The Chanute times., 1913-02-14

The Bible does not profess to a be
chronological history of the world
1t does profess to reveal the steps OF
the redemptive 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.
l. "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 a 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-
GUS occasions. God calls today by
these 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.
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
l,,t
ised unto him. He journeyed probably
500 miles to the northwest but got
only as far as Haran, which was not
the promised land. 1t took, evidently,
the death of his father to move him
from that place, Acts IA. Abram
went not knowing the kind of land,
nor was he told where it was to be,
Heb. 11:S His call was threefold,
(1) "for thy country" (2) "thy kim
dred," (3) "thy fathers house." Thus
we see that God demanded a complete
separation from the old life, associa-
tions and affections.
II. And Abram departed" w. 4-6.
"To obey is better than sacrifice and
to hearken than the fat of rams"
Samuel 1922. 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 ". q. 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
mis-. own family with him, and "all their
substance" v. 5. Nothing was left be-
hind to- tempt him to return. And
they went forth into the land of Ca
man." a type of the life into which
we are called in Christ Jesus. Thus
at once another part of the promise is
III. "And the Canaanlte was In the
land" w. Go. Ali was not so easily
settled for Abram. Man that is born
of woman is of few days and full OF
no life is devoid of its 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 ". 81. This is beau
-iful lesson on conservation. Here is
Abram at "a mountain on the east of
Bethel" (house of God. Notice he is
IN the east of Bethel facing westward,
he direction in which he has been
ourneying, having Hal (ruins) at his
back, and there he builded an altar /.
into the Lord and called upon the
lame of the Lord" ". 81. Let us all
to turn our backs upon the
world, and as we face the house. the
Iltar OF God, render him undivided,
worship and service.
iod's appearance to Abrsm was again I
n connection with obedience. God is
ust as ready to assure us as we jour
ley through this humdrum, toilsome "
Quincy of life, ever ready to meet us II
nd to make us glad by the way.
Notice that Abram in a strange land
id not neglect Gods altar like many
present-day pilgrim, nor to give tes- e
mony of his faith for "called upon II
ne name of the Lord" Like the VI
hrist who had not where to lay his u
cad" so Abram was a pilgrim" pl
For the older classes consider such 81
uestions as. Every Mans Life a Plan pl
God; Our Debt to Judaism; Our al
reatment of Others Who Are Pill v;
rims Strangers, e. e., immigrants. al
For the younger do not omit Lot es
nd the dramatic, high-light picture OF
lat journey from Ur of the Chaldees ~,
lse a map). Emphasize how much 70
stter it is to be a blessing than TO ~
eek a blessing for ones self Not
hat has happened to myself today ar
1t what has happened to others -
rough me-" q
10 on 7 go. not knowing E
would not 10 7 might: II
rather walk iu the dark with God r.