of the promised seed was to be. Instead of waiting for the direction of God in this respect also, Sarai seems

in her impatience to have anticipated the Lord; and, as we always do when taking things into our own

hands, in a manner contrary to the mind of God, as well as to her own sorrow and disappointment. Ten years

had elapsed since Abram had entered Canaan, when Sarai, despairing of giving birth to the heir of the

promise, followed the common custom of those days and countries, and sought a son by an alliance

between her husband and Hagar, her own Egyptian maid. The consequences of her folly were dispeace in

her home, then reproaches, and the flight of Hagar. What else might have followed it is difficult to tell, had

not the Lord in mercy interposed. None less than the Angel of the Covenant Himself appeared to the

fugitive slave, as she rested by a fountain in the wilderness that led down into her native Egypt. He bade her

return to her mistress, promised to the son whom she was to bear that liberty and independence of bearing

which has ever since characterized his descendants, and gave him the name of Ishmael - the Lord heareth, -

as it were thus binding him alike by his descent, and by the Providence that had watched over him, to the

God of Abram. Hagar also learned there for the first time to know Him as the God who seeth, the living God,

whence the fountain by which she had sat henceforth bore the name of "The Well of the Living, who

beholdeth me." So deep are the impressions which a view of the Lord maketh, and so closely should we

always connect with them the events of our lives.

Hagar had returned to Abram's house, and given birth to Ishmael. And now ensued a period which we must

regard as of most sore trial to Abram's faith. Full thirteen years elapsed without apparently any revelation on

the part of God. During this time Ishmael had grown up, and Abram may almost insensibly have accustomed

himself to look upon him as the heir, even though in all probability he knew that he had not been destined

for it. Abram was now ninety-nine years old, and Sarai stricken in years. For every human hope and

prospect must be swept away, and the heir be, in the fullest sense, the child of the promise, that so faith

might receive directly from God that for which it had waited. It was in these circumstances that Jehovah at

las t once more appeared in visible form to Abram, - this time to establish and fulfill the covenant which He

had formerly made.35 Hence also now the admonition: "Walk before Me, and be thou perfect," which follows

but can never precede the covenant. In token of this established covenant, God enjoined upon Abram and

his descendants the rite of circumcision as a sign and a seal; at the same time changing the name of Abram,

"father of elevation" (noble chief?), into Abraham, "the father of a multitude," and that o f Sarai, "the

princely," into Sarah, or "the princess,"  36 to denote that through these two the promise was to be fulfilled,

and that from them the chosen race was to spring. These tidings came upon Abraham with such joyous

surprise that, as in humble worship, he "fell upon his face," he "laughed," as he considered within himself

the circumstances of the case, - as Calvin remarks, not from doubt or disbelief, but in gladness and wonder.

To perpetuate the remembrance of the wonder, the promised seed was to b ear the name of Isaac, or

"laughter." Thus, as afterwards, at the outset of the calling of the Gentiles, the name of Saul was changed

into Paul - probably after the first-fruits of his ministry, - so here, at the outset of Israel's calling, we have

three new names, indicative of the power of God, which lay at the root of all, and of the simple faith which

received the promise. The heir of the promises was indeed to be the child of Sarah; but over Ishmael also

would the Lord watch, and "multiply him exceedin gly," and "make him a great nation." Ever since those

days has the sign of circumcision remained to bear testimony to the covenant with Abraham. On the eighth

day, as the first full period of seven has elapsed, a new period is, as it were, to begin; and each Jewish child

so circumcised is a living witness to the transaction between God and Abraham more than three thousand

years ago. But, better far, it pointed forward to the fulfillment of the covenant-promise in Christ Jesus, in

whom there is now no other circumcision needed than that of the heart.

While Abraham's faith was thus exercised and blessed, the "evil men and seducers," among whom Lot had

chosen his dwelling, had been waxing worse and worse, and rapidly filling up the measure of their iniquity.

That judgment which had long hung over them like a dark cloud was now to burst in a terrible tempest.

Abram was sitting "in the tent door in the heat of the day," when Jehovah once more appeared in visible

form to him. This time it was, as it seemed, three wayfarers, whom the patriarch hastened to welcome to the

rest and refreshment of his abode. But the heavenly Guests were the Lord Himself (See Genesis 18:13) and