Page 71 - Bible History

A a ham's h d o ­ d ce
44 THE NATION FROM WHICH THE REDEEMER CAME
Heaven, saying, "What art thou doing, Agar! Fear not. Arise, take up the boy and hold him by the hand. For God will make him the father of a great nation.''
Agar opened her eyes, and there before her she saw a well of water. Going to it, she lled the bottle and gave it to the boy to drink.
God was with Ismael. He grew up and dwelt in the wilderness of Pharan. He became highly skilled in the use of the bow and arrow and was known in the country all round about as a great archer. His mother chose for him a wife from out of the land of Egypt.
Ismael had twelve sons. He had also a daughter, who afterwards married Esau, the son of Isaac. The Arab tribes who to this day roam the Arabian desert are the descendants of Ismael. When we read of their wild and warlike life, we think of the prophecy that the angel made to Agar before the birth of Ismael: ''He shall be a wild man. His hand will be raised against all men, and all men's hands against him.''
4. Gon TESTS THE OBEDIENCE OF ABRAHAM
One night, Abraham heard the voice of the Lord
calling, ''Abraham, Abraham.'' He answered, '' Here I am.'' Then the Lord said to him, ''Take thy only­ begotten son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, to a mountain which I will show thee, and there o er him to Me in sacri ce."
Abraham rose up i ediately and saddled his ass. He awakened two of his servants and Isaac. They cut wood for the sacri ce and, loading it upon the ass, s.et out upon their journey.