patriarchs and prophets-第33部分

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was　vexed　with　the　vile　conversation　that　greeted　his　ears　daily　and　the
violence　and　crime　he　was　powerless　to　prevent。　He　was　saved　at　last　as　〃a
brand　plucked　out　of　the　fire〃　（Zechariah　3：2）；　yet　stripped　of　his
possessions；　bereaved　of　his　wife　and　children；　dwelling　in　caves；　like　the
wild　beasts；　covered　with　infamy　in　his　old　age；　and　he　gave　to　the　world；
not　a　race　of　righteous　men；　but　two　idolatrous　nations；　at　enmity　with　God
and　warring　upon　His　people；　until；　their　cup　of　iniquity　being　full；　they
were　appointed　to　destruction。　How　terrible　were　the　results　that　followed
one　unwise　step！

Says　the　wise　man；　〃Labor　not　to　be　rich：　cease　from　thine　own　wisdom。〃　〃He
that　is　greedy　of　gain　troubleth　his　own　house；　but　he　that　hateth　gifts
shall　live。〃　Proverbs　23：4；　15：27。　And　the　apostle　Paul　declares；　〃They　that
will　be　rich　fall　into　temptation　and　a　snare；　and　into　many　foolish　and
hurtful　lusts；　which　drown　men　in　destruction　and　perdition。〃　1　Timothy　6：9。

When　Lot　entered　Sodom　he　fully　intended　to　keep　himself　free　from　iniquity
and　to　command　his　household　after　him。　But　he　signally　failed。　The
corrupting　influences　about　him　had　an　effect　upon　his　own　faith；　and　his
children's　connection　with　the　inhabitants　of　Sodom　bound　up　his　interest　in
a　measure　with　theirs。　The　result　is　before　us。

Many　are　still　making　a　similar　mistake。　In　selecting　a　home　they　look　more
to　the　temporal　advantages　they　may　gain　than　to　the　moral　and　social
influences　that　will　surround　themselves　and　their　families。　They　choose　a
beautiful　and　fertile　country；　or　remove　to　some　flourishing　city；　in　the
hope　of　securing　greater

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　169

prosperity；　but　their　children　are　surrounded　by　temptation；　and　too　often
they　form　associations　that　are　unfavorable　to　the　development　of　piety　and
the　formation　of　a　right　character。　The　atmosphere　of　lax　morality；　of
unbelief；　of　indifference　to　religious　things；　has　a　tendency　to　counteract
the　influence　of　the　parents。　Examples　of　rebellion　against　parental　and
divine　authority　are　ever　before　the　youth；　many　form　attachments　for
infidels　and　unbelievers；　and　cast　in　their　lot　with　the　enemies　of　God。

In　choosing　a　home；　God　would　have　us　consider；　first　of　all；　the　moral　and
religious　influences　that　will　surround　us　and　our　families。　We　may　be
placed　in　trying　positions；　for　many　cannot　have　their　surroundings　what
they　would；　and　whenever　duty　calls　us；　God　will　enable　us　to　stand
uncorrupted；　if　we　watch　and　pray；　trusting　in　the　grace　of　Christ。　But　we
should　not　needlessly　expose　ourselves　to　influences　that　are　unfavorable　to
the　formation　of　Christian　character。　When　we　voluntarily　place　ourselves　in
an　atmosphere　of　worldliness　and　unbelief；　we　displease　God　and　drive　holy
angels　from　our　homes。

Those　who　secure　for　their　children　worldly　wealth　and　honor　at　the　expense
of　their　eternal　interests；　will　find　in　the　end　that　these　advantages　are　a
terrible　loss。　Like　Lot；　many　see　their　children　ruined；　and　barely　save
their　own　souls。　Their　lifework　is　lost；　their　life　is　a　sad　failure。　Had
they　exercised　true　wisdom；　their　children　might　have　had　less　of　worldly
prosperity；　but　they　would　have　made　sure　of　a　title　to　the　immortal
inheritance。

The　heritage　that　God　has　promised　to　His　people　is　not　in　this　world。
Abraham　had　no　possession　in　the　earth；　〃no；　not　so　much　as　to　set　his　foot
on。〃　Acts　7：5。　He　possessed　great　substance；　and　he　used　it　to　the　glory　of
God　and　the　good　of　his　fellow　men；　but　he　did　not　look　upon　this　world　as
his　home。　The　Lord　had　called　him　to　leave　his　idolatrous　countrymen；　with
the　promise　of　the　land　of　Canaan　as　an　everlasting　possession；　yet　neither
he　nor　his　son　nor　his　son's　son　received　it。　When　Abraham　desired　a　burial
place　for　his　dead；　he　had　to　buy　it　of　the　Canaanites。　His　sole　possession
in　the　Land　of　Promise　was　that　rock…hewn　tomb　in　the　cave　of　Machpelah。

But　the　word　of　God　had　not　failed；　neither　did　it　meet　its　final
accomplishment　in　the　occupation　of　Canaan　by　the　Jewish　people。　〃To　Abraham
and　his　seed　were　the　promises　made。〃

170

Galatians　3：16。　Abraham　himself　was　to　share　the　inheritance。　The
fulfillment　of　God's　promise　may　seem　to　be　long　delayed　for　〃one　day　is
with　the　Lord　as　a　thousand　years；　and　a　thousand　years　as　one　day〃　（2　Peter
3：8）；　it　may　appear　to　tarry；　but　at　the　appointed　time　〃it　will　surely
come；　it　will　not　tarry。〃　Habakkuk　2：3。　The　gift　to　Abraham　and　his　seed
included　not　merely　the　land　of　Canaan；　but　the　whole　earth。　So　says　the
apostle；　〃The　promise；　that　he　should　be　the　heir　of　the　world；　was　not　to
Abraham；　or　to　his　seed；　through　the　law；　but　through　the　righteousness　of
faith。〃　Romans　4：13。　And　the　Bible　plainly　teaches　that　the　promises　made　to
Abraham　are　to　be　fulfilled　through　Christ。　All　that　are　Christ's　are
〃Abraham's　seed；　and　heirs　according　to　the　promise〃heirs　to　〃an
inheritance　incorruptible；　and　undefiled；　and　that　fadeth　not　away〃the
earth　freed　from　the　curse　of　sin。　Galatians　3：29；　1　Peter　1：4。　For　〃the
kingdom　and　dominion；　and　the　greatness　of　the　kingdom　under　the　whole
heaven；　shall　be　given　to　the　people　of　the　saints　of　the　Most　High；〃　and
〃the　meek　shall　inherit　the　earth；　and　shall　delight　themselves　in　the
abundance　of　peace。〃　Daniel　7：27；　Psalm　37：11。

God　gave　to　Abraham　a　view　of　this　immortal　inheritance；　and　with　this　hope
he　was　content。　〃By　faith　he　sojourned　in　the　Land　of　Promise；　as　in　a
strange　country；　dwelling　in　tabernacles　with　Isaac　and　Jacob；　the　heirs
with　him　of　the　same　promise：　for　he　looked　for　a　city　which　hath
foundations；　whose　builder　and　maker　is　God。〃　Hebrews　11：9；　10。

Of　the　posterity　of　Abraham　it　is　written；　〃These　all　died　in　faith；　not
having　received　the　promises；　but　having　seen　them　afar　off；　and　were
persuaded　of　them；　and　embraced　them；　and　confessed　that　they　were　strangers
and　pilgrims　on　the　earth。〃　Verse　13。　We　must　dwell　as　pilgrims　and
strangers　here　if　we　would　gain　〃a　better　country；　that　is；　an　heavenly。〃
Verse　16。　Those　who　are　children　of　Abraham　will　be　seeking　the　city　which
he　looked　for；　〃whose　builder　and　maker　is　God。〃




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（171）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　15

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Marriage　of　Isaac


Abraham　had　become　an　old　man；　and　expected　soon　to　die；　yet　one　act
remained　for　him　to　do　in　securing　the　fulfillment　of　the　promise　to　his
posterity。　Isaac　was　the　one　divinely　appointed　to　succeed　him　as　the　keeper
of　the　law　of　God　and　the　father　of　the　chosen　people；　but　he　was　yet
unmarried。　The　inhabitants　of　Canaan　were　given　to　idolatry；　and　God　had
forbidden　intermarriage　between　His　people　and　them；　knowing　that　such
marriages　would　lead　to　apostasy。　The　patriarch　feared　the　effect　of　the
corrupting　influences　surrounding　his　son。　Abraham's　habitual　faith　in　God
and　submission　to　His　will　were　reflected　in　the　character　of　Isaac；　but　the
young　man's　affections　were　strong；　and　he　was　gentle　and　yielding　in
disposition。　If　united　with　one　who　did　not　fear　God；　he　would　be　in　danger
of　sacrificing　principle　for　the　sake　of　harmony。　In　the　mind　of　Abraham　the
choice　of　a　wife　for　his　son　was　a　matter　of　grave　importance；　he　was
anxious　to　have　him　marry　one　who　would　not　lead　him　from　God。

In　ancient　times　marriage　engagements　were　generally　made　by　the　parents；
and　this　was　the　custom　among　those　who　worshiped　God。　None　were　required　to
marry　those　whom　they　could　not　love；　but　in　the　bestowal　of　their
affections　the　youth　were　guided　by　the　judgment　of　their　experienced；
God…fearing　parents。　It　was　regarded　as　a　dishonor　to　parents；　and　even　a
crime；　to　pursue　a　course　contrary　to　this。

Isaac；　trusting　to　his　father's　wisdom　and　affection；　was　satisfied　to
commit　the　matter　to　him；　believing　also　that　God　Himself　would　direct　in
the　choice　made。　The　patriarch's　thoughts　turned　to　his　father's　kindred　in
the　land　of　Mesopotamia。　Though　not　free　from　idolatry；　they　cherished　the
knowledge　and　the　worship　of　the　true　God。　Isaac　must　not　leave　Canaan　to　go
to　them；　but　it　might　be　that　among　them　could　be　found　one　who　would　leave
her　home　and　unite　with　him　in　maintaining

172

the　pure　worship　of　the　living　God。　Abraham　committed　the　important　matter
to　〃his　eldest　servant；〃　a　man　of　piety；　experience；　and　sound　judgment；　who
had　rendered　him　long　and　faithful　service。　He　required　this　servant　to　make
a　solemn　oath　before　the　Lord；　that　he　would　not　take　a　wife　for　Isaac　of
the　Canaanites；　but　would　choose　a　maiden　from　the　family　of　Nahor　in
Mesopotamia。　He　charged　him　not　to　take　Isaac　thither。　If　a　damsel　could　not
be　found　who　would　leave　her　kindred；　then　the　messenger　would　be　released
from　his　oath。　The　patriarch　encouraged　him　in　his　difficult　and　delicate
undertaking　with　the　assurance　that　God　would　crown　his　mission　with
success。　〃The　Lord　God　of　heaven；〃　he　said；　〃which　took　me　from　my　father's
house；　and　from　the　land　of　my　kindred；　。　。　。　He　shall　send　His　angel　before
thee。〃

The　messenger　set　out　without　delay。　Taking　with　him　ten　camels　for　the　use
of　his　own　company　and　the　bridal　party　that　might　return　with　him；　provided
also　with　gifts　for　the　intended　wife　and　her　friends；　he　made　the　long
journey　beyond　Damascus；　and　onward　to　the　rich　plains　that　border　on　the
great　river　of　the　East。　Arrived　at　Haran；　〃the　city　of　Nahor；〃　he　halted
outside　the　walls；　near　the　well　to　which　the　women　of　the　place　came　at
evening　for　water。　It　was　a　time　of　anxious　thought　with　him。　Important
results；　not　only　to　his　master's　household；　but　to　future　generations；
might　follow　from　the　choice　he　made；　and　how　was　he　to　choose　wisely　among
entire　strangers？　Remembering　the　words　of　Abraham；　that　God　would　send　His
angel　with　him；　he　prayed　earnestly　for　positive　guidance。　In　the　family　of
his　master　he　was　accustomed　to　the　constant　exercise　of　kindness　and
hospitality；　and　he　now　asked　that　an　act　of　courtesy　might　indicate　the
maiden　whom　God　had　chosen。

Hardly　was　the　prayer　uttered