Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/101

 proaching. He ran  to  meet  them,  bowed  down  before  them,  and invited them to  rest  in  his  tent  and  partake  of  some  refreshment. Calling Sara,  his  wife,  he  told  her  to  make  some  cakes  of  the finest flour. He caused  the  best  calf  of  his  herds  to  be  killed  for the entertainment  of  the  unknown  visitors. Butter, milk  and  honey were also  placed  before  them,  Abraham  himself  waiting  upon  his guests. After the  meal,  when  they  were  about  to  depart,  one  of  the strangers said  to  Abraham  that  after  a year  he  would  return,  and that Sara,  his  wife,  would  have  a son. Then Abraham  understood that the  Lord  God  Himself,  accompanied  by  angels,  was  his  guest.

Faith. At the  time  that  Almighty  God  told  Abraham  that  his descendants would  be  as  numerous  as  the  stars  in  the  heavens,  he  and his wife  Sara  had  no  children,  and  both  of  them  were  growing  very old. Therefore it  seemed  almost  impossible  that  Abraham  and  Sara  should have a son. Nevertheless, Abraham  believed  firmly  in  God’s  promise that He  would  give  him  a son,  that  his  descendants  would  become  a great  nation,  and  that  of  his  family  would  be  born  the  Redeemer. On account of  his  faith  in  God’s  word,  and  especially  in  the  promise  of the  future  Saviour,  Abraham  was  justified,  i.  e.  he  received  sanctifying grace. Without faith  no  man  can  be  justified,  for  “without  faith  it  is  7 impossible to  please  God”  (Hebr.  n,  6). “The just  man  liveth  by faith”  (Rom.  i,  17).

Hope. With  firm  confidence  Abraham  waited  for  everything  that God had  promised  him,  and  gave  himself  over  calmly  to  His  guidance. “By faith  he  abode  in  the  (strange)  land”,  says  St  Paul,  “dwelling  in tents,  for  he  looked  for  a city  that  hath  foundations  (i.  e.  the  heavenly Jerusalem),  whose  builder  and  maker  is  God”  (Hebr.  11,  9. 10). He therefore regarded  himself  as  a stranger  and  a pilgrim,  and  looked  forward to his  heavenly  home  and  the  eternal  possession  and  vision  of  God.

Charity. Abraham’s  faith  was  living,  and  active  through  love. He loved  God  above  all  things,  as  he  proved  in  the  story  you  will hear in  Chapt. XIII. In the  last  chapter  we  saw  how  he  loved  his neighbour, and  he  again  proved  this  by  his  behaviour  to  the  three