The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-02-28
INTERNATIONAL
tSUNllyS([lO()L
LESSON
tSy f. o. SELLERS, Director or Eve
ming Department The Moody bioie III
stitute Of Chicago.)
LESSON FOR MARCH 2
GODS COVENANT WITH ABRAM

LESSON TEXT-Gen. l5:5-lS.
GOLDEN TEXT-"He is faithful that
promised Heb. 1923.
Until within recent years 1t was lre'
1uently asserted that Abrams battle
as recorded in Gen. IA, had not one
whit of proof" yet the archaeologlsts
have not only reconciled the apparent
discrepancies but have proven beyond
a. question the accuracy Of the rec.
ord Abrams victory over the four
confederate kings is story rich with
typical suggestions.
7. "After These Things" Wv. H.
Gods word w. ~ came to ADram ho'
only as counsel but for assurance
as we'll So, too, our assurance IS MS
word, John 5:l3. In the midst OF
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. 41:1O There in the midst OF
foes (Jas. 2:23) God promised to be
to Abram a shield and an exceeding
great reward. A Shield" for there IS
to the Christian life militant sloe'
Eph. 6:13 A. I Tim. 6:12. A re
ward" which was far more rich than
any given by man. See 4:2l, Prov
1922
Abram Was Human.
But Abram was, after ALL human.
and we read in verse 2 his 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 30 with God for the prom
ise (12:3) 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 an
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 for
multitude.
"And he believed" Thee great test
to this faith came later. Heb 11:19'
but here in this first distinct scrip
tural history of faith we find set forth
those principles that have governed
through all time. (D The acceptance
of the word of God, e. g., to have our
trust built upon or supported by the
word of Jehovah. see lisa. 1921; (2)
to act upon that faith SO that our
course in life manifests the belief OF
the heart.
Gods covenant, 1914, is confirmed
In seven ways, I. Posterity, (a) nat
ural EARTH" (b) spiritual, heaven
(c) also through Ishmael, Gen. 1913
20: 2, Blessing, both temporal anC
spiritual; 3, great name; 4, BE bless
Ing, Gal. 1913, IA; 5. 'T will bless
them that bless thee;;" 6. land curse
them that curse thee; Z, the families
of the earth blessed through Abram
e. g., through Christ Gal. 3:16.
"And he believed In the Lord" "
g.. Abram built upon the naked wore
of God, he simply looked at that an'
that alone, Rom. APO, R. v. All Coz
asks of US Is for us to take him at nj
word. So it is that as we take hi
word about Jesus, he reckons tina
faith to US as righteousness; no mai
ter how unrighteous we may hav
been, see Rom. 1895: Gal. 1857. TIL
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 n
dicated by Abrams question " 81 !
answered by God giving to him dire'
lions for the preparation of sacr
fee. Abram did not really dout
Gods word ". g., but he did desire
confirming sign. Many today ar
looking for assuring signs from Go
when his bare word should be enough
Asking for signs is not always SAT
Luke 1880, but as in Abrams cas-
God does give US a pledge a sign
our inheritance, Cor. 1922. Eph. IL
God gave Abram, after he had expli
lily followed his directions, sy1
bolic vision Of himself. Someone M
suggested that the vile birds OF pre-
". 1T are symbolic Of Satan, ar
Abram, driving them away, a symb
of one victory over evil, Jas. a:
God is always nearer to man and be
reveals himself when we are in Il
midst Of sacrifice. God tells Abra
of those days of servitude On the pa
of his descendants while they are
be in Egypt, OF Gods Judgment to
brought upon that land and OF the
ultimate deliverance.
Symbols Of God.
Every detail Of these predictio
and promises was fulfilled. In yer
Is there is presented the gre
thought ct the need Of preparation
youth for the future days Of go
old age"-also in this verse a sugg'
ton Of the life beyond the grave.
The smoking furnace and the fla
ing torch were symbols Of God hi
self. Four centuries Of opportun