The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-03
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR TOMORROW
BY '. '. GIL BERT. IL. D.,

difficulties. His act was highly com
 mendable in the interest of peace (Matt. v:9.) The two might have been involved in such trouble as would have made them long and bitter enemies resulting m open hostilities among their descendants. For less provocation ma
 tions have gone to war. The proposal
 was generous in the extreme. Abram
 after expressing his earnest desire for friendly relations with his nephew, al lowed him to decide what part of the country he would take. agreeing to accept what was left. In this way the two men would. by mutual agreement and good will go apart and thereafter form two separate and distinct house. holds. This proposition rested on the
 wise maxim of the ancients, If two cannot agree let them separate. (Amos iii:3)
 Choice (Verses 10 and 11.)-The offer of Abram should have been rejected. Lot should have given his uncle the choice of the land. This was due on
 the score of age. and in Eastern coun- tries from time immemorial that con- sideration outweighed almost every
 other and found expression at last 1T | the Mosaic code. Gev. xix:32O Be-
 sides the land belonged by Divine grant lO luC pOSlClity OL <hOi NSSA xii:O and any others who might re- side there should have respected this
 title. But the young man was not con- siderate of the superior claim or years of his uncle. Looking in different di- rections from Bethel he saw the plain of the Jordan. That was prior to the destruction of the cities which resulted in the Dead Sea. The plain was then beautiful. fertile and we'll watered, re- minding one of the far-famed garden in which the first man was placed Osa. ii:3) With supreme regard tc his own welfare, and with utter indtf-
 ference to the interests of his relative Lot selected this best portion of the
 land His selfishness showed him un- worthy to be in the family of Abram
 Separation (Verses 12 and 13)-How- ever great his surprise and disappoint-
 ment over the choice of his nephew Abram accepted the decision with good
 grace. (Psalm xv:4.) He continued tc
 dwell in the land of Canaan. holding
 the place of the altar as the center oi
 his possessions, and feeding his flocks
 unmolested on the surrounding plains In reality he had lost nothing and gained much The sole occupant of a country too limited for the use of all he might with much liberty and ease conduct his amalrS In nlS own way
 But Lot journeyed east to his new
 possessions. evidently satisfied with
 his choice and probably congratulate
 ing himself on the Deter prospects for
 his flocks. So the generosity of one
 and the selfishness of the other had
 worked out results acceptable to both
 One item in Lots movements clouded all his future. He pitched his tent near
 Sodom. hoping to gain advantage from the city into which he afterward nov ed. But that proved the way to peril
 to death and disaster. For Sodom was
 wicked and Lot shared in it's ruin
 (Gen. xix:1)
 Promise (verses IA. 15. 16.)-Abram Is now ready to open new chapter ir his history. All unprofitable alliances are broken-all who might hinder his entire consecration to his appointed mission are removed. It has taken many years. through various and some
 times rpaipful experiences to .7 prepare him for the highest and best service
 God who waited long for the suitable conditions. came to him with mes
 sage somewhat like the one delivered on the plain of Moreh (Gen. xii:6-7. but so changed as to make Abram the