The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-02-19

v.
During the time that interviewed be-
tween this and last weeks lesson we
read OF Abrams journey down into
Egypt" story that is rich with sug-
gestive 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 II was that Pharaoh coms
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 deviI' mode
OF life. Compromise and separation
are not compatible.
Lessons Picture.
I. Cup Out of Egypt" Wv. 1-5. Again
we have presented the lesson of seps-
ration. This portion IL a great pic
ture Of repentance. .,Abrain carried
with him not only his own possessions
but also those OF his nephew Lot. NJ
tee, Abrams wealth did not
him acceptable IN Egypt. The world
desires not alone the wealth of a man.
bat also the man back Of the wealth.
Again Abram turns from conflict I'M
to Bethel, the house of God, that place
OF confession, OF conservation, and OF
encouragement.
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 (2:2) and Of that ma
terial blessing 30 definitely promised
| to the descendants Of Jacob. We
read ". g. their substance Was
great" But there is far greater dan
ger however in material prosperity
than in adversely. This was a greater
danger to these pilgrims than that OF
the Canaanites who dwelt in the land
II. land There Was Strife" Wy 5-s
The evidence OF this danger manifest
ed itself when it was found that the
land could not support both Abram and
Lot ". g.. Paul calls Timothy's at
/ tention to this same danger q Tim.
6:9), and we are constantly seeing il
illustrated all about US.
Lots History.
Lot was iourneying with Abrarn
rather than with Jehovah G2:9l.
doubtless IN great measure he was
governed by cupidity and selfishness
when he beheld Abrams prosperity
Millions In America profit by the Sc
curity and the prosperity OF this which
/ SO nearly approaches a Christian ma
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 sii
of his seifshly acquired prosperity.
Lot had no particular claim upon
| Abram nor have We in our own right
or because of our own merit, upon
or be causeof our own merit, upon Coo.
There is so little that divides most Of
us and SO much that we hold In COM
| mon that 1t is but little short of Grim
inai to waste our energy upon that
which is ephemeral or of slight i'm
portance. What difference in the
choice Of Lot and that of Abram. One
entered into the path Of the wicked.
Prov. Ala, 10, while the other into
the path that ''shineth more and more
unto the perfect day." Prov. 4:1S.
| III. "And Lot :. BeheId 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
sorry mess of it, for in the end he was
a great loser Already the land was
doomed ". 10) and so today the man
who chooses the world In preference
to Christ makes bad bargain Il John
T2:l7) and the greater condemnation Is
I his for he makes his choice in the blaz-
| ing light of nearly twenty centuries OF
the Gospel. Lot made willing COM
promise, superficial choice and came
near losing his own soul, Matt, 1925
6:33. He deliberately entered into
danger when he pitched his tent to-
wards Sodom" The believers peril Is
worldliness. Lots journey ". ID led
at last to Sodom V. IL.
Abram aspired to know God, Lot
had an ambition to possess the things
Of time and sense. Abranl coveted
righteousness Matt 81. Lot soveted'
success In this life only Well has
Goethe exclaimed, Choose well; your
choice is brief and yet it is endless.
Eternity alone VIII reveal the results
OF our choice OF surroundings, upon
ourselves, upon. our families and upon
i our friends. -.
w. "Lift Up Thine Eyes" w l4i0
After separation comes fellowship ana
fruitfulness. God invited Abram 10
arise and to inspect his promised pos
sessions. So may we contemplate inc
vast possessions God has promises
as in Christ Jesus. Rom. s:l1, Cor.
AIS. After our separation ana our
fellowship comes true fruitfuiness ana
prosperity, Tim. Alb. Abram wens
Id Hebron (Which means fellowship.
and there in the midst of Mannre
(which means fatness) he built an az