Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-02-08
.ABRAM CALLED
TO BE BLESSING
Sunday School Lesson for Feb 10, 1907
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

/ the Persian gulf.
HANS an I. LIFE FE and A rNi GHAR&cTER.-1
His Ancestry: Genesis II and Luke
3;S4-3s. 2. His Birthplace; Gen. l1;2S,Sl
Gen 1873; 25:l. A. His Children: Cen
1915; 2l;S; ESQ, 8 His Prosperity; Gen
1872: 24;sJ. 6. Journeyings: Gen. n:3l.
Neh. a:7: Gen. 12:1-9; Josh. 24:S; lisa. 51:2
Gen. 1910: pol. T. Names of Places:
Find how many places are connected
with Abram s. Religion Of His Ances- .es
1875. 8: 14:1S-2O; Heb. 7:1-10; Gen. is; 2l-i4;
Fl ;sS "a; 22:1-l4: 1871. 8; 1874 10. Visions
and PROMISES Gen. 12:l-3; 13:14-17; 15:1-1S;
l!;l-S; 2l;l2 lS. II. Faith and Character;
1856; Rom. All; Gal. 1863 Heb 11:S-19;
Jas. 2:2l-2l; 2 Chron. 2O:7; Isa 41:S.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The real, essential, enduring prog
ress of the world is moral, spiritual,
religious. This is progress worth re-
cordiHg in the Book of God. In this
progress Abraham stands out as a
lighthouse landmark, lighted by God,
and shining down all the ages. He is
the third of the representatives of
eras in the history: Adam-Noah-
Abraham.
His first name was Abram, "exalt-
ed father" and changed later in
vision from God to Abraham, father
of multitude" The derivation of the
name is unknown. Professor Sayce
says that the name Abram (Abu-ramu.
the exalted father') is found on
early Babylonian contract tablets.
V. l. Now the Lord had said"
Omit had Am. r. The Lord said,
first at Ur (Gen. 11:3D, and now
again in Haran, where he was at the
beginning of this chapter. Terah, Alb
raham's father, led the first migration
from Ur to Haran, nearly 600 miles
northwest up the Euphrates, on the
road toward Palestine.
Get thee out of thy country, and
from thy kindred" Why must he get
away from these Influences? Because
only in new country, free from the
restraints of old customs and old
friends, could the family and religion
of Abraham best develop. Unto a
land that | will show thee" Here
was another test of his faith. And
the difficulty was greatly enhanced
by the fact that he did not know
where he was going.
V. 2. 81 will make of thee a great
nation" Great and good motives are
involved in this promise. Personally
it would compensate for the loss of
his own country. This promise was
fulfilled in the Hebrew race, which
has had greater religious influence
than any other, and which still exists;
but more completely in the spiritual
sons of Abraham, the whole Christian
church (Gal 3:29). So Christ says
of Abraham, "He reioiced to see my
day; and he saw it, and was glad"
John 1850. And l will bless thee"
No earthly good can be so great as
the blessing Of God.
"And make thy name great.
Known, honored, loved through all the
centuries, and by multitudes of peo-
pie. To one who is really worthy of
it, it is a great blessing to be the
hero. the example, the ideal of many
people
"And thou shalt be blessing" A
blessing in thyself, and a source OF
blessing to others. 1t is more blessed
to give than to receive.
V. 8. "And will bless them that
bless thee" Abraham's cause was
to be so identified with Gods cause
that whosoever favored Abraham fav'
ored God and his kingdom. So far as
We are the true children of God this
is true also Of us.
And curse him that ours eth thee.
This is the other side of the same
promise. Abraham in character,
works, and representative position as
the founder of the church was SO
identified with God that whosoever
hated and opposed him hated and op'
posed God "The good man is not
alone. Touch him, and you touch
God"
"In thee shall all families of the
earth he blessed AS they have
heen. bv the race he founded. by the
spiritual training of that race, by the
religious influences and the word OF
Cod given through his descendants,
and most of all by Jesus Christ, the
Messiah. who was of Abrahams seed.
We too. have great and precious
promises, in Jesus Christ of better
things and better country than Alb
raham had. Great lives are trained
by great promises.
v. a. 80 Abram departed. with
all that he had (V, 81. land into the
land of Canaan they came"
Canaan 'Lowlands," was original
" the low land on the Mediterranean
coast. but afterwards included the
whole of Palestine to the Jordan.
Practical Points.
Each one of us is called to go on
nilerimage. like ~Abraham's, from sin
and worldly life to "a city when
hath foundations whose builder ana
maker is Cod "a better country,
that is heavenly (Heb. IL: 10, lo).
We know not at first just where we
are going when God calls us from the
world TO enter into his service. 1t is
always TO the land which he will show
ms Life and duty and work will un-
fold themselves to us as we obey the