The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-02-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR FEBRUARY 10, BY
THE REV. l. ". HENDERSON.
Subject: Abram Called to Ee 4 Bless.
ing, Gen. 12:1-S-Golden Text:
Gen. 1872 - Memory Verses:

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
a nation. The Scripture Immediately
preceding the lesson introduces lis 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 proVf-
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 20 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 n 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, r forgotten.
He alone stands out in monumental
| stature. Amidst polytheistic peoples
he worships the one true God. When
! fidelity is needed he exhibits it, when
a 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 a man to. whom Jehovah might
reveal Himself.
The object Of Gods call to Abram
was that in se~parateness a nation
might be raised whose ideal should
be religious perfectness, and whose
u6ElIdSO SuOulO uS IhS PASLhioS 6A'SA
unto Abram that, contemplating
| their prosperity and plenty, material
and spiritual, all the nations of the
world should call Israel blessed and
become DESTROYS to become in a like
fashion the recipients Of the divine
favor.
: Abram was, under God, the leader
| in a 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 food 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. It Is not
necessary either to forget that
Abram is entitled to be considered
as an historic character, nor is 1t
necessary to forget that this is not
the march of a single individual and
a 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 lied forth
his trained men, born in his house,
three hundred and eighteen" we un-
derstand that a 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." Twill shew." Notice the
future tense. No advance informa-
tion is granted.
VS.. z. "And." Better, that" 1t
was a 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 obe-
dience.
VS.. 8: "Blessed." Possibly better,
$50 that all the families of the earth
shall invoke a blessing like thine for
themselves" This promise is full.
filled in our day through Christ.
VS.. S. Went forth-came." The
beginning and fruition of faith and
submission are in 4 few words here
epitomized.
VS.. G. "Shechem." Between Mts.
Ebal and Gerizim in Central Pales-
tine. oak" R. V. 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 a special insight into the
designs Of God.
VS.. S. Bethel" House of God:
In Central Palestine.