The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-09


seesed between those pieces Gen XVII.
stun~ndous scene. God and man III ac-
x,,al visible covenant Wonderful act OF
rondescension, for God had already prom
Ssea his servant Abram posteriiy NUMBER
less and glorious, and possessions unfn-
Ned in extent and value. What need was
there for further rasif1cationg IL Was 10
show the divine willingness TO stoop 10
human limitations and 20 employ human
~vr,hols. II was the custom In Abrams
time for those wishing 10 enter into sol
annn covenant to take certain clean AMI
mails divide them ieDgthwise IN TWO
pieces. and lay them In parallel rows Win
q narrow pathway between them. me
contracting parties then advanced from
either end and met In the middle, ana IN
serious compact were bound eaen 70 the
other, with the proviso that II either broke
Faith with the other the condition OF the
sla4n animals should represent his fate.
But can II be that Jehovah viii thus bind
Himself in solemn agreement with
Abramy Let US see. Hear His fnstruc-
items TO the patriarch: Take me an
hetfcr % three years old. and she goat
or three years old. and ram OF three
years old, and 8 turtle dove and young
pigeon-" There was no need of further
particulars: Abram understood IL all. 20
The took unto him ali these. and divided
4h~m In the midst. and laid each piece one
against the other. but the birds divided ne
not" Who oan imagine the excited state
OF Abrams mind. as he performed his part
OF the strange agreement, and VINO Can
overestimate his sublime faith as nonr
after hour through the long cay ne
watched his completed arrangements.
driving away the vulfures that hovered
over the slain carcasses. and waiting pa
tfently for the appearance Of the Lordg
And now II Is evening. The sun dips be-
hind the mountain. The twilight steals
softly over the scene. Darkness succeeds
twilight, and the soul of Abram Is lifted
into communion with the Almighty
voice breaks the stiffness. familiar voice
that predicts the ultimate fulfiilment OF
the promise, and then. while Abram is riv-
etsd In establishment. the awful presence
of God passes before him. up the narrow
lane between the bloody halves of the
slain animals. partly IN shadow. partly in
blazing fame. until the shekinah fire
bursts forth and consumes the victims.
thus rafifying the covenant and compiet-
ing the sacrifice. ard IL came to pass
that. when the sun went down. and II was
dark. behold smoking furnace and
burning lamp that passed between those
pieces"
The Meaning ~ IL.
Now what does all this mean7 The
words placed In natural antithesis in the
text are smoking furnace and burning
lamp. In what way do these symbols,
weird and mysterious though they be. con-
yey to our minds the presence and repre-
sensation of the Almighty? As far as /
can see, this verse. with its solemn and
grand suggestions. has received the least
attention AZ the hands of the c0mmenta-
tors. They are verbose on the stars OF
heaven and the multitude and glory of
Abrams descendants. they revei In the
contemplation of the promises. and ampli-
~ thought and fancy over the shield of
defense for righteous Ahram and his ex-
eeeding reward: they build the Wrandest
doctrine of Professionalism upon the sixth
verse of this chapter and call II justifica-
ton by faith. they even go out with the
exeEetical gun and bring down those
birds OF prey. that the patriarch patiently
and persistently drove away from morn
Ing till night. that the pieces might re-
main intact for the Lords use when He
chose TO appear. and they call them the
temptations that swocp down upon us I'M
awares and despoil US OF our spirituality:
but TO the smoking furnace and the burn
ing lamp they give the meagerest atten-
ton. no one of them venturing moro sian
a single opinion upon the teaching of this
verse. Some years ago / read a sermon.
from this very text. on the great Chicago
fire. the only connection between the event
and the Scripture being that the origin OF
that fearful confagration was supposed TO
be the upsetting OF a kerosene lamp. Let
us without wrestling Scripture out of its
natural application for our picturesque
purposes. study this peculiar passage lit
tic and see II there are not some lessons
IN IL worthy our time and thought.
Wonderful Confederation.
II there not right on the threshold or the
theme a comforting thought In the condo.
scension of God7 lie might have used
other means TO ratiiy His covenant with
Ahram. He preferred TO use the custom OF
the times and 80 accommodate Himself TO
the understanding OF His servant Hasn't
that always been God'a way with sinful
humanity suppose He had shown no dis
position 10 help us In our struggles after
righteousness. Suppose He had merely
formulated the law for Us and then left
us 20 obey and he saved or 20 disobcy and
he lost where would any of Us have been
todays Infidels try 20 make out that 10 be
the character OF the God of tho Bihle; but
We who read !, and delight in studying it's
mysteries of love know better. His treat
mens OF His people was continual conde-
sxensiou. His appearances I'm the strange
nymbois OF the furnace and the lamp was
hut tho beginning OF his repeated mercies.
The burning bush at rfcreh. the pillar OF
cloud and IRE the cloud that filled the tab
accommodations TO the wants Of Hls peo-
pie. The stiii small voice thar spoke TO
Elijah was bat n further illustration OF
His love. But rising higher than all con-
ceptsons Of Gods marvellous cankieS~er
sion was tho manifestation or Himself in
Jesus Christ our Lord. Here was a prrS
ence that men could not only wonder a;
but love and adore. Here was a being Car
transcsndlnE all human ideas Of purity
and perfection. and yet OF IKE material
apparently A. other men. with needs such
as they had TO he supplied feelings Soch
~ they had which eonlG be wounded
and tears such az they had which
could be shed. IN Gods dealings
with men have been progressive il
hns only been another evidence Of His
conaesfefsasen. First In His creation. then
I'm mysterious and symbolic forms. then In
Ass word through prophet and scribe,
then most slorsousiy OF alt IN the person
Of HfS SON ard In the power OF the Holy
Ghost. has lie cenfe to the race.
Has not MS presence bcen with Won as
long "a YOU have tried 90 serve Him. In
your wrrkest moments have you not been
conscious Of His Almighty strength under.
rsr.iinS vou and surrounding you 81 every
side while 10 awful svmboi has an.
ceared 20 your vision: white no sweet an
rentie life has raes you or the street and
An your hcures. from whose hands soy
have received miraculous healing. Ana IN
whose voice you have detected the author,
sty OF the Christ. while no cross has heSnr
erected 20 test your faith. and no tomb
emptied Of It's divine Victim. has invite,
xcur iruruisive love 20 enter q. while Their,
has been ne rsven side open Ter your N
spactson. and no BETHANY oy0fspFead viii
hened,cttan BY the ascending LoFd. ther
has stsu remained the fact that N to
deem convincing soy OF spiritual life Co
f,nx wonderfully ccnSeScended &c rsEca