The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-03-21
GODS COVENANT ;
WITH ABRAHAM :
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. "a, 1907

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LESSON TE&T Genesis 151. sic
Memory verses. and
GOLDEN TENT. He bciicved in God
and he counted 1t to him for righteous.
ness" Gen. i5.6.
TIME. Three to SIX years after our
last lesson
PLACE.-Near Hebron. amidst the
oaks of Mamre
sCRIPTURAI. REFERENCEs Light
on the covenants. Gal 1929; Rom.
22s. q: Psa lO3i7. 49,; lisa. 1921; Ezek.
@:26-3l The eight promises given to
Abraham: First promise. Gen. l2l-3:
second promise. 1871; third promise. iSli-
u: fourth promise. lh:l. 5. 6. IS: nth
promise i7l-i0. 49, sixth promise. 1918.
~; seventh promise. 2i:I2; eighth prom
ise, 22:16-lS
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Covenant Promise.-V. b The
Promise in Detail CD He should
be the father Of great nation t2)
God would make him a blessing to
all the world ~ The land OF
Canaan should hc his land and that
of his seed forever (4) His descend
ants should be in number as the sand
of the seashore aud as the stars of
heaven. 60 God he his shield and re-
ward. (6) He should have a son who
would inherit the promises.
The condition was faith that led to
prompt and entire obedience. But
this was a very difficult achievement
Years went by and no son was given
him. He was almost alone In a heath.
en- land full Of all iniquity The
land promised him was occupied by
strong and warlike tribes.
In such circumstances. in all cir
cumstances of difficulty. in all right
eous living in wicked world men
need aids to faith. need sustaining
grace shown in visible ways. and God
| gave these to Abraham and he gives
| them to us.
First.-The Symbol OF the Stars. s.
And he brought him forth abroad"
| Out of his tent. so that he could see
the stars, showing that this vision
was no dream. hut a real message
from God. Look now toward heaven,
and tell the stars. II thou be able to
number them" In the promise to
| Noah the rainbow was made sign,
appearing occasionally. but at the
very time when fears for the fulfill
ment Of the promise would naturally
| arise. To Abraham God gives a
brighter sign. 80 that wherever he
went the night would speak with
| thousands OF harmonious voices. testi.
| fying TO the faithfulness OF God
| Gods promise was written on the
sky. as every Christian should sec
written on the mighty heavens:
They that be wise shall shine as
the brightness of the armament: and
they that turn many to righteousness
rs the stars forever and ever"
| These bright worlds were Gre.
atnd and are held in their places by
| divine power. So great Is the God
who would defend Abraham. so able
and willing to keep his promises.
3 The stars never failed. Each
night they appeared in their places
md moved unvaryingly in their
courses. Gods fathfulness In nature
was the assurance of his faithfulness
to his word given to Abraham.
z. The stars in that climate are
|
that he has known Venus 10 shine so
bright as TO cast a shadow Bright.
er than the stars, steadier than their
llames. shall be the fulfilment of
Gods promises
There are infinitely more stars
in heaven than Abraham could see
Gods promises are ever better In their
tnI lie e..
TO conceive
Second The Symbol of the Dust
and Sand I'm Gen IL l6 God says that
Abrahams seed should be as the
dust Of the earth" for number: and in
Gen 22 II. las the sand which is
npon the seashore' So wherever
Abraham looked, at earth or at skv.
by day or by night. he would see sym.
bols Of Gods promise on every side
Third THE symbol of Circum.
cision In Gen. 7:i0.14 we find an,
other sign of the covenant. the rite
of circumcision. which has ever been
The rite OF the Jews, as baptism since
rhen has been the sign of the Chris.
lian's covenant with God
Fourtn,-lne symbol or the Chang
cd Name In Gen. l7'5 we have
the symbol of change of his name
from Abram (eXalted father) to Abra
| ham Gather of multitnde)
Fifth The Symbol of the Blood
Covenant In the latter part OF the
lesson for to-day.
God Himself is the Best Reward -
The best reward does not consist in
Gods gifts, but in himself The child
who has his father has Infinitely
more than any gift his father can give
him He who has God has all things
The love Of God is the best reward Of
love The favor of God is better than
The favor of all other things In the
universe Communion with God Is
The best communion of the Spirit
Instead of the child he wanted God