The Tupelo journal., 1907-02-22
GODS COVENANT
WITH ABRAHAM

Specially prepared for this paper.

TIME.-Three to six years after our
last lesson.
PLAcE.-Near Hebron. amidst the
oaks of Mamre.
on the covenants: Gal. 1929; Rom.
2.2S. 20; Psa. 1917. 49,: lisa. 1921: Eek.
36:26-S1. The eight promises gwen 10
Abraham: First promise, Gen. lZ:l-S;
second promise, 1871; third promise, 1918
II; fourth promise, 15:1. 5, 6, Is; fifth
promise. 17:1-10. 10: sixth promise, lSIS'
l9: seventh promise. 2l:12; Eighth prom
Use, 22:16-1S.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Covenant Promise.-V. .. The
Promise in Detail. () He should
be the father of a great nation. I'd
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. (4) His descend
ants should be in number as the sand
of the seashore and as the stars OF
heaven. 60 God be his shield and re-
ward. co He should have a son who
would inherit the promises.
The condition was faith that led to
prompt and entire obedience. But
this was a very difficult achievement.
Years went by and no son was given
him. He was almost alone in a heath
en- land full of all iniquity. The
land promised him was occupied by
strong and warlike tribes.
In such circumstances, in all cir
cumstances of difficulty, in all right
eous living in a wicked world, men
need aids to faith, need sustaining
grace shown in visible ways, and God
gave these to Abraham and he gives
them to us.
First.-The Symbol of the Stars. 5.
"And he brought him forth abroad"
Out of his tent, so that he could see
the stars, showing that this vision
was no dream, but a real message
from God. Look now toward heaven,
and tell the stars, if thou be able to
number Them In the promise to
Noah the rainbow was made a sign,
appearing occasionally, but at the
very time when fears for the fulfill
ment 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, testi-
flying to the faithfulness of God.
Gods promise was written on the
sky, as every Christian should see
written on the mighty heavens:
They that be wise shall shine as
the brightness of the armament; and
they that turn many to righteousness
as the stars forever and ever"
1. These bright worlds were Gre
ated and are held in their places by
divine power. So great is the God
who would defend Abraham, so able
and willing to keep his promises.
2. The stars never failed. Each
night they appeared in their places,
and moved u~nvaryingly in their
courses. Gods faithfulness in nature
was the assurance of his faithfulness
to his word given to Abraham.
8. The stars in that climate are
brighter than ours. Prof. Hall says
that he has known Venus to shine so
bright as to cast a shadow. Bright
er than the stars, steadier than their
flames, shall be the fulfillment Of
Gods promises.
4. There are infinitely more stars
in heaven than Abraham could see.
Gods promises are ever better in their
fulfllment than it is possible for us
to conceive.
Second-The Symbol of the Dust
and Sand. In Gen. 1916 God says that
Abraham's seed should be as the
dust of the earth" for number; and in
Gen. 22:17, "as the sand which is
upon the seashore." So wherever
Abraham looked, at earth or at sky,
by day or by night, he would see SYM
-bols of Gods promise on every side.
Third.-The Symbol of Circum-
cision. In Gen. ~17:10-14 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 a change of his nam
from Abram (exalted father to Abra-
ham Gather of a 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 in the
universe. Communion with God is
the best communion of the Spirit.
Instead of the child he wanted, God
was his friend. and would bring to
pass what was needed in his own good
time.
Practical Points.
God comes to us in our dark times,
the times of trial and sickness and
loss and danger. These with God in
them are training in faith and charac.
ter.
Character grows by Gods encour-
agements in the trials of our faith. by
earnest believing, by combinations of
faith, by religious ~observances, by the
everlasting covenant with God.
The more we grow in faith anG
character the larger and surer are
Gods promises to us.
Our God "fs the covenant-making and
covenant-keeping God.