The work
great
161
Sacrifice of Isaac
God
for which, sooner or later,
calls
everyone
of us.
To everyone some
trials
We may
must come.
not realize
make our sacrifices and we, too, may doubt whether God has done this, or whether a just God could allow this misfortune or unhappiness or we may ask complainingly, "What have we done to deserve all this?" But if we would only think, "Perhaps God is trying us, to see how much of real faith and real manhood we have, and how fit and ready we are and we may
that they are trials,
rebel and refuse to
to
us
do the great and worthy tasks which He has in store for perhaps this, too, is for good, even though we can not
understand
fully", if
it
only
we would
think this,
it
would and
bear our burdens and grow stronger, better,
help us
wiser from
all
our
trials.
One other thought suggests itself. God has placed us here, we have learned, not for mere pleasure, but for a definite purpose, to do His work and make the world better and happier. God's purpose is sure. And we are the tools Now, have you with which He accomplishes His purpose. ever
stood
wield his
before
little,
the
watchmaker's
delicate tools
they barely seem to
move
so
shop,
and seen him
and so gently that
softly
or to feel his touch?
And
then
have you stood before the blacksmith's shop and ^seen him lift his heavy hammer aloft, with muscles stretched and taut, fly
in
and bring all
quiver?
it
down with
directions,
We
perhaps, the
all
his might, until the sparks
and both hammer and anvil ring and
are, all of us, the tools in little,
watchmaker's
tools,
God's hands, some,
which He wields so His touch, and our
and gently that we barely feel and sorrows are light and easily borne. And others are the blacksmith's hammer and anvil, with which He deals His mighty blows, and we, too, must suffer and writhe and But neither hammer nor anvil nor groan at the stroke. watchmaker's tool can know the purpose of its master, why softly
trials
