The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-02-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-
MENTS FOR FEBRUARY 10, By
THE REV. /. w. HENDERSON.
Subject: Abram Called to Be Bless
ing, Gen. 12:1-S-GoIden Text:
Gen. 1872 Memory Verses:

Subject: Abram Called to Be Bless
ing, Gen. 12:1-S-GoIden Text:
Gen. 1872 - Memory Verses:
1-3.
The call of God to Abram to leave
his home in Haran and go into a new,
unfamiliar and untried land is the
beginning of the separate history of
nation. The Scripture Immediately
preceding the lesson introduces us to-
the beginnings of Hebrew racial ex-
istence.
The call of God was also a test of
Abraham's submission to and trust
in God. However deeply religious
Abram may have been and however
much he may have enjoyed a special
vision of the personality and provi-
dence of Jehovah this still remains
true that he had a surprising trust
in God and was also uncommonly de-
voted to Him or he never would have
obeyed the command of God as he
did. No information was offered to
Abram as to the terminus of his jour
ney. God simply called upon him to-
gather his family his possessions,
his retainerS, those who were worthy
to go with him, and having gathered
them to lead them forth whittier God
should direct. The command neces-
STATED the breaking of the ties which
bind to country, relatives and friends.
To obey it was to be supremely ODE
dent Also to obey it was to be par
amountly trustful.
Abram stands as the one mighty,
imposing figure in these earliest days
of Israel's history The names of the
mass of the people, of both great
men and small men, are forgotten.
He alone stands out in monumental
stature. Amidst polytheistic peoples
he worships the one true God. When
fidelity is needed he exhibits it, wnen
leader is required he comes for
ward. How long Gods spirit labored
with Abram before he reached the
high plane to which he attained we
do not know We are informed only
of the result. Abram was, in the
light of contemporaneous history, in
deed man to whom Jehovah might
reveal Himself
The object of Gods call to Abram
was that in separateness a nation
might be raised whose ideal should
be religious perfectness, and whose
heritage should be the promise given
unto Abram that, contemplating
their prosperity and plenty, material
and spiritual, all the nations of the
world should call Israel blessed ard
become DESTROYS to become in a lille
fashion the recipients of the divine
favor
Abram was, under God, the leader
in new movement in the history of
the world Heretofore God had
dealt with the peoples in a mass.
Twice, we are told, the people defied
His authority. Before the flood they
sunk themselves in sin; after the del
uge, Babel. And so God sets apart a
people who shall be to the nations
and to all mankind an ensample of
religious worth. In order to catch
the truth of this story it is not neces-
sary to do either of two things that
are occasionally done. 1t is not
! necessary either to forget that
Abram is entitled to be considered
as an historic character, nor is it
necessary to forget that this is not
the march of single individual and
few adherents, bound to him by
the ties of collateral consanguinity.
Abram looms too large, not only in
the records of Israel, but also in the
history of humanity, to be lightly
brushed aside. And when in Gen.
| 14:14 we find that Abram 'led forth
his trained men, born in his house,
| three hundred and eighteen" we I'M
derStand that considerable nomad
| tribe followed Abram in his pilgrim
| age into the land foreordained for
! them by God.
The lessons for us are immediate
and real, however remote the exam
| pies may be. Abrams trust and sub
| mission are the pattern for ours. Our
| fidelity should be Abramic and more
| He had only the dawn of the relig-
| ious day to light him on his way
| We have the sunshine of Gods truth
| for the illumination of our pathway.
| God made Israel to be the envy of
the world. He will make America
so to be if America will be obedient
and faithful to the heavenly vision.
| if America will put her trust, active
ly and effectively, in Him.
VS.. /. Country" From Haran.
He had previously left eur of the
| Chaldees.'' "Will shew." Notice the~
future tense. No advance informa-
ton is granted.
VS.. 2. and" Better, that" 1t
was prerequisite to greatness and
| the blessing that Abram should leave
| Haran. God had to get him away
| from his surroundings in order to do
| the work He had in mind. A new en-
vironment was as necessary as ODE
dience.
VS.. g. blessed" Possibly better,
$50 that all the families of the earth
| shall invoke a blessing like thine for
| themselves. This promise is full
filled incur day through Christ
Us. 5. Went forth-came The
| beginning and fruition of faith and
submission are in a few words here
| epitomized.
VS.. 6. ''Shechem. Between Mts.
] Ebal and Gerizim in Central Pales-
| tine Oak" R. " Terebinth.
Called "The Oak of Divination."
VS.. z. Appeared" 1t was a
common experience in the lives of
the hottest men in Israel 1t is no
less common to-day, and it would not
be at all uncommon if men would
practice the presence Of God AL
tar" Abram is represented as erect
ing affairs at the places where he had
| received special insight into the
designs of God.
VS.. s. Bethel House of God
In Central Palestine.
Dies of Old A0a at EIcCen