The Green Forest tribune., 1913-02-14

chronological history of the world It does profess to reveal the steps of the redemptiYe process of God where by fallen man shall be justified in his sight. So it is that we find but little record of those hundreds of years be- tween this lesson and the events re- corded in that of last week We do, however, find all that is essential in the history of the plan of salvation.
 The cleansing of the earth by water was not for long, since we soon see men relapsing Into sin.
 1. Get thee out of thy country" w, 1-3. In this lesson we behold God again selecting a single man who shall be the head of race. We do not of course infer that Abram received an audible call, though God could certain lY speak as he did on other and numer- 0us occasions. God calls today by those inward impulses and desires, by the voice of duty and conscience, by the force of circumstances, and by the word. The Bible is Gods great est organ of speech. Man, feeling the conscious presence of God, obeying to the full his revelation, will see" God and hear him speak" not through the atmosphere, but with an inward reVe- lation that will direct his life now even as it did Abrams.
 Abrams Journey.
 From Acts 7:2 we learn that the call first came to Abram when he was in Mesopotamia probably on the right bank of the Euphrates river, and that his obedience to that call was only partial. Abram got out of his own country, but not into the land prom Ised unto him. He journeyed probably 300 miles to the northwest but got only as far as Haran, which was not the promised land. It took, evidently, the death of his father to move him from that place, Acts IA. Abram went not knowing the kind of a land, nor was he told where it was to be, Heb. Ills. His call was threefold, CD flor thy country" CD thy kin 1red," (3) "thy fathers house." Thus we see that God demanded complete separation from the old life, associa- lions and affections. In this Abram Is a great type, Isa. 55:7 But in this connection we find the record of an- other and a wonderful covenant of Sod with man (vv. 2, 3. How mar gelously God has kept this promise Through Abram came the Messiah who has so wondrously blessed the earth. We need also to remember that the descendants of Abram are today Gods chosen people. Every child of God has his "call" to separation, 2 Cor S:17, 18 Abram left his idolatrous companions, so we, too, must forsake our idols
 The dearest idol have known,
 What're that idol be
 Help me to tear 1t from thy throne
 And worship only thee"
 We are told that Haran means "a parched place." and so today Abram has many like him who start for the and of promise only to have their purpose killed by the scorching heat of testing and trial as they reach the Haran experiences of life, and many ike the father of Abram did in Haran
 II. And Abram departed," w. 46. 'To obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams," Samuel 15:22. Abram had just enough faith to obey We do not read that he asked for enlightenment; he saw not the land, but he heard the call and staggered not at the promise. He was fully persuaded that God was able to perform and therefore it was reck- oned unto him for righteousness, Acts 7:20-22. But he did not go alone. AL ready God had begun to redeem his promise (v. 9. Abrams character was such and his name of such import that his nephew Lot accompanied him. Lot, however, did not possess that same faith nor a like character. Lot went with him" and not, like Abram, with God Abram also took his own family with him, and "all their hind to tempt him to return. And they went forth into the land of Ga man." type of the life into which we are called in Christ Jesus Thus at once another part of the promise is fulfilled
 III. g"And the Canaanlte was in the land" w. 6-9. All was not so easily settled for Abram. Man that is born of woman is of few days. and full of troubles" no life is devoid of it's test ing, Eph, 6:12, R. ", and so as Abram journeyed he met with enemies.
 His Place of Rest.
 Passing on from thence he reached a place of rest (v. 8). This is beau tiful lesson on consecration. Here is Abram at "a mountain on the east of Bethel" (house of God). Notice he is on the east of Bethel facing westward. the direction in which he has been journeying, having Hai (ruins) at his back, and there he builded an altar unto the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord" (v. s. Let us all remember to turn our backs upon the world, and as we face the house, the altar of God, render him undivided, whole-hearted worship and service. Gods appearance to Abram was again In connection with obedience. God is | just as ready to assure us as we jour ney through this humdrum, toilsome 1 journey of life, ever ready to meet us and to make us glad by the way.
 Notice that Abram in a strange land did not neglect Gods altar like many a present-day pilgrim, nor to give tes- timony of his faith for "called upon the name of the Lord" Like the Christ who had not where to lay his