Comment By Torchlight

Is There Not a Cause?

The political, economic, and industrial unsettlement in Britain has further deteriorated during recent months. In politics there is increasing bitterness and recrimination. In industry, strikes, bringing hardships to the strikers and their families, as well as to the general public, have been all too common. There have been outbreaks of violence by students and others on a scale hitherto unknown in Britain. And during the winter the worst outbreak of foot and mouth disease in living memory brought grave problems to the farming community.

In spite of these national anxieties and calamities there persists among the general public a mood of apathy and disillusionment. Multitudes seek escape from the realities of life in gambling, in drink, in sport, and entertainment. A growing minority resort to drugs and other vicious pursuits. The picture is a disturbing one. There is undoubtedly an impression abroad that mankind is living on the edge of a precipice. And the dilemma of modern man is not confined to Britain. It is common in other parts of the world dominated by the modern materialistic civilization. Is there not a cause?

In a recent paperback entitled The Mark of Cain, by S.B. Babbage, there is a penetrating analysis of modem literature as it reflects the hopelessness of modern man. The author shows that the optimism of the great Victorian writers regarding man's greatness gave place to a growing pessimism which received an impetus at the outbreak of the 1914 war. The present popular novelists and playwrights. picture man as he really is. And man is just what the Bible describes him to be. If proof were needed of the doctrine of original sin here we have it. The present writer is not familiar with modem novels and plays but the quotations given in this carefully documented book prove without doubt the point the author is making. What is mirrored in modern literature but demonstrates the truth of our Lord's searching statement:

"For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness: all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7.21-23).

From man's hopelessness we turn to contemplate the joy of pardon and acceptance which belong to the Christian. How blessed are we! We have eternal life now, and "godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4.8).

We can sing:

"I go on my way rejoicing,

Though weary the wilderness road

I go on my way rejoicing

In hope of the glory of God."

Middle East Eruption

The Israeli military action against Jordan in March last demonstrates once more the gravity of the present unresolved problem of the Middle East. Apparently the Israelis have little confidence in the will of the United Nations to preserve the ceasefire lines pending a settlement in the area. During recent months the Middle East situation has been overshadowed by the struggle in Vietnam, but the problem remains and, as yet, defies solution. What the next move will be no one can foresee. Israel desires, of course, direct negotiations with the Arab states but her recent military action would appear to have made this even more difficult.

It is the continuing duty of God's people to pray for the pacification of the area. We should also have in continual remembrance before the Throne the very grave situation in Vietnam. The terrible results of that struggle in human suffering should move our hearts to importunate prayer. "Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?" (Mark 11.17).

"By Faith Abraham..." (Hebrews 11.17)

"Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of" (Genesis 22.2).

"The sacred writer spares us a close-up of the agony that night on the slopes near Beersheba when the aged man had it out with God, but respectful imagination may view in awe the bent form and convulsive wrestling alone under the stars. Possibly not again until a Greater than Abraham wrestled in the Garden of Gethsemane did such mortal pain visit a human soul. If only the man himself had been allowed to die. That would have been easier a thousand times, for he was old now, and to die would have been no great ordeal for one who had walked so long with God. Besides, it would have been a last sweet pleasure to let his dimming vision rest upon the figure of his stalwart son who would live to carry on the Abrahamic line and fulfil in himself the promises of God made long before in Ur of the Chaldees.

How should he slay the lad! Even if he could get the consent of his wounded and protesting heart, how could he reconcile the act with the promise, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called"? This was Abraham's trial by fire, and he did not fail in the crucible. While the stars still shone like sharp white points above the tent where the sleeping Isaac lay, and long before the grey dawn had begun to lighten the east, the old saint had made up his mind. He would offer his son as God had directed him to do, and then trust God to raise him from the dead. This, says the writer to the Hebrews, was the solution his aching heart found some time in the dark night, and he "rose early in the morning" to carry out the plan. It is beautiful to see that, while he erred as to God's method, he had correctly sensed the secret of His great heart.

God let the suffering old man go through with it up to the point where He knew there would be no retreat, and then forbade him to lay his hand upon the lad. To the wondering patriarch He now says in effect, "It's all right, Abraham. I never intended that you should actually slay the lad. I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there. I wanted to correct the perversion that existed in your love. Now you have the boy sound and well. Take him and go back to your tent. Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou has not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me." - Tozer.

The God of Abraham praise,

Who reigns enthroned above,

Ancient of everlasting days,

And God of love!

Jehovah, great I am!

By earth and heaven confest!

We bow, and bless the sacred name,

For ever blest!

The God of Abraham praise,

At whose supreme command

From earth we rise, and seek the joys

At His right hand!