patriarchs and prophets-第31节

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to　lessen　the　claims　of　God's　holy　law　are　striking　directly　at　the
foundation　of　the　government　of　families　and　nations。　Religious　parents；
failing　to　walk　in　His　statutes；　do　not　command　their　household　to　keep　the
way　of　the　Lord。　The　law　of　God　is　not　made　the　rule　of　life。　The　children；
as　they　make　homes　of　their　own；　feel　under　no　obligation　to　teach　their
children　what　they　themselves　have　never　been　taught。　And　this　is　why　there
are　so　many　godless　families；　this　is　why　depravity　is　so　deep　and
widespread。

Not　until　parents　themselves　walk　in　the　law　of　the　Lord　with　perfect　hearts
will　they　be　prepared　to　command　their　children　after　them。　A　reformation　in
this　respect　is　neededa　reformation　which　shall　be　deep　and　broad。　Parents
need　to　reform；　ministers　need　to　reform；　they　need　God　in　their　households。
If　they　would　see　a　different　state　of　things；　they　must　bring　His　word　into
their　families　and　must　make　it　their　counselor。　They　must　teach　their
children　that　it　is　the　voice　of　God　addressed　to　them；　and　is　to　be
implicitly　obeyed。　They　should　patiently　instruct　their　children；　kindly　and
untiringly　teach　them　how　to　live　in　order　to　please　God。　The　children　of
such　a　household　are　prepared　to　meet　the　sophistries　of　infidelity。　They
have　accepted　the　Bible　as　the　basis　of　their　faith；　and　they　have　a
foundation　that　cannot　be　swept　away　by　the　incoming　tide　of　skepticism。

In　too　many　households　prayer　is　neglected。　Parents　feel　that　they　have　no
time　for　morning　and　evening　worship。　They　cannot　spare　a　few　moments　to　be
spent　in　thanksgiving　to　God　for　His　abundant　merciesfor　the　blessed
sunshine　and　the　showers　of　rain；　which　cause　vegetation　to　flourish；　and
for　the　guardianship　of　holy　angels。　They　have　no　time　to　offer　prayer　for
divine　help　and　guidance　and　for　the　abiding　presence　of　Jesus　in　the
household。　They　go　forth　to　labor　as　the　ox　or　the　horse　goes；　without　one
thought　of　God　or　heaven。　They　have　souls　so　precious　that　rather　than
permit　them　to　be　hopelessly　lost；　the　Son　of　God　gave　His　life　to　ransom
them；　but　they　have　little　more

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appreciation　of　His　great　goodness　than　have　the　beasts　that　perish。

Like　the　patriarchs　of　old；　those　who　profess　to　love　God　should　erect　an
altar　to　the　Lord　wherever　they　pitch　their　tent。　If　ever　there　was　a　time
when　every　house　should　be　a　house　of　prayer；　it　is　now。　Fathers　and　mothers
should　often　lift　up　their　hearts　to　God　in　humble　supplication　for
themselves　and　their　children。　Let　the　father；　as　priest　of　the　household；
lay　upon　the　altar　of　God　the　morning　and　evening　sacrifice；　while　the　wife
and　children　unite　in　prayer　and　praise。　In　such　a　household　Jesus　will　love
to　tarry。

From　every　Christian　home　a　holy　light　should　shine　forth。　Love　should　be
revealed　in　action。　It　should　flow　out　in　all　home　intercourse；　showing
itself　in　thoughtful　kindness；　in　gentle；　unselfish　courtesy。　There　are
homes　where　this　principle　is　carried　outhomes　where　God　is　worshiped　and
truest　love　reigns。　From　these　homes　morning　and　evening　prayer　ascends　to
God　as　sweet　incense；　and　His　mercies　and　blessings　descend　upon　the
suppliants　like　the　morning　dew。

A　well…ordered　Christian　household　is　a　powerful　argument　in　favor　of　the
reality　of　the　Christian　religionan　argument　that　the　infidel　cannot
gainsay。　All　can　see　that　there　is　an　influence　at　work　in　the　family　that
affects　the　children；　and　that　the　God　of　Abraham　is　with　them。　If　the　homes
of　professed　Christians　had　a　right　religious　mold；　they　would　exert　a
mighty　influence　for　good。　They　would　indeed　be　the　〃light　of　the　world。〃
The　God　of　heaven　speaks　to　every　faithful　parent　in　the　words　addressed　to
Abraham：　〃I　know　him；　that　he　will　command　his　children　and　his　household
after　him；　and　they　shall　keep　the　way　of　the　Lord；　to　do　justice　and
judgment；　that　the　Lord　may　bring　upon　Abraham　that　which　He　hath　spoken　of
him。〃




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　13

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Test　of　Faith


Abraham　had　accepted　without　question　the　promise　of　a　son；　but　he　did　not
wait　for　God　to　fulfill　His　word　in　His　own　time　and　way。　A　delay　was
permitted；　to　test　his　faith　in　the　power　of　God；　but　he　failed　to　endure
the　trial。　Thinking　it　impossible　that　a　child　should　be　given　her　in　her
old　age；　Sarah　suggested；　as　a　plan　by　which　the　divine　purpose　might　be
fulfilled；　that　one　of　her　handmaidens　should　be　taken　by　Abraham　as　a
secondary　wife。　Polygamy　had　become　so　widespread　that　it　had　ceased　to　be
regarded　as　a　sin；　but　it　was　no　less　a　violation　of　the　law　of　God；　and　was
fatal　to　the　sacredness　and　peace　of　the　family　relation。　Abraham's　marriage
with　Hagar　resulted　in　evil；　not　only　to　his　own　household；　but　to　future
generations。

Flattered　with　the　honor　of　her　new　position　as　Abraham's　wife；　and　hoping
to　be　the　mother　of　the　great　nation　to　descend　from　him；　Hagar　became　proud
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