patriarchs and prophets-µÚ38½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
his¡¡wife£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡her£º¡¡and¡¡Isaac¡¡was¡¡comforted¡¡after¡¡his¡¡mother's
death¡£¡¨
Abraham¡¡had¡¡marked¡¡the¡¡result¡¡of¡¡the¡¡intermarriage¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡feared¡¡God
and¡¡those¡¡who¡¡feared¡¡Him¡¡not£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡days¡¡of
174
Cain¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡time¡£¡¡The¡¡consequences¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡marriage¡¡with¡¡Hagar£»¡¡and
of¡¡the¡¡marriage¡¡connections¡¡of¡¡Ishmael¡¡and¡¡Lot£»¡¡were¡¡before¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡lack¡¡of
faith¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡Abraham¡¡and¡¡Sarah¡¡had¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡birth¡¡of¡¡Ishmael£»
the¡¡mingling¡¡of¡¡the¡¡righteous¡¡seed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡ungodly¡£¡¡The¡¡father's¡¡influence
upon¡¡his¡¡son¡¡was¡¡counteracted¡¡by¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mother's¡¡idolatrous¡¡kindred¡¡and
by¡¡Ishmael's¡¡connection¡¡with¡¡heathen¡¡wives¡£¡¡The¡¡jealousy¡¡of¡¡Hagar£»¡¡and¡¡of
the¡¡wives¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡chose¡¡for¡¡Ishmael£»¡¡surrounded¡¡his¡¡family¡¡with¡¡a¡¡barrier
that¡¡Abraham¡¡endeavored¡¡in¡¡vain¡¡to¡¡overcome¡£
Abraham's¡¡early¡¡teachings¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡without¡¡effect¡¡upon¡¡Ishmael£»¡¡but¡¡the
influence¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wives¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡establishing¡¡idolatry¡¡in¡¡his¡¡family¡£
Separated¡¡from¡¡his¡¡father£»¡¡and¡¡embittered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡strife¡¡and¡¡contention¡¡of¡¡a
home¡¡destitute¡¡of¡¡the¡¡love¡¡and¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡Ishmael¡¡was¡¡driven¡¡to¡¡choose¡¡the
wild£»¡¡marauding¡¡life¡¡of¡¡the¡¡desert¡¡chief£»¡¡¡¨his¡¡hand¡¨¡¡¡¨against¡¡every¡¡man£»¡¡and
every¡¡man's¡¡hand¡¡against¡¡him¡£¡¨¡¡Genesis¡¡16£º12¡£¡¡In¡¡his¡¡latter¡¡days¡¡he¡¡repented
of¡¡his¡¡evil¡¡ways¡¡and¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡God£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡stamp¡¡of
character¡¡given¡¡to¡¡his¡¡posterity¡¡remained¡£¡¡The¡¡powerful¡¡nation¡¡descended
from¡¡him¡¡were¡¡a¡¡turbulent£»¡¡heathen¡¡people£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡ever¡¡an¡¡annoyance¡¡and
affliction¡¡to¡¡the¡¡descendants¡¡of¡¡Isaac¡£
The¡¡wife¡¡of¡¡Lot¡¡was¡¡a¡¡selfish£»¡¡irreligious¡¡woman£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡influence¡¡was
exerted¡¡to¡¡separate¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡from¡¡Abraham¡£¡¡But¡¡for¡¡her£»¡¡Lot¡¡would¡¡not
have¡¡remained¡¡in¡¡Sodom£»¡¡deprived¡¡of¡¡the¡¡counsel¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wise£»¡¡God¡fearing
patriarch¡£¡¡The¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡the¡¡associations¡¡of¡¡that¡¡wicked
city¡¡would¡¡have¡¡led¡¡him¡¡to¡¡apostatize¡¡from¡¡God¡¡had¡¡it¡¡not¡¡been¡¡for¡¡the
faithful¡¡instruction¡¡he¡¡had¡¡early¡¡received¡¡from¡¡Abraham¡£¡¡The¡¡marriage¡¡of¡¡Lot
and¡¡his¡¡choice¡¡of¡¡Sodom¡¡for¡¡a¡¡home¡¡were¡¡the¡¡first¡¡links¡¡in¡¡a¡¡chain¡¡of¡¡events
fraught¡¡with¡¡evil¡¡to¡¡the¡¡world¡¡for¡¡many¡¡generations¡£
No¡¡one¡¡who¡¡fears¡¡God¡¡can¡¡without¡¡danger¡¡connect¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡one¡¡who¡¡fears
Him¡¡not¡£¡¡¡¨Can¡¡two¡¡walk¡¡together£»¡¡except¡¡they¡¡be¡¡agreed£¿¡¨¡¡Amos¡¡3£º3¡£¡¡The
happiness¡¡and¡¡prosperity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡marriage¡¡relation¡¡depends¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡unity¡¡of
the¡¡parties£»¡¡but¡¡between¡¡the¡¡believer¡¡and¡¡the¡¡unbeliever¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡radical
difference¡¡of¡¡tastes£»¡¡inclinations£»¡¡and¡¡purposes¡£¡¡They¡¡are¡¡serving¡¡two
masters£»¡¡between¡¡whom¡¡there¡¡can¡¡be¡¡no¡¡concord¡£¡¡However¡¡pure¡¡and¡¡correct
one's¡¡principles¡¡may¡¡be£»¡¡the¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡an¡¡unbelieving¡¡companion¡¡will¡¡have
a¡¡tendency¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡away¡¡from¡¡God¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡175
He¡¡who¡¡has¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡marriage¡¡relation¡¡while¡¡unconverted£»¡¡is¡¡by¡¡his
conversion¡¡placed¡¡under¡¡stronger¡¡obligation¡¡to¡¡be¡¡faithful¡¡to¡¡his¡¡companion£»
however¡¡widely¡¡they¡¡may¡¡differ¡¡in¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡religious¡¡faith£»¡¡yet¡¡the¡¡claims
of¡¡God¡¡should¡¡be¡¡placed¡¡above¡¡every¡¡earthly¡¡relationship£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡trials
and¡¡persecution¡¡may¡¡be¡¡the¡¡result¡£¡¡With¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡love¡¡and¡¡meekness£»
this¡¡fidelity¡¡may¡¡have¡¡an¡¡influence¡¡to¡¡win¡¡the¡¡unbelieving¡¡one¡£¡¡But¡¡the
marriage¡¡of¡¡Christians¡¡with¡¡the¡¡ungodly¡¡is¡¡forbidden¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Bible¡£¡¡The
Lord's¡¡direction¡¡is£»¡¡¡¨Be¡¡ye¡¡not¡¡unequally¡¡yoked¡¡together¡¡with¡¡unbelievers¡£¡¨
2¡¡Corinthians¡¡6£º14£»¡¡17£»¡¡18¡£
Isaac¡¡was¡¡highly¡¡honored¡¡by¡¡God¡¡in¡¡being¡¡made¡¡inheritor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡promises
through¡¡which¡¡the¡¡world¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡blessed£»¡¡yet¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡forty¡¡years¡¡of
age¡¡he¡¡submitted¡¡to¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡judgment¡¡in¡¡appointing¡¡his¡¡experience£»
God¡fearing¡¡servant¡¡to¡¡choose¡¡a¡¡wife¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡result¡¡of¡¡that
marriage£»¡¡as¡¡presented¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Scriptures£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡tender¡¡and¡¡beautiful¡¡picture
of¡¡domestic¡¡happiness£º¡¡¡¨Isaac¡¡brought¡¡her¡¡into¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡Sarah's¡¡tent£»¡¡and
took¡¡Rebekah£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡became¡¡his¡¡wife£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡her£º¡¡and¡¡Isaac¡¡was
comforted¡¡after¡¡his¡¡mother's¡¡death¡£¡¨
What¡¡a¡¡contrast¡¡between¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡Isaac¡¡and¡¡that¡¡pursued¡¡by¡¡the¡¡youth¡¡of
our¡¡time£»¡¡even¡¡among¡¡professed¡¡Christians£¡¡¡Young¡¡people¡¡too¡¡often¡¡feel¡¡that
the¡¡bestowal¡¡of¡¡their¡¡affections¡¡is¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡in¡¡which¡¡self¡¡alone¡¡should¡¡be
consulteda¡¡matter¡¡that¡¡neither¡¡God¡¡nor¡¡their¡¡parents¡¡should¡¡in¡¡any¡¡wise
control¡£¡¡Long¡¡before¡¡they¡¡have¡¡reached¡¡manhood¡¡or¡¡womanhood¡¡they¡¡think
themselves¡¡competent¡¡to¡¡make¡¡their¡¡own¡¡choice£»¡¡without¡¡the¡¡aid¡¡of¡¡their
parents¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡years¡¡of¡¡married¡¡life¡¡are¡¡usually¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡show¡¡them
their¡¡error£»¡¡but¡¡often¡¡too¡¡late¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡its¡¡baleful¡¡results¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡same
lack¡¡of¡¡wisdom¡¡and¡¡self¡control¡¡that¡¡dictated¡¡the¡¡hasty¡¡choice¡¡is¡¡permitted
to¡¡aggravate¡¡the¡¡evil£»¡¡until¡¡the¡¡marriage¡¡relation¡¡a¡¡galling¡¡yoke¡£¡¡Many¡¡have
thus¡¡wrecked¡¡their¡¡happiness¡¡in¡¡this¡¡life¡¡and¡¡their¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡the¡¡life¡¡to
come¡£
If¡¡there¡¡is¡¡any¡¡subject¡¡which¡¡should¡¡be¡¡carefully¡¡considered¡¡and¡¡in¡¡which
the¡¡counsel¡¡of¡¡older¡¡and¡¡more¡¡experienced¡¡persons¡¡should¡¡be¡¡sought£»¡¡it¡¡is
the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡marriage£»¡¡if¡¡ever¡¡the¡¡Bible¡¡was¡¡needed¡¡as¡¡a¡¡counselor£»¡¡if
ever¡¡divine¡¡guidance¡¡should¡¡be¡¡sought¡¡in¡¡prayer£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡before¡¡taking¡¡a¡¡step
that¡¡binds¡¡persons¡¡together¡¡for¡¡life¡£
Parents¡¡should¡¡never¡¡lose¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡responsibility¡¡for¡¡the¡¡future
happiness¡¡of¡¡their¡¡children¡£¡¡Isaac's¡¡deference¡¡to¡¡his
176
father's¡¡judgment¡¡was¡¡the¡¡result¡¡of¡¡the¡¡training¡¡that¡¡had¡¡taught¡¡him¡¡to¡¡love
a¡¡life¡¡of¡¡obedience¡£¡¡While¡¡Abraham¡¡required¡¡his¡¡children¡¡to¡¡respect¡¡parental
authority£»¡¡his¡¡daily¡¡life¡¡testified¡¡that¡¡that¡¡authority¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡selfish¡¡or
arbitrary¡¡control£»¡¡but¡¡was¡¡founded¡¡in¡¡love£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡their¡¡welfare¡¡and
happiness¡¡in¡¡view¡£
Fathers¡¡and¡¡mothers¡¡should¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡a¡¡duty¡¡devolves¡¡upon¡¡them¡¡to¡¡guide¡¡the
affections¡¡of¡¡the¡¡youth£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡may¡¡be¡¡placed¡¡upon¡¡those¡¡who¡¡will¡¡be
suitable¡¡companions¡£¡¡They¡¡should¡¡feel¡¡it¡¡a¡¡duty£»¡¡by¡¡their¡¡own¡¡teaching¡¡and
example£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡assisting¡¡grace¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡to¡¡so¡¡mold¡¡the¡¡character¡¡of¡¡the
children¡¡from¡¡their¡¡earliest¡¡years¡¡that¡¡they¡¡will¡¡be¡¡pure¡¡and¡¡noble¡¡and¡¡will
be¡¡attracted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡good¡¡and¡¡true¡£¡¡Like¡¡attracts¡¡like£»¡¡like¡¡appreciates
like¡£¡¡Let¡¡the¡¡love¡¡for¡¡truth¡¡and¡¡purity¡¡and¡¡goodness¡¡be¡¡early¡¡implanted¡¡in
the¡¡soul£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡youth¡¡will¡¡seek¡¡the¡¡society¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡possess¡¡these
characteristics¡£
Let¡¡parents¡¡seek£»¡¡in¡¡their¡¡own¡¡character¡¡and¡¡in¡¡their¡¡home¡¡life£»¡¡to
exemplify¡¡the¡¡love¡¡and¡¡beneficence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heavenly¡¡Father¡£¡¡Let¡¡the¡¡home¡¡be
full¡¡of¡¡sunshine¡£¡¡This¡¡will¡¡be¡¡worth¡¡far¡¡more¡¡to¡¡your¡¡children¡¡than¡¡lands¡¡or
money¡£¡¡Let¡¡the¡¡home¡¡love¡¡be¡¡kept¡¡alive¡¡in¡¡their¡¡hearts£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡may¡¡look
back¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡home¡¡of¡¡their¡¡childhood¡¡as¡¡a¡¡place¡¡of¡¡peace¡¡and¡¡happiness¡¡next
to¡¡heaven¡£¡¡The¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡family¡¡do¡¡not¡¡all¡¡have¡¡the¡¡same¡¡stamp¡¡of
character£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡will¡¡be¡¡frequent¡¡occasion¡¡for¡¡the¡¡exercise¡¡of¡¡patience
and¡¡forbearance£»¡¡but¡¡through¡¡love¡¡and¡¡self¡discipline¡¡all¡¡may¡¡be¡¡bound
together¡¡in¡¡the¡¡closest¡¡union¡£
True¡¡love¡¡is¡¡a¡¡high¡¡and¡¡holy¡¡principle£»¡¡altogether¡¡different¡¡in¡¡character
from¡¡that¡¡love¡¡which¡¡is¡¡awakened¡¡by¡¡impulse¡¡and¡¡which¡¡suddenly¡¡dies¡¡when
severely¡¡tested¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡by¡¡faithfulness¡¡to¡¡duty¡¡in¡¡the¡¡parental¡¡home¡¡that¡¡the
youth¡¡are¡¡to¡¡prepare¡¡themselves¡¡for¡¡homes¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡£¡¡Let¡¡them¡¡here
practice¡¡self¡denial¡¡and¡¡manifest¡¡kindness£»¡¡courtesy£»¡¡and¡¡Christian
sympathy¡£¡¡Thus¡¡love¡¡will¡¡be¡¡kept¡¡warm¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡who¡¡goes¡¡out¡¡from
such¡¡a¡¡household¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡a¡¡family¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡will¡¡know¡¡how
to¡¡promote¡¡the¡¡happiness¡¡of¡¡her¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡has¡¡chosen¡¡as¡¡a¡¡companion¡¡for¡¡life¡£
Marriage£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡being¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡love£»¡¡will¡¡be¡¡only¡¡its¡¡beginning¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨177£©
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chapter¡¡16
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Jacob¡¡and¡¡Esau
Jacob¡¡and¡¡Esau£»¡¡the¡¡twin¡¡sons¡¡of¡¡Isaac£»¡¡present¡¡a¡¡striking¡¡contrast£»¡¡both¡¡in
character¡¡and¡¡in¡¡life¡£¡¡This¡¡unlikeness¡¡was¡¡foretold¡¡by¡¡the¡¡angel¡¡of¡¡God
before¡¡their¡¡birth¡£¡¡When¡¡in¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡Rebekah's¡¡troubled¡¡prayer¡¡he¡¡declared
that¡¡two¡¡sons¡¡would¡¡be¡¡given¡¡her£»¡¡he¡¡opened¡¡to¡¡her¡¡their¡¡future¡¡history£»
that¡¡each¡¡would¡¡become¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mighty¡¡nation£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡one¡¡would¡¡be
greater¡¡than¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡would¡¡have¡¡the¡¡pre¡eminence¡£
Esau¡¡grew¡¡up¡¡loving¡¡self¡gratification¡¡and¡¡centering¡¡all¡¡his¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡the
present¡£¡¡Impatient¡¡of¡¡restraint£»¡¡he¡¡delighted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡freedom¡¡of¡¡the
chase£»¡¡and¡¡early¡¡chose¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hunter¡£¡¡Yet¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡father's
favorite¡£¡¡The¡¡quiet£»¡¡peace¡loving¡¡shepherd¡¡was¡¡attracted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡daring¡¡and
vigor¡¡of¡¡this¡¡elder¡¡son£»¡¡who¡¡fearlessly¡¡ranged¡¡over¡¡mountain¡¡and¡¡desert£»
returning¡¡home¡¡with¡¡game¡¡for¡¡his¡¡father¡¡and¡¡with¡¡exciting¡¡accounts¡¡of¡¡his
adventurous¡¡life¡£¡¡Jacob£»¡¡thoughtful£»¡¡diligent£»¡¡and¡¡care¡taking£»¡¡ever
thinking¡¡more¡¡of¡¡the¡¡future¡¡than¡¡the¡¡present£»¡¡was¡¡content¡¡to¡¡dwell¡¡at¡¡home£»
occupied¡¡in¡¡the¡¡care¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flocks¡¡and¡¡the¡¡tillage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soil¡£¡¡His¡¡patient
perseverance£»¡¡thrift£»¡¡and¡¡foresight¡¡were¡¡valued¡¡by¡¡the¡¡mother¡£¡¡His
affections¡¡were¡¡deep¡¡and¡¡strong£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡gentle£»¡¡unremitting¡¡attentions
added¡¡far¡¡more¡¡to¡¡her¡¡happiness¡¡than¡¡did¡¡the¡¡boisterous¡¡and¡¡occasional
kindnesses¡¡of¡¡Esau¡£¡¡To¡¡Rebekah£»¡¡Jacob¡¡was¡¡the¡¡dearer¡¡son¡£
The¡¡promises¡¡made¡¡to¡¡Abraham¡¡and¡¡confirmed¡¡to¡¡his¡¡son¡¡were¡¡held¡¡by¡¡Isaac¡¡and
Rebekah¡¡as¡¡the¡¡great¡¡object¡¡of¡¡their¡¡desires¡¡and¡¡hopes¡£¡¡With¡¡these¡¡promises
Esau¡¡and¡¡Jacob¡¡were¡¡familiar¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡taught¡¡to¡¡regard¡¡the¡¡birthright¡¡as¡¡a