The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-17
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.


siOn-Genesis xviii, 16-23.
Under the grateful shade of the oaks OF Mamre
the patriarch's camp was pitched. IL stretched
afar; for his vast hocks and herds required an
army Of attendants. Under the crimson folds OF
the sheik's pavilion. on her rich divan. the ven
cradle Princess Sarah reclined. while at its
silken portico the centenarian Abraham rested
in the heat of the day. Perhaps he was indulg-
ing in the pleasures OF memory, and was back
again in thoughts to the banks or the Euphrates
now at Ur. where God first called him: or at
Charran and his fathers grave; or. perhaps, he
was treading once more the banks or the Eu-
| phrates's great rival. the Nile; or he was look
ing down the long vista of the future. and won
dering when the blissful promises, Of which ne
was heir, should be fulfilled. His rev.
erie was suddenly broken by the approach OF
strangers. At once there was a sensation In
camp. The monotony incident TO pastoral life was
broken by its chief and most welcome diversion,
the arrival of a passing traveller. In that age
before post and newspaper. this was the chief
| means Of communication with the outside world.
| This was how 'the nomadic tribes heard of the
| rise and fall of monarchies and kingly projects
in war or peaceful acts Of commerce and archi-
lecture. We have an analogy to 1t in modern
times in the welcome arrival of the pioneer
| preacher at a clearing in log-cabin days. He
brought more than theology in his saddle-bags.
" Literature does not contain a more naive
and fascinating bit of Oriental life. We fairly
see the patriarch running TO greet his guests
| with profuse Eastern alutations-adroitly MAX
| ing himself their debtor in that they allow him
to entertain them; courteously discounting in
advance what he proffers them. "a little water"
"a morsel of bread" In an incredibly short
/ space of time the appetizing meal is spread-a
roast of veal, with butter and milk and delicious
cakes baked by Sarah's own def hand-and
| Abraham stands to serve. From the
very first Abraham may have had an inkling
of the supernatural character OF his visitors.
The hour of their arrival was so unusual; no
one travels in the East In the heat OF the day.
But whether the host suspected it or not. the
| guests soon cast off all DISCUSSES, and Abraham
knew that he was entertaining the Lord and
his two attendant angels. They were
bearers OF a blessing and OF a curse. A bless
ing to righteous Abraham-the bnssful assurance
that the long-delayed advent of his promised
son was near at hand. Here is a glimpse at
the ministry OF the holy angels. These two
were possibly rewarded for fidelity by being al
lowed to see Abraham's face when the good
news was broken TO him. And If angels at
tended the Lord on this errand. why may they
not be going with Him on others. or going for
| Him? . While Abraham, with courtly
hospitality and grace, was going a pace with his
| departing guests, the Lord revealed the curse
to him. Excess of JOY over the blessing was
tempered by grief over the impending curse
and vice versa. 1t was natural God should
tell Abraham Of what would befall Sodom.
Proximity would suggest II. Then too. the
! patriarch had fought for the sodomites. and
his nephew dweit among them. But
| this vitality important information would never
have been given to any human being of less
exalted character than the patriarch possessed
This is the plain inference from the words with
which the revelation is prefaced. The very
fact that he was worthy 10 be chosen the
nrogenitor of the chosen race signifed that he
was worthy 10 be the Lords conhdant. The
greater included the less. Why. indeed. should
the thing be hidden BY this very act OF
confidence the Lord lifted Abraham. as He in
tended to. from the plane of servitude TO that
of friendship. The servant knoweth not what
his Lord doeth. but the friend does. . .
As the Lord had assumed a human form. so He
also accommodated himself TO the fashion OF
human speech. and described himself as on the
way TO make a personal investigation OF the
wickedness Of Sodom-to see whether the reality
OF It was as great as the fame OF it-and thus
qualify himself TO pass judicial sentence. all OF
which was of the nature OF anthropomorphism.
. . . As the angel trio started on their dread
| mission Abrsham's generous. compassionate
| heart prompted him to throw himself between
the Lord and the doomed cities. All unconscious
iy he makes himself a striking type OF the great
irtercessor of the race. He prays for sinners
| Their awful fate touched his heart 20 pity. lie
had once gone TO battle for them. now he goes
TO his knees in their behalf. He i a daysman.
a mediator. With c~onsummate skill he handles
their desperate case. shall this be a wholesale
slaughter? VIII there not be a discrimination
between the good and the bad? Might not the
sparing OF the bad on account OF the presence
of the good among them have a striking. eN-
emplary influence, II SO, what shall be the ratio
between the good and the bad? Might IL not
be as nifty 10 the whole population; Oh with
extreme depreciation Of himself as an iniercessor)
forty-fve? or forty OF thirty? or twenty, or
ten?' = Abraham displayed no bargain
ing temper. striving only 10 get the best possible
terms but was climbing the ladder OF hope
and faith. with each promise taking courage
to ask for more. When he felt that he had reached
the uttermost verge Of divine foTbsarance. then