The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-18
Sunday Study,
-BRAHAM's INTERCEEsIoN.

ABRAHAM'S INTERCESS
n The international Sunday school les
son for Aug IS is found in Genesis xviii,
1888. The scene is in Canaan, and the
time 1897 B. c. The golden text is THE
effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much" from James ", 16.
Again and again God renewed his cove
nant with Abram, each time making it
more definite as to Abrams posterity and
as to the land. When the patriarch was
nlnety-nine years old, in repeating his
promises God changed the name OF
Abram (eXalted father to Abraham fla
Their of multitude), putting the prin-
cipal letters of his own name, Jehovah
1Jhuh) in the midst of his old name
1Abram, and the name of his Wife Sarai
(my pr.ncess) to Sarah (princess) thus
indicating how large their posterity
would be, and by appointing rcumci-
sion the sign Of the covenant between
Abram and himself Abrams favor with
God but made him more tender for 9TH
ers, and how he felt for them is shown
In the way he interceded for Sodom
The lesson covers important events in
the life of the great founder of the He
brew race, the change in his name, the
Visit from the angels and the interces-
sion with the Lord not to destroy Sodom.
the city where Lot lived The revelation
of God intention concerning Sodom was
q token of the honor in which Abraham
was held by the Lord The departure of
The angels left Abraham alone in the
presence of Jehovah. 1t had not been
said distinctly that the city was to be
destroyed, but Abraham knew enough
about the place to be sure that destruc-
Sion would result The intercession was
not only for Lots sake, however, but
was made out Of pity for all the people.
The righteous, in Abraham's sense were
not so much religious men as men who
made an honest attempt 10 do right The
Geariessness of Abrahams appeal to the
justice of God is remarkable The ar
sument does not hold in practical nfe
because the righteous suffer with the
wicked; but we are taught that the right
eous are the means OF delaying and
Tightening Gods Judgments United with
boldness In Abraham's petition is a
marked humility. This characteristic
appears in his speaking of himself as
dust and ashes. The story illustrates
the value of prayer to the man who Of
fers It, God was as ready at first to
spare Scdom for ten as for fifty right
eous men. but Abraham was a better
man when he prayed that ten might
save the city than when he set the num-
per at nifty. Lot was a righteous man.
Oul IOO IOltidHl u evil. his kindly dis
position is Indicated in his reception of
the strangers; his less noble qualities
come to the surface in his clinging to the
city so that he had almost to he forced
to leave it. The destruction of the cities
was probably due to some volcanic ac-
ton, though the stagnant Dead sea must
Bometme ave Gesolated the region. The
whole region is full of material for such
catastrophe. Wells of bitumen-petro-
Ieum-abound and vast quantities ooze
from the ground. Sulphur also exists
RIong the lake in large layers and frag-
ments In 1887 there was an earthquake
and fire among the petroleum wells. We
nave only therefore, TO imagine a ter
r1iic storm. in which the lightning kin
died the vast accumulation OF cornbus-
h5Ies, aided, perhaps. by an earthquake
eetting free additional stores from the
hillsides and the lake depths. TO have
eonfiagrat on. the fiery sulphurous sharks
hnd flames OF which would in very deed
pc fire and birthstone oat az heaven.
burning UP the whole district, viii, ali
bhe towns and cities Gil IT.
The lesson teaches
i. When one truly accepts Gods coy