The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-02-14
a \ ss2t3 3 ~ "a \ n As''''s Z isHNN7 y.
GODS COVENANT F:
WITH ABRAHAM ;
sssd.y School Lesson for Feb. "a, 1907 !
Specially prepared for this paper !


S&x&&&s&9&xx@&x xs&as&A&Tx&
LESSON TEXr-Genesis 81. 5-ls.
Memory vcraes, 8 ana g.
GOLDEN TENT lie believed in 0od
ana he counted Il TO him for righteous
TiME.-Three to six years after our
last lesson.
PLAcE.-Nser Hebron. amidst the
oaks OF Afamre.
sCRlPrURAL REFEHENcEs-IAght
on tho covenants; Cal sss-29; Rom.
2,2S -; Pisa. 1871, is. fao. 59.2i: Ezsk.
ss;2s-si. Tho eight promises given 10
Abraham. First promise. Gen. lx.i-s,
second promise. 1871. third promise. is;li-
n. fourth promise. i5i 3. g. Is; hfth
promise, i7:i-io, ~; sixth promise. islN
~: seventh promise. 2i.is. eighth prom
lse. s2;lC-1s.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Covenant Promise.-V. g. Tho
Promise IN Detail. Cd lie should
be tho father OF great nation. CD
God would make him a blessing TO
all the world (3) The land OF
Canaan should be his land and that
of his seed forever .(f His descend
ants should be In number as the sand
of the seashore and as the stars OF
heaven. 60 Cod be his shield and re
ward. (GD lie should have a son who
would inherit the promises.
The condition was faith that led To
prompt and entire obedience. But
this was very difficult achievement
Years went by and no son was given
him. lie was almost alone In heath
en- land fun OF all iniqaity. Tho
I land promised him Was occupied by
strong and warlike tribes
In such circumstances. in all cir
cumstances of difficulty. ia all right
eous living In wicked world, men
need aids TO faith. need sustaining
grace shown IN visible ways, and God
gave these 10 Abraham and he gives
them TO as.
First.--Tho symbol Of the Stars. 9.
And he brought him forth ahruaf
Out of his tent. 80 that he could SEQ
the stars. showing that this vision
was no dream. but real message
from God. Look now toward heaven.
and tell the stars, n thou be- able la
number them" In the promise 10
Noah the rainbow was made a sign.
appearing occasionally. but al the
very time when fears for the fulfil
mcnt Of the promise would naturally
arise. TO Abraham God gives "A
brighter sign. so that wherever he
went the night would speak with
thousands OF harmonious voices, tosti-
flying 60 the faithfulness Of God.
Gods promise was written on the
sky. as every Christian should SEQ
written ON the mighty heavens.
They that be wise shall shine as
tho brightness Of the armament: and
they that tun many TO righteousness
as the stars forever and ever"
7. these bright worlds we're Gre.
aied ana are held Ia their places by
divine power. SO great Is the God
who would defend abraham. 50 able
-and willing 10 keep his promises
?. The stars never failed. Each
night they appeared In their places.
and moved unvaryingly in their
courses. Gods falthfulness in nature
was the assurance OF ala falthfulnoss ,
10 his word given 20 Abraham.
,. The stars In that climate are
brighter than ours Prof Hall says
that he has known venusfo shine 40
bright as 10 cast a shadow. Bright
or than the stars. steadieF than their
ilamea. shall be the fHlhIlmcnt OF
Gods promises.
Z. There are infinitely more stars
In heaven than Abraham could see.
Gods promises are ever better In their
fulnllment than Il Is possible Cor us
to conceive.
sccond-The symbol OF The Dust
aud Sand. In Gen. 1916 God says that
Abrahams seed shoald be as tho
dust Of the earth" for number: and In
Con. 22:i7. as the sand which So
upon the seashore." So wherever
Abraham lsbkcd. at earth or at sky.
by day or by night. he would sec sym
bois OF Gods promise on every side.
Third.-The Symbol of Clrcum-
cision. In Gen. i7l0lt we find an.
other sign OF the covenant. the rite
Of circumcision, which has ever been
the rite of the Jews. as baptism since
then has been the sign Of the Chris
tian's covenant with God.
Fourth.-The symbol Of the Chang
ed Name. In Gen. 1875 we have
the symbol OF change Of his namo
from Abram (exalted father TO Abra.
ham Gather OF multitude).
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 I'm the
universe. Communion with God IL
the best communion of the Spirit.
Instead OF the child he wanted. God
was his friend, and would bring 10.