The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-16
The International
Sunday-School Lesson
First Quarter. Lesson VII. Genesis XII.
1913. February II, 1907.
LOTS CHOICE.

First Quarter. Lesson VII. Genesis Kill.
1913. February II, 1907.
LOTS CHOICE.
Abram probably followed tile great
desert highway which still exists be-
tween the Fast and Damascus, tho very
same, probably, that his grandson Jacob
took In his flight from his angry bro
Their. 10 all outward appearances, ABB
rams company probably cxactiS re-
scmblcd the caravan which the traveller
in tho East sees to-day. There were
the camels, "shlps Of the desert, bear
Ing their precious freight OF women
and children, besides provisions anu
merchundise. Therel were the locks ana
herds and their attendants, besides the
armed guard. The oak or OAK grove
of Nrorch In Slchem is the 1rst men
toned camping. place of the patriarch
within the bounds Of the promised land.
Abrams first recorded net Is significant.
Columbus, standing on the shore of the
New World, unfurled tho standard or
Eerd innnd Abram, coming into Ca
naan, built an altar to God. SO IT pc
came his custom. Where Abraham hnd
n tent, God had an altar THESE DC.
came series of sermons IN stone
to the idol worshiping Canaanttes
Tho first mention made OF Abraham
In Egypt Is concerning his wea.Ln. The
statement OF tho artless narrative Is
simply sf''Abrahnm was very rich IN
cattle, in silver. and in gold" Gods
promises OF temporal blessings had an
early fulhllment. l..tto's computations
are curious rather than reiiun.e. On
the data Of the possessions OF Jacob
and Job he estimates Abraham as nav
| ing between eight and nine thousand
head. or course, such immense herds
and nocks would imply q correspond
| ingly large number OF attendants. From
| the incident Of the equipment OF three
hundred and eighteen men for war 1t
may be figured that there were some :
| thing over a thousand min the camp,
| not to mention women and children.
1 Up to this time Abraham and Lot mao
shared the pleasures and harusnips 81
4 their pilgrim life. But now the herds
Of both had increased $50 that the land
was not able to bear them that they
| might dwell together So. as some
/ times occures to this day, the hcrdsmen
became rivals. and strove for pasture &c
and water. In this incident Abraham,
character shines Respondent. Two sthou-
/ sand years before Christ he showed the
Christian spirit when he said to Lot
Let there be no strife between me ant
thee ana between my herdsmen and thy
hcrdsmen; for we be brethren. Nor are
these mere words. Abraham backs then
up. He valves his right. The land wal
( his. It was all his. Yet IN noble MAJ
nanimity lie said to Lot: us not To.
whole land before thee? Separate thy,
self. I pray thee, from me. If thou will
take the left hand. then will go to tn
right; or If thou depart to the riEh
/ hand then ! will so to the left.
Lots selflshness crops out. He tool
I. advantage of Abraham's generosity. II
cast his eye on the well-watered plai1
Of Jordan and chose it. 1Ie jou1neye
east It was not long before ho exchang g.
ed pastoral life for urban. He attempted
the impossible. a double service-Go'
and rches-met the inveterate and his
torlc outcame
Another incident In the career Of Lo
is the occasion Of the display OF ne'
traits In the admirable character c
Abraham: decision, bravery, military skill
Lot is in trouble The very wealth n
coveted and the richness Of the land II
chose was the cause OF It, a rune
brings tidings Of predatory incursao
and OF Lots captivity Abraham deter
mines his course instantly. Lot mus
be rescued. Three companies OF traine
servants born In his camp. are armed
, and Abraham takes command IN person