The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-02-27

Until within recent years II was fro
quentiy asserted that Abrams battle.
as recorded In Gen. II. had not one
whit OF proof" yet the archaeologists
have not only reconciled the apparent
discrepancies but have proven beyond
Q question the accuracy OF the REQ
ord. Abrams victory over the four
confederate kings is . story rich with
typical suggestions.
l. "ANer Thee rhlnas." w. II.
Gods word ~ ~ came TO Abram not
only 40 q counsel but for assurances
a. well &c. too. our assurance 10 MS
word. I John 6:I3. In the midst OF
the uncertainty and the strife, for We
must remember Abram never pos
sessed the land. God appeared to him
In q vision and said. Fear not" See
lisa. 4l:10 There In the midst OF
foes Gas. 2:2O God promised to be
TO Abram q shield and an exceeding
great reward A shield for there 10
TO the Christian life q militant side.
Fph 6:I3. II. Tim. 6:i2. A "re-
ward" which was far more rich than
any given by man. See i<:2i. Prov.
1914
Abeam Wss Human.
But Abram was. after all human.
and we read IN verse Q his question
about descendants. he being as yet
childless Even go. however. Abram
was willing to count the child OF his
steward as fulfilling the promise OF
God Not so with God for the prom
Use (ia:5) was 10 include Sarah also.
God very clearly makes this plain IN
verso 4. the heir was TO be Abrams
indeed and not the child Of another.
But not only IL Abrsm to have an
heir but the land in which he was so
journing as q pilgrim was TO be his
and his seed TO be a. the stars for
multitude.
And he believed" The great test
TO this faith came later. Heb. li:1s.
but here In this FIRST distinct scrip
tural history OF faith we find set forth
those principles that have governed
through all time. On The acceptance
OF the word OF God. e. g., TO have our
trust built upon or supported by the
word OF Jehovah. see lisa 30:2l: (2)
to act upon that faith 80 that our
course In life manifests the belief OF
the heart
Gods covenant, 1914 is confirmed
in seven ways. I. Posterity. ta) nat
urai. earth" (b) spiritual. heaven"
(c) also through Ishmael Gen. 17:1s-
20: 2. blessing. both temporal and
spiritual: :. great name: 4. lie q bless
ing. Gal. s:i3. II: s. Il will bless
them that bless thee" 8. and curse
them that curse thee: 7. the families
OF the earth blessed through Abram.
O. e.. through Christ Gal 3:is.
"And he believed in the Lord" ".
81. Abram built upon the naked word
Of God. he simply looked At that and
that alone. Rom. $40. r. " All God
asks OF us IL for US TO take him Al his
word go Il 10 that as we take his
word about Jesus. he rcckpns that
faith to us as righteousness: no mat
ter how unrighteous we may have
been. see Rom $40. Gal a:67 The
one think that God demands II that
we believe him and his word
IT, whereby Shall I Know" w.
Sis Tho weakness OF human faith In
dicated by Abrams question " 81 10
answered by God giving TO him direc-
lions for the preparation OF = sacri-
fee Abram did not really doubt
Gods word ". 81. but he did desire .
confirming sign Many today are
looking for assuring signs from God
when his bare word should be enough.
Asking for sigma IL not always safe.
Luke 1880. but as In Abrams case
God does give us a pledge a sign OF
our inheritance. . Cor 1:22. Fph 1:l<.
God gave Abram. after he had eIplic-
bolic vision OF himself Someone has
suggested that the vile birds OF prey
". IL are symbolic OF Satan. and
Abram. driving them away, a symbol
OF one victory over evil. Jas. at
God In 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
OF his descendants while they are TO
be In Egypt. OF Gods Judgment to BE-
brought upon that land and Of their
ultimate deliverancs.
symbols Of God.
Every detail OF these predictions
and promises WAS fulnfied. In verse
Is there 10 presented the great
thought OF the need OF preparation In
youth for tho future days OF good
old age"-also In this verse . sugges-
tion OF the life beyond the grave.
Tho smoking furnace and the nam
ing torch were symbols OF God him
self. Four centuries OF opportunity
were TO be allowed the powerful Amo-
rites who now possessed the land bs-
fore the land came into bona-nde pos
session In accordance with the prom
iss, for Gods Judgment was condition
ed upon the measure OF their iniduity
being null." In the midst OF this hor~
ror OF darkness came Gods nnal a.
surance to Abram in the symbolic
flaming torch" which passed be-