When the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, came to Jesus with their quibbling question concerning the future life (Matt. 22:23-32), the Lord Jesus answered," But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob ? God is not the God of the dead but of the living."

As we read of Abraham's life recorded in the Scriptures, we see one thing standing out which is characteristic of him-his faith. It is true he failed, for the Lord Jesus is the only perfect Man that has ever lived. Yet in spite of failure, there stands out pre-eminently in his history, wonderful faith in God. "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God " (Jas. 2:23). "Even as Abraham believed God " (Gal. 3:6). " For what saith the Scriptures ? Abraham believed God" (Rom. 4:3). "And he believed in the Lord, and He counted it to him for righteousness " (Gen. 15:6).

When we study the history of Isaac, the theme principally before us is sonship. " Sarah shall have a son" (Gen. 18-10). "Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac" (Gen. 21 :3) It is true Abraham had other children, but in Gen. 22 we find God saying to Abraham, "Take now thy son, thine only Isaac." When the servant goes to Mesopotamia in obedience to his master's command, he says (Gen. 24:36), "Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old; and unto him hath he given all that he hath."

As we study the lives of Abraham and Isaac we see much in them which God could commend, and so do not wonder that when He appeared to Moses at the burning bush (Exod. 3:6 ) He revealed Himself as "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac," but what wondrous grace! He is also "the God of Jacob." Jacob the supplanter, the deceiver, who lied, who cheated ! Jacob who could not trust God, but must try to possess the blessing promised him by God in a way of his own devising. Later in his life when he had learned through many sad lessons his own weakness and failure and shame, God changed his name from "the supplanter," to Israel, "a prince of God." Why did not God say, " I am the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Israel ?" would it not have been a more worthy name to bring before us ? That would be man's way alway; to hide the failure and shame, and to remember only that which is honorable and glorious.

But not so our God; He is the God of all grace! And, praise His name! He identifies Himself with His poor faltering, failing saints, even in their unbroken condition with the consequent weakness and failure. Not that He will go on with one who persists in evil, wicked ways. Our God is a holy God and cannot look on sin with any degree of allowance. If a child of God sins, the Father brings upon him the chastening which is for our profit, and shows that we are truly His children, and are not to be judged with the world.

Let no Christian think for an instant that he can go on in unjudged sin, just because God is full of love, and grace, and mercy. "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth " ; and if we sin we must come to God with confession on our lips and repentance in our hearts before our communion can be re-established, and enjoyment and peace fill our heart. Fellow-Christian, let us search our hearts and see that no unjudged sin is allowed there, that shall interrupt our happy fellowship with the Father and the Son.

But even with our best efforts we must confess to our shame that failure is written very largely on our lives; that the world still claims a large share in our doings; that sins are continually cropping out of that old nature which we ought to keep under our feet.

What shall we do when these things come? Sink down in despair ? No indeed ! God is not only the God of Abraham, the man of faith; not only the God of Isaac, the dutiful, obedient son; but He is also the God of Jacob, the man who for twenty and more years was in a wrong state, until He met God face to face. From Abraham's life we learn the great lesson of faith; through Isaac we see our position as sons of God, and not servants. What shall we learn from Jacob? Just this:when we seek to serve God in fleshly ways and according to worldly wisdom, there will be little beside failure and shame; when we meet God face to face and find out our own weakness, then and then only can we become "a prince with God"; "have power with God and men, and prevail" (Gen. 32:28). Have we been broken in the presence of God ? Have we learned our own weakness ? Have we learned our own helplessness to bring forth fruit of ourselves to the honor and praise of God ? Then, and only then, can we learn that He is "the God of Jacob"; and, trusting ourselves entirely to His love and grace, receive the blessing. It is when we are weak that we are strong; and God's word to us is, "My strength is made perfect in weakness." Let us then confess our weakness and look to the Lord Jesus Christ for grace to help in time of need. Praise God that He reveals Himself to us as "the God of Jacob "! F.