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Show Short Stories From The Bible BY C. V. HANSEN' JEAI.Ol'SY AT WOliK At the appointed time, according accord-ing to the Lord's promise, a son was born to Abraham, who was now one hundred years old. Sarah being ninety years of age said. God hath made me laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham, that I, Sarah, should give children suck? And that I should bear him a son in his old age. The child was named Isaac, meaning laughter" laugh-ter" as Sarah laughed when she was informed that she should have a son. It was customary in those days that a child should be fed from its mother's breast, up till three years of age. And so on the day that he was weaned, Abraham Abra-ham made a great feast. Ishmael, the first born to Abraham, by Sarah's handmaid, was now sixteen six-teen years of age. and for some time had been very jealous of Isaac, because he discovered that in him he had a rival that would eventually outshine himself. He therefore on this day of the feast, mocked Isac, which attracted the attention of Sarah, and she became be-came angry; she too, had been jealous of Ishmael, for now he was not to be considered equally with her own son, and so she approached approach-ed Abraham, and demanded that Hagar and her son Ishmael be cast out, and driven away, for she said, "He shall not be heir, with my son Isaac." This was a hard blow to Abraham. He was very much concerned about it, as Ishmael Ish-mael too, was his son. But the Lord came to him and said, "Let not this worry you, but listen to what Sarah has said, for in Isaac shall your posterity be called, and of Ishmael will I make a nation, because he is your child. Abraham arose early the next day, and took bread, and a bottle of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it upon her shoulder and sending her into the wilderness of Seer-Sheeba, with Ishmael. As they traveled on, their food all gone, and the bottle became empty. Ishmael, weary and hungry, was exhausted, and laid down under a tree, apparently to die. Hagar went for some distance, where she sat down and wept bitterly, and said, "Let me not see my boy die." The boy was crying, and the Lord heard his voice. A messenger from heaven was sent to her and said, "What aileth thee Hagar? Fear not for the Lord hath heard the voice of the lad. Arise, lift him up, for I will make him a great nation." Hagar then saw at a short distance a well of water, filled her bottle and gave the lad a drink, he being revived trailed on, and the Lord was with him, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness. wilder-ness. Next, The Testing of Abraham. |