St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-05-06

UesoiAe LHe ldlueT Oh GOu s CHOSEN pee
pie and the ancestor Of the Christ?
Often have we heard of the strang
leadings which have brought the seek
e- after God and the teacher of God to
gether. Paul had such wonderful ex
perience as he went into Damascus
blind and found Ananias who SHOULD
speak the words to restore his sight
Cornelius seeking after the truth a
Caesarea had the vision and sent tn,
messengers that brought Peter from
Joppa to be his instructor. And st
it has always been. God does not leave
man to grope about in darkness alone
but sends the light ard the teacher o.
the truth. And so it was with Abra
| ham.
In kr OF the Chaldees where iio1a
| try was rife and where Terah, ths
father of Abraham was given to the
worship OF the false gods. it could not
be expected that Abraham would find
the light which he sought. He must
be driven forth. and in the story OF
"Abraham,s Awakening" we have sug-
gested how this crisis in his life may
have come. The crisis came at the
point OF loyalty to the highest and best
light which he possessed, and it is
here that the crisis always comes.
And Abraham fled from Ur and
though he knew rot whittier he went,
Providence directed his footsteps. as
God will always do for these who seek
Him
Footsore and weary On the after
noon Of the third day since lie had left
Ur. Abraham threw himself down at
the foot Of great palm tree that grew
by the river side, for he had journey
ed along the path which skirted the
Euphrates, fearing to strike off over
the wide stretches of sand that ex-
tended of in the distance away from
the refreshing waters. The sca1t pro-
had been supplemented with the fruit
of the palms and other trees that grew
luxuriantly along the rivers side, but
now as he partook Of his last cakes he
wondered what he would do for his
next meal. he wondered how far he
had come in the three days of his wan
dering and how m,.ch farther he would
have to go to find a safe refuge
He wondered what he was going to
do and what was going to become If
him. All! how in the dark hours of
uncertainty the myriad questions risa
specter-like before ones mind.
If Abraham had known how to pray
to the unknown God, whom he longed
to know, he would have done so. He
knew how they called on the gods in
the temple and besought their favor,
but such would not do, he felt, in ad-
the true, but unseen, God.
All! If Abraham had only known it
The attitude and longing of his hear
TO know the God Of Whom he was as
ret ignorant. and yet of Whom he had
! vague consciousness, was real pray
sr and was heard and felt by God,
Whose observing eye and unfailing ear |
never miss the faintest aspiration an6
Of the human heart towards |
Him. And God saw and understood. |
But Abraham as he sat. there weary |
md discouraged knew it not. All I
seemed hopeless.
Suddenly he started and lifted his
head from the folds Of his tunic. Eie
1e hear his name spoken? Impossible. |
But as he listened. again came the /
sound. and realizing now that he was
1ot mistaken. he sprang to his feet
md started in the direction Of the
Toice.
"Ah, here you are" spoke the voice
again, as he rounded the clump of !
pushes and came upon stranger
standing there.
Astonishment. and perplexity render
I'd Abraham speeches. and all he
:ould do was to stare at the man. He
had never seen him before and he
vas certain the man had never met
him, and yet how did he know his
name and discover that he was there.
But to Abraham's questioning look,
he other only simply said:
II have come for YOU"
"For me- Abraham managed at last
% exclaim, and yet his amazement was
lot so great as to make him insensible
70 the sweetness and comfort which
:ame to his heart as he realized that
ZONE one in some way knew of him In
lis loneliness and need and was going
% help him.
For you,' quietly responded the
stranger. "This morning while in
prayer the Lord God of Heaven and
Earth appeared in vision to the aged
Noah, and spoke to him.
laying: Send out into the way that
eadeth down to Or of the Chaldees,
ind there you shall find man named
Abraham, who seeketh Me. Him shalt
hou instruct In the matters pertain
ng to the worship and service of the
rue Cod And am come in obedi-
nee to my masters command. Let us
hasten, for the day Is far spent and
.e have some distance to CO."
And so saying he turned and walked
apidly down the path, and Abraham
bediently followed. His WEAKNESS
vas gone now, and his heart was
TIRED as he pondered over the words
t the messenger. Surely this God
rho had spoken to Noah and told him
himself (Abraham) when he was yet
great way OF must be the God whom
e longed to Know. Thus, deep In
bought. Abraham silently followed his