The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-02-08

variously at 1900, 200 and 1000 b. {.
PLACE-Abraham originated in Ut
of the Chaldees the ruins of which,
called Mugheir, are now being eXcavated.
II is near the Euphrates, l2O miles from
the Persian gulf.
HAMS LIFE AND CHARACTER.
His Ancestry: Genesis IL and Luke
s;S4,%, 2 His Birthplace; Gen. II ;2S oa.
Gen. 1873; 251 4. His Children: Gen.
1916; 2l:S; 25:2. 5. His Prosperity Gen.
1872; 24:S5. 6. Journeyings: Gen. 11:Sl.
Neh. 81; Gen; 12I,s; Josh. 24;S lisa; 5l:2;
Gen. 1910; 201. Z. Names OF Places:
Find how many places are connected
with Abram s. Religion of Ills lis Anc .eS.
1873. 81 H:1S-20; Heb. 7:1-10; Gen. Is; 2l-l4;
2:SS "a; 221-14; 1921, s; 1874: 10 Visions
and promises Gen. 12l-S; 13:l4-l7; 151-1S;
Gen. 1919; 22:1s; 1856; Neh. 81 s; Psa.
1856; Rom. ALL Gal. 1863; Heb. 11:S-1s;
Jas. 2:2l-24; Chron. POT; lisa. AIS.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The real, essential, enduring prog
ress of the world is moral, spiritual
religious. This is progress worth re
cording 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 a
vision from God to Abraham father
of a multitude" The derivation of the
name is unknown. Professor Sayce
says that the name Abram (Abu-ramu
1.-The exalted father") is found on
early Babylonian contract tablets.
w. 1. Now the Lord had said"
Omit had" Am. r. The Lord said
first at Ur (Gen. 11:3D, and now
again m 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 a 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
of Abraham, "He rejoiced to see my
day; and he saw it, and was glad. y
John $3.50. And | 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 a blessing" A
blessing in myself, and a source OF
blessing to others. 1t is more blessed
to give than to receive.
" g. And | will bless them that
bless thee" Abraham's cause was
to be so identified with Gods cause
that whatsoever 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 curseth thee y
This is the other side of the same
promise. Abraham in character
works, and representative position as
the founder of the church was SC
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"
I'm thee shall all families of the
earth be blessed" AS they have
been, by the race he founded by the
spiritual training of that race, by the
religious influences and the word of
God given through his descendants
and most of all by Jesus Christ, the
Messiah, who was of Abraham's seed
We, too, have great and precious
promises, in Jesus Christ, of better
things and a better country than Alb
raham had Great lives are trained
by great promises.
w. 4. so Abram departed" with
all that he had (V 81, land into the
land of Canaan they came"
Canaan-"Lowlands," was original
ly 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 a
pilgrimage, like Abraham's, from sin
and a worldly life to "a city which
hath foundations whose builder and
maker is God; :" "a better country,
that is a heavenly" (Heb. 11:10, 49,.
We know not at first just where we
are going when God calls us from the
world to enter into his service. II is
always to the land which he will show
us Life and duty and work will UNI
Ct A g1.g o. h..