Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/169

 Hagar and Jshmacl whispering, "This

is

151

your duty quite as much as that".

another voice answered sternly, "Yes, that

is

a duty



But but

it

is a greater duty to hearken to God's word, and to give to Sarah, who has the first claim upon you, and who has ever shared with you, faithfully and loyally, all the hardships and

which have come to you, that which she has a perfect demand." As the wise prophet told Saul, the king, when the latter had disobeyed God's command, and had offered sacrifices which he thought would be pleasing unto God, trials

right to

Hath the Lord as great delight As in hearkening to the voice Behold, to obey

And It

to

is

is

harder far to

resist

fat of rams.

temptation,

resist

alluring garb of pleasure is

of the

and

sacrillce.s.

Lord?

better than sacrilice,

hearken than the

hard to

in burnt-offerings

and

Samuel XV,

when

it

when

it

22.)

comes

gratification of desire.

temptation

of duty, and bids us do

(I

comes

in

the

But

it

in the guise

and neglect the greater, harder, Time and again we are confronted with conflicting duties and are forced to make our choice between them. A voice within keeps urging us to choose the easier and more agreeable duty after all, that is duty, too, and little duties must be performed as well as great duties there is equal merit in both, and both are pleasing to God. But the other voice keeps insisting that this is the greater and more urgent duty, and it must be performed first at all costs. It is the hardest choice in life to make. Nevertheless we must all make this choice time and again. How shall we decide? There is but one way, the way which Abraham chose, to put aside all selfish considerations of ease and pleasure and personal desire, and determine honestly and uncompromisingly which is the greater and more urgent duty, which is truly God's bidding, and then to do that duty steadfastly and conscientiously, regardless of the cost. It is a hard and bitter trial, which must less pleasing,

and more

it

costly duty.