The Tupelo journal., 1913-02-28
INTERNATIONAL
], LESSON
(By E.. o. SELLERS. Director of v
ming Department The Moody Bible In
stitute of Chicago.)
LESSON FOR MARCH 2
GODS COVENANT WITH ADRIAN

LESSON TExT-Gen. 1858.
GOLDEN TExT-"He is faithful that
promised Heb. 1923.
Until within recent years 1t was fire.
quently asserted that Abrams battle,
as recorded in Gen. ID, had not one
whit of proof" yet the ~archaeologists
have not only r%econciled the apparent
discrepancies but have proven beyond
a question the accuracy of the rec
ord. Abrams victory over the four
confederate kings is a story rich with
typical suggestions.
T. "After These Things" Wv. IL.
Gods word ". y came to Abram not
only as a counsel but for assurance
as well. So, too, u assurance is MS
word. | John 5:13. In the midst OIL
the uncertainty and the strife, for we
must remember Abram never pos
sessed the land, God appeared to MN
in a vision and said, Fear not" See
lisa. 41:10. There in the midst OF
foes (Jas. 1929 God promised to be
to Abram a shield and an exceeding
great reward. A shield" for there Is
to the Christian life a militant side'
Eph. 6:13, IA, I Tim. 6:12. A re-
ward" which was far more rich than
any given by man. See 14:21, Prov
1922.
Abram Was Human.
But Abram a after all, human,
80 - 800 - orc q hiC 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 OF
God. Not so with God for the prom
ise G2:3) was to include Sarah also
God very clearly makes this plain In
verse 4, the heir was to be Abrams
indeed and not the child Of another
But not only is Abram to have ar
heir but the land in which he was so
journing as a pilgrim was to be his
and his seed to be as the stars fol
multitude.
"And he believed" The great tes'
to this faith came later. Heb. 11:l9
but here in this first distinct scrip
tural history of faith We find set fortf
those principles that have governed
through all time. (1) The acceptance
of the word of God, e. e., to have ou7
trust built upon or supported by thu
word of Jehovah, see lisa. 1921; q,
to act upon that faith so that GU
course in life manifests the belief o
the heart.
Gods covenant, 12:1-4, Is confirmed
IN seven ways, 1, Posterity, (a) nat
ural, earth" (b) spiritual, Heaven,
fc) also through Ishmael, Gen. 1918
20: 2, Blessing, both temporal ant
spiritual; 8, great name; 4, Be a bless
ing, Gal. 3:13, IA; 5, 81 will bles
them that bless thee" 6, "and curs'
them that curse thee; 7, the familie
of the earth blessed through Abram
e. g., through Christ, Gal. 3:16.
"And he believed in the Lord" "
81. Abram built upon the naked wor'
Of God, he simply looked at that AM
that alone, Rom. 4:20, r. v. All CO.
asks of us is for us to take him at hi
word. So it is that as we take hi
word about Jesus, he reckons tina
faith to US as righteousness; no mat
ter how unrighteous we may hav'
been, see Rom. 1895: Gal. 1867. Thu
one think that God demands is tina
we believe him and his word.
II. WHEREBY Shall | Know" w
S-1S. The weakness of human faith In
Dictated by Abrams question " s. l!
answered by God giving to him direc
lions for the preparation of a sacri
fee. Abram did not really doub
Gods word ". g., but he did desire
confirming sign. Many today arr
looking for assuring signs from Coo
when his pare word should be enough
Asking for signs is not always safe
Luke 1880, but as in Abrams case
God does give us a pledge a sign OF
our inheritance, 2 Cor. 1922. Eph. ia
God gave Abram, after he had explic
lily followed his directions, a sym
bolic vision of himself. Someone has
suggested that the vile birds of prey
". ~ are symbolic of Satan, and
Abram, driving them away, a symbol
of n victory over evil, Jas. AT
God is always nearer to man and best
reveals himself when WI 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 hand and Of theb
ultimate deliverance.
Symbols Of God.
Every detail OF these predictions
and promises vat fulfilled. In verse
Tx fhnro In nHoaanAnd Tho uroaA