The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1913-02-27

Isa. 41:1C. There in the midst or
foes Gas. 2:22) Cod promised to be
to Abram shield and an exceeding
great reward. A shield" for there is
to the Christian life militant side.
Epf. SIS. II, I Tim. 6:l2. A re
ward" which was far more rich than
any given by man. See 14:I, Proy
1922
Abram Was Human.
But !Abra2n was. after all, human,
and we read IL verse his question
about descendants, he being as yet
childless. Even so. however, Abram
was willing to count the child of his
steward as fulfilling the promise CT
God. Not so with God for the prom
ise 12:3) was 10 include Sarah also
God very clearly makes this plain II
verse 4. the heir %as to be Abrams
indeed and not the child OF another
But not only Is Abrarn to have an
heir but the land il which he was So
;ourring as a pilgrim was to be his
and his seed to be as the stars Tor
multitude.
"And Eo believed" The great test
to this faith cane later FEB. 11:l9,
but here in this first distinct scrip
sural history Of faith We find set fortii
these principles that have governed
through al! time. ID The acceptance
of the word cf Coo, e. g, to have cur
trust built upon Or supported By the
word of Jehovah. see Isa. 1921; 90
to act upon that faith SO that our
course in life nanifests the belief OF
the heart.
Gods covenant. 1o::1-4. is confirmed
in seven ways. /, Posterity (a) nat
ural. earth" % spiritual, heaven, .
(c) also through Tshmaei. Gen. 17:1S-
20: 2. blessing. both temporal ard
spiritual: 3. great name: 4. Be bless
ing. Gal. 9::13. "A; 5. Il will bless
them that bless thee" s, "and curse
them that curse thee; Z, the families
Of the earth blessed through Abram
e. g, through Christ. Gal. 3:16.
"And he believed in the Lord (v.
g.. Abrara built upon the naked word
of God. he simply looked at that and
that alone. Rom. 1920. R. Y. All God
asks Of US is for US to take him at his
word. 50 it is that as we take his
word about Jesus he reckons that
faith to us as righteousness; no mat
ter how unrighteous We may have
been. see Rom 4:3-6; Cal. 3;6-7. The
one think that God demands is that
We believe him and his word.
II. Whereby Shall ! Know." w.
SIS. The weakness Of human faith In
dicated By Abrams question " 8 is
answered by God giving to him direc-
tons for the preparation O. a sacri-
fee. Abram old not really doubt
Gods word (v 81. but he did dosire 2
confirming sign Many today are
looking for assuring signs from God
when his bare word should be enough.
Asking for signs is not always safe,
Luke 1880. but az in Abrams case
Cod does give US pledge a sign OF
our Inheritance. 2 Cor. 1:22. Eph. 1:l4.
God gave Abram. after he had expilc-
lily followed his directions. a SYM
bolic vision of himself. Someone has
suggested that the vile birds of prey
~ ~ are symbolic CT Satan. and
Abranl, driving them away, a symbol
Of one victory over evil, Jas. At.
God is always nearer to man and best
reveals himself when we are in the
midst of sacrifice. God tells Abram
of those days of servitude on the part
CT his descendants while they are to
be in Egypt, of Gods judgment to be
brought upon that land and Of their
ultimate deliverance.
Symbols of God.
Every detail of these predictions
and promises was fulfilled, In verse
Is there is presented the great
thought of the need of preparation in
youth for the future days Of good
old age"-also in this verse a sugges-
tion of the life beyond the grave.
The smoking furnace and the fam
ing torch were symbols Of God him.
self. Four centuries Of opportunity
were 20 be allowed the powerful Amo-
rites who now possessed the land be-
fore the land came into bona-fde pos
session in accordance with the prom
ise, for Gods Judgment was condition
ed upon the measure Of their iniQuity
being full In the midst of this hor
ror of darkness came Gods final as
surance to lAbram in the symbolic
flaming torch" which passed be-
-. $1,000. - 10 Il