet, though A'bra-ham could not understand the ways of God, there was one thing he could do. He could believe in God's mercy and power, and obey the command, knowing that He would do no wrong.                  To A'bra-ham:
                  "Providence was dark in its permissions; yet
                     One day when all is known,
                  The universe of reason shall acknowledge
                     How just and good were they."
   As the weary travelers passed on into the third day, there suddenly appeared in the sky a bright cloud pointing out the place where the burnt offering was to be made. The glory of God shone from the top of a high hill, as if to say to A'bra-ham, "There I am, and there I wait for thee," This was a prophecy of the She-ki'nah, or miraculous light, which later was to hover over the altar of the temple on this very spot. The light of God's glorious acceptance of the faith and obedience of His servant, and of the giving back of his precious son shone upon the place where the altar was to be built.

Story 15: A'bra-ham Ordered To Sacrifice I'saac l

   In the days of A'bra-ham the central idea in worship was the offering of sacrifices. The custom had prevailed in the period before A'bra-ham, and was continued for hundreds of years after him. In keeping what they regarded as the chief duty of worship, the people erected altars and made offerings unto the LORD. The sacrifices consisted of such domestic animals as sheep, goats, and cattle, which were slain and burnt upon altars built of either stone or earth, and were dedicated to God. The offering of these animals was an expression of thanks for the blessings of life, and the blood was accepted as a full pardon for sin. In making such offerings the worshiper acknowledged his complete dependence upon God, confessed his wholehearted surrender to Him, and pledged himself to a life of obedience.
   A'bra-ham had been very faithful in making offerings to God; when he moved from one place to another the first thing he did was to build an altar for sacrifices. Many of the heathen people of the world, or those who worshiped false gods, also made sacrifices, and some of them even offered their own children. In the hope of pleasing their gods these cruel people would bind their children to the altar and slay them, or cast them to wild animals to be torn and devoured. Those who worshiped the true God never followed this custom, for they knew that it was wrong to do such things. Instead of harming their children, whom the LORD had given them to love and protect, they considered it a religious duty to guard them from all danger.
   It was, therefore, a great shock to A'bra-ham, and a severe trial of his faith, when one day he was ordered by the LORD to offer his son I'saac on the altar as a burnt sacrifice. A'bra-ham was then living at Be'er-she'ba, which was near the southwestern border of the land of Ca'naan, and about fifty miles from the mountainous regions of Beth'el, where he had formerly made his home. The LORD told him to take I'saac back into the hill country, where he should offer him as a burnt sacrifice on the mountain which was then known as Mo-ri'ah. To make such a journey would take nearly three days of the slow travel that could be made at the time.
   With his heart filled with sorrow and despair, but still loyal and obedient to the voice of his God, A'bra-ham prepared at once for the journey. He arose early in the morning, saddled an ass, which was the animal used for travel in those days, split the wood for the burnt offering, and took two of his young men with him as servants. With his son I'saac and the two servants he then travelled in a northeasterly direction, searching for the place where God would direct him to make the sacrifice.
  

Story 14: Ish'ma-el And Ha'gar Sent Away ll

Whatever her motives may have been, it is clear that the LORD was on her side. She no doubt feared that A'bra-ham's fondness for his first-born son might lead him to seek some way of not depriving I'saac of the heritage which had been Divinely announced as his.
   The request of Sa'rah presented A'bra-ham with a very difficult problem. He therefore sought guidance from the LORD, and was told to do as Sa'rah had asked. The LORD advised him that it would be better for both I'saac and Ish'ma-el, for Ha'gar and her son to be sent away, and promised that He would bless Ish'ma-el, making a great people of his descendants.
   The next morning A'bra-ham provided food and a bottle of water for Ha'gar and Ish'ma-el and sent them away, thinking, no doubt, that they would go to Ha'gar's native land of Egypt. Ha'gar became lost, however, and wandered in the desert south of Ge'rar until the water given her for the journey was all gone. The sufferings of Ha'gar and Ish'ma-el were severe, for Divine Providence sought to cure them for their willfulness, and to prepare Ish'ma-el for a great future. Though punished, they were not forsaken by the LORD; though exiled from A'bra-ham's home, they were destined to make a way for themselves in the world, and though deprived of their membership in the family of Is'ra-el they were Divinely chosen to be head of another great branch of the human race.
   Lost in the desert, both she and her boy perishing from thirst, Ha'gar despaired. With only the hot, burning sands for a bed, and with no canopy over them except the open skies from which there blazed down upon them a consuming heat, Ha'gar placed her son under a little bush and turned away to let him  die. Her act was not cruel or heartless, she simply could not bear to see her son die.
   It was in that hour of despair that the Angel of the LORD appeared to her. The Angel comforted her with the assurance that her cries had been heard by the LORD, who would deliver them from danger, and who would make a great nation of Ish'ma-el's descendants. Then her eyes were opened by the LORD, and she saw a refreshing spring of water gushing forth in the midst of the desert.
   Ha'gar remained in the desert country, where she reared her son to full manhood. Ish'ma-el learned to shoot the bow and arrow with great skill, a talent that was useful in his wild, nomadic life in the desert. He was known as a wild man, and his children resembled him in their love of roaming the desert and being their own masters. Twelve sons were born to him, and each of them the head of a roving tribe of people later known as A-ra'bi-ans.
  
  

Story 14: Ish'ma-el And Ha'gar Sent Away l

   The coming of I'saac into the home of A'bra-ham and Sa'rah was not without moments of trial and sorrow. There was already in the household of A'bra-ham, as previously related, a son of Ha'gar, the Egyptian maid. The boy was greatly loved by his father A'bra-ham, who had grown to think of him almost as the Divinely promised heir. Twelve years before the birth of I'saac there had been a serious quarrel between Sa'rah and Ha'gar, and only the intervention of God had restored Ha'gar and her son back to the household. Now that Sa'rah had a son of her own the jealousy would be revived, with each mother looking with suspicion and envy upon the other concerning the future of the two boys. Since Ish'ma-el was twelve years old when I'saac was born, Ha'gar would naturally expect him to be his father's heir.
   When I'saac was about three years old, according to a custom of that age, a great festival was held in honor of his becoming weaned. For the first time the child was permitted to eat the food which was to form his regular diet from that time on. Neighbors and friends were to join the festivities, and it was an occasion of great joy and happiness.
   Ish'ma-el was now about fifteen years old, and for the past three years had looked upon  I'saac with growing suspicion and envy, taunting the younger son with bitter, sarcastic remarks. He seems to have been a rough, unruly lad who scorned the quiet, gentle habits of I'saac, and his conduct toward his half-brother was rude, indiscreet, and vulgar. On this occasion he was probably jealous of the honor being paid to I'saac in the festivities.
   Sa'rah felt Ish'ma-el's  unbecoming attitude toward her son was not only the expression of his envy, but was the result of Ha'gar's influence and training. Her pent up envy burst forth in sharp anger. She went to A'bra-ham and demanded that Ha'gar and Ish'ma-el be sent away, saying that she did not wish her son to be reared with this rough lad.
   Sa'rah realized that Ish'ma-el's jeers and ill-mannered mocking had a deeper meaning than mere impoliteness in speech. She felt that his attitude was connected with the birthright, and that he would use violence if necessary to defend what he thought was his rightful heritage. Her quick temper may have led her to call for the removal of a rival to her son's succession and title to his father's inheritance, but in her words the way was opened for the LORD to overcome evil with good, hence she may unknowingly have uttered a Divine decree.

Story 13: The Birth Of I'saac ll

It was the beginning of a Divine supernatural agency which would continue to operate throughout the history of the chosen people of God. He was not only the child of the Covenant, but the supernatural element in his birth was a sign of the Divine in the development and fulfillment of the Covenant of Redemption for man.
   Greatest of all, the miraculous birth of I'saac was prophetic of a still greater supernatural birth which was to take place in the future A'bra-ham'ic family. It foretold the miracle by which God would bring "His first-begotten" into the world. As in the case of I'saac, the birth of Jesus was announced long before it took place, the name was given prior to the birth, and the birth occurred at a time appointed by God. In both cases the beginning of a greater Is'ra-el in the world was marked by a miraculous birth.
   Sa'rah's visitation recalls that Ma'ry, the Mother of Je'sus, though there were differences. Sa'rah gave birth when she was old and the natural faculties of child-bearing were dead, while Ma'ry was little more than a child herself. Sa'rah's child was to be the father of natural Is'ra-el; the Son of Mary was to be the founder of spiritual Is'ra-el.
   The birth of I'saac was the occasion for the first cradle hymn of history, the song of Sa'rah being the first of its kind of literature. It was a hymn of wonder and joy in supreme acknowledgment of the gift of God, and a song in which her relatives and friends heartily joined in singing. It was a song of the greatness that was to come for her son, and of the hope for countless descendants.

Story 13: The Birth Of I'saac l

   Soon after the destruction of Sod'om and the other cities of the Jor'dan plain A'bra-ham removed from that part of the land and settled in a place called Ge'rar, in the southwestern part of Ca'naan near the great sea. This land was occupied by a strong, war-like people known as Phi-lis-tines, and their king was named A-bim'e-lech. Although it had been twenty-four years since A'bra-ham had misrepresented his wife as his sister in order to protect her from the king of Egypt, the reproach which he suffered on that occasion should have remained fresh in his memory. Out of fear of A-bim'e-lech, however, A'bra-ham was guilty once again of the same deception.
   Just as the deception planned by A'bra-ham had failed once before, so it failed again. A-bim'e-lech  had decided to take Sa'rah as one of his wives, But before he was able to carry out his plan the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, warning him not to take Sa'rah because she was the wife of A'bra-ham. A-bim'e-lech then called A'bra-ham into his presence, bestowed rich presents and grants of land, and asked that the prophet of God pray for him. Both A'bra-ham and Sa'rah stood severely reproached before God, in which state they humbly accepted the thanks of the heathen king and made their home within his country.
   In answer to a special prayer of intercession by A'bra-ham the Lord healed A-bim'e-lech and his family of a serious ailment, and blessed them with many children. A-bim'e-lech then bestowed still greater favors upon A'bra-ham, who was also blessed more and more by the Lord until he became very prosperous and highly regarded in the land of Ge'rar.
   Some months after A'bra-ham's removal to this part of Ca'naan the promised son was born to Sa'rah, and he was called I'saac as previously directed by the Angel of God. His birth was regarded by all as no ordinary work of nature, but as the direct result of God's mercy. It was also accepted as a mark of Divine preference, and as a prophecy of the future greatness of A'bra-ham's descendants. The miraculous birth was also the reward of faith, for A'bra-ham and Sa'rah had believed in God against all human hope. Although their faith had been severely tried by long waiting and natural difficulties, it was fully rewarded in God's good time and His own marvelous way.
  

Story 12: The Rain Of Fire On Sod'om And Go'mor'rah lll

   Lot's wife could not bear the thought of giving up all that they had left behind in Sod'om. Her heart clung to her home, her worldly possessions, and her former companions. She halted in their flight to look back longingly upon the city, her heart filled with memories of the life she had found so happy. As she stood there, lost in revery, smoke and ashes began to spread all over the plain, and suddenly she was petrified with fear. Standing erect and motionless, gazing toward Sod'om, her body was turned into a pillar of salt,-an everlasting monument of warning against turning back when one is on the road to salvation.
   The Lord then caused a rain of fire to fall upon Sod'om and Go'mor'rah; destroying also the neighboring towns of Ad'mah and Ze'bo-im; only the little town of Zo'ar escaped the calamity.
   From his mountain home nearby the faithful A'bra-ham looked out upon the plains below. The once fertile and smiling lands were now a flaming furnace, and the former prosperous and wealthy cities had become a vast heap of charred ruins, The idle luxury of the day before had been turned into utter desolation. The heart of A'bra-ham was stirred deeply, but he humbly acknowledged the righteousness of God in all His ways.
   In the meantime Lot and his two daughters had feared for their lives in Zo'ar, and had fled to the mountains of Mo'ab to the east, where they took shelter in a cave. Here took place the most shameful incident of Lot's career, and his name passed from the pages of sacred history. When his two daughters realized that all the descendants of their father had perished in the flames of Sod'om, they took what seemed to be the only means of preserving their father's line. They made Lot drunk with wine, induced him to commit the crime of incest, and gave birth to the sons from whom there sprang the Mo'ab-ites and Am'mon-ites. We shall learn more about them in later chapters.
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Story 12: The Rain Of Fire On Sod'om And Go'mor'rah ll

   The people of Sod'om had seen the Angels as they went about the streets of the city, but did not know that they were Angels because they were in the appearance of men. Attracted by the superior bearing of the two strangers within their city, some of the most depraved people looked upon them with evil intentions. They stealthily watched the Angels as they entered the house of Lot, planning to seize them at the first opportunity. Finally they demanded that Lot bring out his guests and let them be mistreated by the mob. When Lot refused their demands they turned upon him with jeers and scorn, accusing him of taking too much authority for one who was only a sojourner within their city, and threatening to break down the door and take the two visitors by force.
   The Sod'om-ites were bold unashamed in their evil intentions, and no arguments or resistance which Lot could offer would prevent them from carrying out their wicked purposes. They rushed the door which Lot had closed and attacked him violently. Now the Angels had made their special visit to Lot because he had kept himself free from the more vicious sins of Sod'om; though he had done wrong by associating with wicked neighbors, he was still counted among the righteous. He was grieved by the evils of Sod'om, and had often rebuked the people for their disgraceful deeds. The Lord therefore wished to spare him from the terrible disaster that was soon to fall upon Sod'om.
   When Lot's life was in danger by the attack of the people who sought the strangers in his home the two Angels opened the door and drew him to safety. The Angels then caused the angry mob to be smitten with blindness, and the confusion became so great that the Sod'om-ites could not even find the door of Lot's house.
   The Heavenly messengers then informed Lot that the Lord was preparing to rain fire and brimstone upon Sod'om and Go'mor'rah, bringing utter destruction to both cities, and they suggested that he take all his kinsmen and property out of the city at once. When Lot brought the news to his sons-in-law they scoffed at his warning, refusing to heed the call of God for safety.
   Lot was then told to take his wife and the two daughters who still lived in his home and flee to the surrounding mountains. Instead of obeying at once, Lot permitted business matters and selfish interests to delay his going. The love of such worldly things as gold and silver seemed more important at the moment than the safety of his family. The Angels therefore seized him by the hand and led the family out on the road toward the mountains.
   As Lot and his family fled from Sod'om he became fearful that he could not reach a place of safety in the mountains. He then pleaded with the Angel who was guiding him to spare the little town to the northeast that was later called Zo'ar, and allow him to reside there with his family. When the Lord agreed to this request Lot and his wife and two daughters turned their steps toward the little town.

Story 12: The Rain Of Fire On Sod'om And Go'mor'rah l

   This chapter takes us back to the wicked cities of the plains of Jor'dan, and to Lot and his family. During the years that had passed since Ab'ram saved the king of Sod'om and many of his people from conquest by the king of E'lam the city had fallen deeper and deeper into sin. Lot had chosen to remain in Sod'om, and his family had become entangled in the evils of this unrighteous city.
   Having finished their mission to A'bra-ham and his wife, the three Angelic visitors started on the journey to Sod'om, accompanied for part of the way by A'bra-ham. Presently the leader of the group lingered in conversation with A'bra-ham, while the others continued the march towards Sod'om. The latter two Angels had been sent to Sod'om to announce its approaching destruction under the judgment of God. Remembering the faith of A'bra-ham and his kindly interest in Lot and his family, the Lord said "Shall I hide from A'bra-ham what I am going to do?" So close had been the relation between God and A'bra-ham that he was called "the friend of God." To such a friend the Lord was willing to reveal His purpose concerning the overthrow of a city in which there flourished the worst forms of immorality known in the history of the world.
   The Lord therefore took His friend into full confidence, telling him that the time of judgment had come, and that the sins of Sod'om must be punished. A'bra-ham then offered an earnest prayer in the hope of sparing Sod'om. He said to the Lord: "If there can be found as many as fifty righteous people in the city, wilt thou spare it for the sake of these fifty?"
   When the Lord agreed to spare the city if fifty righteous people could be found there, A'bra-ham pleaded: "Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five?" After the Lord agreed to this condition A'bra-ham succeeded in having the required number of righteous people reduced, first to forty, then to thirty, then to twenty, and finally to ten. Beyond this number A'bra-ham did not dare to go, but was content with the Lord's assurance that the city would not be destroyed if there could be found only ten who were righteous.
   In spite of the heroic efforts of A'bra-ham to save the city, not even ten righteous people could be found, and the judgment of God was duly carried out.
   The two Angels who had left A'bra-ham and the Lord in conversation went on into the city of Sod'om, walking through the city on a tour of observation, and trying to find at least ten good men and women. Instead of finding the good people whose presence would have saved the city from destruction, the Angels were forced to look upon the worst forms of wickedness and vice. No matter where they looked, they could find nothing but pride, luxury, and self-indulgence; everywhere the people gave themselves up to worldly pleasures and disgraceful conduct of the worst kind. Finally they came to the house of Lot and found him sitting at the gate of Sod'om, where he acted as a magistrate. True to the training which he had received from his uncle A'bra-ham, and mindful of the customs of hospitality, Lot rose up and greeted the strangers courteously. He welcomed them to his home, treated them with kindness, and made them a feast.
  

Story 11: Ish'ma-el's Birth And The Visit Of Angels To Ab'ram lll

   Soon after this third renewal of the Covenant with God, A'bra-ham was sitting at the door of his tent in true Oriental fashion, resting from the heat of the day; ready to greet any passing traveler, and to invite strangers of respectable appearance to pause and share a meal with him. When three men of striking countenance and superior bearing approached the tent, A'bra-ham hastened to meet them, bowed courteously and invited them to tarry with him for dinner. His urgent invitation was accepted, and a bounteous meal was prepared for them by Sa'rah.
   The courteous behavior of A'bra-ham toward these strangers, his humble bearing toward persons whose superiority evidently impressed him, his gracious hospitality , and the reverent manner in which he listened to them, all gave proof of his lovable and deeply religious nature. With noble humility he claimed no merit for his kindly service, with true courtesy and forethought he made the distinguished guests feel at ease in his home, and in a deeply religious spirit he thanked the Lord for this opportunity of doing a good deed.
   At this time A'bra-ham did not know that the three passing strangers were Heavenly messengers. One of them appears to have been the Lord in the form of a man, probably the "Angel Je-ho'vah," which was a name for the Lord in His earthly appearances during ancient times. This leader of the group talked freely with A'bra-ham, speaking with him further about God's promise to send the promised heir to him and Sa'rah.
   When Sa'rah overheard the words of the Heavenly guest concerning the promise of God that she should become the mother of a son, though advanced in age and greatly lessened in strength, Sa'rah simply could not believe what she heard. She burst into laughter, not from a spirit of wickedness or impiety, but from sheer astonishment. Such a happening was so contrary to the usual laws of nature that she could not see how it could take place.
   The time had come when Sa'rah should become a party to the Covenant of God, and this may have been the reason for the Angelic visitor to speak as he did where Sa'rah could overhear the conversation. She must be told of the miracle that was soon to take place in her life, and her doubts must be overcome. It was not enough that she be told of the miracle by her husband; God Himself must make known to her the wonderful prospects, and her unbelief and fear must be overcome by a message direct from the Heavens,
   In range of Sa'rah's hearing, and especially for her benefit, the Angel of the Lord therefore said to A'bra-ham: "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" In such words he called attention to the Almighty God with whom all things are possible, and Sa'rah's doubts and fears were transformed into victorious faith.
   In later history Sa'rah was praised as a model for womanly virtue and subjection. Her name appears in the notable list of the heroes and heroines of faith. She found favor with God, and all her unbelief was removed from her faithful heart. In due time the promised son was born, and Sa'rah became the mother of Is'ra-el, and of kings, princes, and nations.

Story 11: Ish'ma-el's Birth And The Visit Of Angels To Ab'ram ll

   The visit of the angel was seen by Ha'gar as a special providence of God, and she accepted his message as the voice of God. She believed all that he told her, and the place where the angel appeared to her was afterwards called: " The well of the living one who sees me."
   Ha'gar returned to the home of Ab'ram, and hereafter showed proper respect for Sa'rai. In due time she gave birth to a son, whom she named Ish'ma-el as commanded by the Heavenly messenger. From Ish'ma-el there descended a people who became noted for their numbers and strength, and whom we shall learn more in later chapters. Thus did God permit an alien in the house of faith to rise from the lowly place of a bondservant. As a wife of the man whose name was soon changed to mean "father of a multitude," she had a part in founding one of the largest groups of the human family.
   For thirteen years after the birth of Ish'ma-el Ha'gar remains in Ab'ram's home, caring for her son, and helping her mistress Sa'rai. They were filled with doubts and fears for Ab'ram and Sa'rai, but they remained faithful to God; making no further effort to interfere with God's fulfillment of the promise for a son of their very own. God then appears to His servant, talks with him face to face, and again assures him that Sar'ai shall give birth to a son who shall be the true heir to the promised heritage of Canaan. The Covenant was renewed and enlarged, with the rite of circumcision prescribed for Ab'ram and all male children descending from him. His name was changed from Ab'ram to A'bra-ham, which means "father of a multitude." The name of his wife Sa'rai was changed to Sa'rah, which means "princess."

Story 11: Ish'ma-el's Birth And The Visit Of Angels To Ab'ram l

   As Ab'ram grew older without seeing the fulfillment of God's promise to give him a son he became very impatient, and was greatly disturbed by the thought of dying without leaving descendants. Instead of asking the will of God, as he had done before, Ab'ram talked the matter over with his wife Sa'rai, who was now well advanced in years beyond the usual period of childbearing, and who felt very deeply her disappointment in not having a son. Her heart, like that of Ab'ram, had grown sore with hope deferred. They did not doubt God, but instead of awaiting His appointed time and way they sought means of their own for securing a son. They rebelled, not against God, but against a providence which seemed unbearable.
   Ab'ram and Sa'rai then took advantage of a custom that was often used in their time. Men frequently had more than one wife, and wives taken after the first were known as concubines. It often happened that when a man and his wife had been childless for many years the wife herself would suggest that a concubine bear children for her, and this is what Sa'rai did. There was in the household an Egyptian woman named Ha'gar, who was Sa'rai's maid. At Sa'rai's request Ab'ram took her as a concubine, and she gave birth to a son whom they named Ish'ma-el.
   In passing judgment upon this act of Ab'ram and Sa'rai, one should not be too severe. Their faith was great, but it wavered under the heavy trials placed upon it; in their human weakness Ab'ram and Sa'rai fell short of absolute perfection. They did not think it unwise or wrong to aid God in carrying out a promise which was impossible to fulfill in the usual course of nature, and therefore, did what seemed best under the circumstances. Their deed, however, brought great unhappiness to their home, and resulted in trials that were even harder to bear.
   By the raising of Ha'gar from a bondservant to the position of a wife, her relation to Ab'ram's family was greatly changed. Even before her son was born she became proud and self-satisfied, despising the very person who had made it possible for her rise. Sa'rai, who had suggested the entire matter, was now filled with envy for the honor which Ha'gar would soon enjoy as the mother of Ab'ram's son, and felt more keenly than ever the disappointment of her own childlessness. She complained bitterly to her husband, blaming him for her unhappiness. Ab'ram refused to quarrel with her, merely telling her to do as she wished with Ha'gar. The jealousy between Sa'rai and Ha'gar increased day by day, and Sa'rai began to treat her former maid harshly, no doubt making life miserable for the entire household.
   At last Ha'gar decided to flee into the wilderness rather than endure the ill treatment of Sa'rai. Forgetting that she had been chosen to bear a son for Ab'ram, Ha'gar fled from the unhappy home and started back toward her native land. As she stopped by a fountain of water on the roadside an angel of God appeared to her, addressing her by name and asking why she was there, and where she was going. These questions were not merely to learn what the angel already knew, but to show God's care for Ha'gar and His interest in the solving of her problems. When Ha'gar told the angel of her wish to escape from Sa'rai, she was ordered to return to Ab'ram's home and do whatever Sa'rai commanded her. She was also told that God knew all about her troubles, and would protect and prosper her. The angel told her that she would bear a son who is called Ish'ma-el, meaning "God hath heard." He was to be strong and fierce, the founder of a tribe that no one could overcome.

Story 10: God's Wonderful Promise To Ab'ram ll

   Although Ab'ram and his wife had reached so great an age that it seemed impossible for God to perform the miracle of giving them a son, Ab'ram did not lose hope. Believing with all his heart that God would do what seemed to be impossible in order to keep His promise, Ab'ram accepted the word of God without question. His faith rose into heroic vigor, and for it he was accounted righteous before the Lord.
   The Lord took Ab'ram into full confidence concerning the future of his offspring; in symbolic language He revealed the future slavery of the children of Is'ra-el in E'gypt, their return to the land of Canaan, and their growth into the great nation through which the Sav'ior should be given to the world. All the promises which God had given before were now summarized and made binding in a Holy Covenant. Included in this Covenant were the following promises: the gift of a son, the future greatness of the people descended from him, and final possession of the promised land. In return for these blessings Ab'ram promised to serve God faithfully for all his days upon earth. Of Ab'ram in that hour it may be said:
               "Majesty, combined with meekness,
                  righteousness and peace unite,
               To ensure those blessed conquests,
                  his possession and full right;
                     ride triumphant,
               decked in robes of purest light."

Story 10: God's Wonderful Promise To Ab'ram l

   After Ab'ram had been blessed by Mel-chiz'e-dek, and had given to this priest of God a tenth of all his possessions, the Lord appeared to him in a special vision. Of the many remarkable conversations between God and His servant Ab'ram the most wonderful now took place. The opening words were spoken by God: "Fear not, Ab'ram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."
   Ab'ram then laid bare to his heart before the Lord, complaining that no blessing which the Lord might bestow upon him could make up for the fact that he had no child of his own through whom the promises which God had already made could be fulfilled. Up to this time Ab'ram and Sa'rai had not been blessed with children, and the only heir of Ab'ram's household was a servant named E-li-e'zer, who was a foreigner from Da-mas'cus. Under these conditions it was hard for Ab'ram to see how the Lord could keep His promise of making a great nation of his descendants. Because he truly loved the Lord, and had perfect faith in His power and justice, Ab'ram was willing to trust himself completely to His mercy,
   The Lord then told Ab'ram that he should have a son of his very own, through whom His promises should be fulfilled. That night He took Ab'ram out of his tent and told him to gaze at the countless stars in the Heavens. Then he was told that the number and glory of his descendants should be like unto the multitudes of bright, shining stars upon which his eyes looked in wonder, and which no man could count. Before this meeting with God, Ab'ram had been told that his offspring should be as innumerable as the sands of the sea and the dust of the ground. From now on, whether Ab'ram looked down toward the ground, or out upon the shores of the sea, or up into the Heavens he would always be reminded of the vast number of descendants to be given him by the Lord.

Story 9: The Parting Of Lot And Ab'ram ll

   The choice proved to be very unfortunate for Lot, though he had only himself to blame. It was a choice determined solely by material gain and worldly advantages, guided entirely by worldly wisdom, and devoid of all spiritual sensitivity. The dangers to his moral and spiritual welfare were completely overlooked in his inordinate desire for riches and fame. He purchased worldly prosperity at a fearful cost; for it nourished his selfishness and pride, exposed him to the contagion of evil associates, and deprived him of the benefits of religious ordinances.
   Lot no doubt thought that he was doing a clever thing in apparently taking advantage of his uncle, but his fancied shrewdness resulted in his own undoing. Instead of overreaching Ab'ram, he overreached himself; in the lust for worldly gains he suffered immeasurable spiritual loss. No doubt his worldly goods were increased, but in the sight of God he became a spiritual pauper.
   There was no altar to the true God in Sod'om, and Lot was too much embarrassed by the sinfulness of his surroundings to erect one. Though Lot may have been vexed in his better moments by the vileness of the people of Sod'om and Go-mor'rah, he failed to protest against the proud luxury and idleness which vaunted itself on every side. He appears to have avoided the grosser immoralities of Sod'om, but his wife and a number of his children became fatally entangled. Some of his daughters married men of Sod'om, and in their lack of faith declined to leave the city when its destruction was announced by the messengers of God. Lot's wife lost her life during the flight from the city because she paused to look back upon the worldliness to which her heart had become attached. Lot and his two daughters who escaped the destruction of Sod'om and Go-mor'rah were later guilty of shameful deeds which brought disgrace to his name and a curse upon his descendants.

Story 9: The Parting Of Lot And Ab'ram l

   Ab'ram and Lot were prosperous before they went into E'gypt, and when they returned to Ca'naan they were rich in cattle, silver, and gold. In the vicinity of Bethel, where Ab'ram again built an altar and worshiped God, the shepherds of these two kinsmen searched the hill country for sufficient pasturage to feed their greatly increased flocks and herds. Some of the land was occupied by herdsmen of the native people, so the servants of Ab'ram and Lot found difficulty in securing grass for their sheep and cattle. Quarrels and contention arose between the two groups of herdsmen, and when Ab'ram learned of the unhappy situation he said to Lot:
   "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left."
   In these generous words Ab'ram displayed the spirit of true meekness and recognized the obligations of kinship. Rather than permit another to be injured he was willing to yield his own rights and privileges, even to suffer loss. The grasping, assertive spirit so common among other men in similar circumstances was wholly lacking; his conduct was marked by generosity and self-denial, and by a spirit of true humility. As the elder, more prominent of the partners, and as Lot's uncle and benefactor he had the right to choose his part of the country first, but he yielded the privilege to Lot. He could have claimed the entire country for himself, or selected the best parts of it, but he deferred to Lot's preference, taking the land which Lot had refused.
   From the vantage point afforded by the high hills around Bethel, where Ab'ram and Lot resided, one could look eastward toward the Jor'dan, beholding a beautiful plain, fertile and covered with luxuriant vegetation. Beyond the plain and within the immediate vicinity of the Jor'dan, perhaps on what now constitutes a part of the bed of the northern end of the Dead Sea, stood the wealthy and wicked cities of Sod'om and Go-mor'rah. The fame of this area for beauty and fertility was comparable to that of the Garden of Ed'en or the valley of the Nile in E'gypt. No crust of salt, volcanic action, or curse from God had yet blasted its verdure, or wrecked the civilization of the Phoenician settlements which had developed into these two great cities. All that here takes place was before the Lord had destroyed the cities of Sod'om and Go-mor'rah, and the country was wholly unlike the present barren waste.
   Lot was attracted by the fertility of this plain, and impressed also by the commercial advantages offered by the two great cities. Disregarding the moral contamination and spiritual disaster that might result from contact with immoral neighbors, he chose the plains for himself. Going down from the mountains where God was known and worshiped, Lot took all his possessions and "pitched his tent toward Sod'om." He did not settle within either of the wicked cities at first, but gradually moved closer and closer, becoming more and more involved in their low standards of morality and gross paganism.