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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 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