Test of Faith
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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 righ-
teousness: and 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 the law.” But genuine faith will be manifest in obe-
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dience. Said Christ to the unbelieving Jews, “If ye were Abraham’s
children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”
John 8:39
. And con-