Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland
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eighty-six, <strong>the</strong>y tried to solve <strong>the</strong> problem with a<br />
k<strong>in</strong>d of second-wife arrangement whereby Hagar<br />
bore Ishmael. But <strong>the</strong> Lord refused to recognize<br />
him as <strong>the</strong> promised heir, and ano<strong>the</strong>r long decade<br />
ground slowly by with still no sign of a baby<br />
conceived by Sarah. See Genesis 16:17. Everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
looked hopeless. God was powerful enough—both<br />
Abraham and Sarah were conv<strong>in</strong>ced of that. The<br />
problem was whe<strong>the</strong>r He was will<strong>in</strong>g. Where was<br />
His love? (We always f<strong>in</strong>d it easier to believe <strong>in</strong><br />
miracles of omnipotence than <strong>in</strong> div<strong>in</strong>e<br />
will<strong>in</strong>gness.)<br />
And <strong>the</strong>n, when Abraham was n<strong>in</strong>ety-n<strong>in</strong>e,<br />
someth<strong>in</strong>g happened. Hebrews tells us that both he<br />
and Sarah toge<strong>the</strong>r had "faith," and <strong>the</strong> impossible<br />
gynecological th<strong>in</strong>g happened; Sarah conceived.<br />
There was great rejoic<strong>in</strong>g when little Isaac was<br />
born. Such happ<strong>in</strong>ess must have been almost too<br />
much to endure after decades of hop<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />
hope with cont<strong>in</strong>ual disappo<strong>in</strong>tments.<br />
But <strong>the</strong> old hero's trials were not over. When<br />
Isaac was about twenty and <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r's love for<br />
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