The Green Forest tribune., 1913-02-21

read of Abrams journey down into Egypt" story that is rich with sug gestiye typical lessons. Abrams de- ceit is discovered by Pharaoh and he Is driven from Egypt. Fear is the root of unbelief. and when we fall we are sure to carry some one with us. But mans sin Is sure to be discov- cred, so it was that Pharaoh con- manded his men, and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had" Egypt. type of the world, turned Abram out (12:20) when he tried the good Lord good devil" mode of life. Compromise and separation are not compatible.
 Lessons Picture.
 l. up Out of Egypt" w. 1-5. Again we have presented the lesson of sepa- ration. This portion is a great pie ture of repentance Abram carried with him not only his own possessions but also those of his nephew Lot No tice, Abrams wealth did not make him acceptable in Egypt. The world desires not alone the wealth of man, but also the man back of the wealth
 Again Abram turns from conflict un- to Bethel, the house of God that place of confession, of consecration, and of encouragement. Abram had to return unto the place of the altar which he had made at the first the place of his first disobedience. Just so we have to go back over the track of our disobedi- fA 4ho+ ,oIo oF to the point of reconsecration, and fol low the abandoned path of obedience. Our security is to maintain our sepa- ration from the world
 These returning pilgrims were not ordinary men, no more Is the man who Is in Christ, and God was already given evidence of the blessing prom ised to Abram Q2:2) and of that ma terial blessing so definitely promised to the descendants of Jacob. We read (v. @ their substance was great" But there Is far greater dan ger however in material prosperity than in diversity. This was a greater danger to these pilgrims than that of the Canaanites who dwelt in the land
 II. "And There Was Strife" w 5-9 The evidence of this danger manifest ed itself when 1t was found that the land could not support both Abram and Lot (v. 6). Paul calls Timothy's at tention to this same danger q Tim. 6:9), and we are constantly seeing 1t illustrated all about us
 Lots History.
 Lot was journeying with Abram rather than with Jehovah (12:3), doubtless in a great measure he was governed by cupidity and selfishness when he beheld Abrams prosperity Millions in America profit by the se- curity and the prosperity of this which so nearly approaches a Christian na- ton and yet in scorn or in neglect re- fuse to believe in or to serve the God who sends the blessing. The whole history of Lot is one of selfishness. which later resulted in sorrow and sadness and in his being shorn of all of his selfishly acquired prosperity. Lot had no particular claim upon Abram nor have we in our own right, or because of our own merit, upon God. By right of promise this land be- longed to Abram (12:D. There was however a greater right that governed Abram. viz, the right to be magnani- nous and right nobly did he respond to that demand when he said: Let there be no strife for we be brethren" Abram walked in the counsels of God. Ps. Ii, and of course was blessed We dare assert that every so-called prob lem of the day" those questions of capital and labor, of intemperance, i'm purity, housing, sanitation, graft, pen ology, the whole array, would cease if mankind would obey God as brethren What made this strife all the more reprehensible was that it took place in the presence of their common ene- my, the Canaanite. Denominational strife, standing for our rights, defend. ing our principles, etc, finds but lit- tie commendation in the scriptures There Is so little that divides most of us and so much that we hold in com mon that it is but little short of crim- inal to waste our energy upon that which IS ephemeral or of slight inn pOl CdHCo w udL u OllSl SuC0 III IH6 choice of Lot and that of Abram One entered into the path of the wicked Prov. 4:14, 15, while the other into the path that "shineth more and more unto the. perfect day" Prov. 4:18.
 III. And Lot -. 1eneTo All the Plain of Jordan" w. 1913. Lacking the counsel and guidance of Jehovah Lot followed the choice that which was pleasing to the eyes and made a sorry mess of it, for in the end he was a great loser. Already the land was doomed (v 10) and so today the man who chooses the world in preference to Christ makes bad bargain q John 2:17) and the greater condemnation is his for he makes his choice in the blaz- ing light of nearly twenty centuries of he Gospel. Lot made willing com promise. superficial choice and came
 ear losing his own soul, Matt, 1926 i:33. He deliberately entered into danger when he pitched his tent to- wards Sodom" The believers peril is worldliness. Lots journey (v. ID led at last to Sodom V 12
 Abram aspired to know God. Lot had an ambition to possess the things of time and sense. Abram coveted righteousness (Matt. 5. Lot soveted success in this life only We'll has Goethe exclaimed, Choose well; your