The Chanute times., 1913-02-28


GOLDEN TEXT-"He Is faithful that
promised. Heb. 1923
Until within recent years It was fire.
quently asserted that Abrams battle,
as recorded in Gen. IA, had not one
whit of proof" yet the archaeologists
have not only reconciled the apparent
discrepancies but have proven beyond
question the accuracy of the rec
ord. Abrams victory over the four
confederate kings is story rich with
typical suggestions.
I. "After These Things" w. IT.
Gods word ". ~ came to Abram not
only as counsel but for assurance
as well. So, too, our assurance is his
word, I John 5:13. In the midst OF
the uncertainty and the strife, for we
must remember Abram never pos
sessed the land, God appeared to him
in vision and said, Fear not" See
Isa. 41:10. There in the midst OF
foes JAS 2:2S) God promised to be
to Abram a shield and an exceeding
great reward A Shield" for there is
to the Christian life militant side.
Eph. 6:13, IA, 1 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 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 80 with God for the prom
Use (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 pilgrim was to be his
and his seed to be as the stars for
multitude.
"And he believed" The great test
to this faith came later. Heb. 1919,
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, g. g., to have our
trust built upon or supported by the
word of Jehovah see Isa. 1921; (2)
to act upon that faith so that our
course in life manifests the belief of
the heart.
Gods covenant, t2:1-4, is confirmed
in seven ways. 1, Posterity, (a) nat
ural, "earth," (b) spiritual, heaven"
(c) also through Ishmael, Gen. 17:1S-
20: 2, Blessing, both temporal and
spiritual; 8, great name; 4, Be bless
ing, Gal. 3:13, IA; 5, II will bless
them that bless thee;" 6, "and curse
them that curse thee: T. the families
Of the earth blessed through Abram,
3. g., through Christ, GAL 3:16.
"And he believed in the Lord" ".
3. Abram built upon the naked word
If God, he simply looked at that and
hat alone, Rom. 1920, R. v. All God
lsks of us is for us to take him at his
word So 1t is that as we take his
word about Jesus, he reckons that
aith to us as righteousness; no mat
er how unrighteous we may have
,een, see Rom. 1886; Gal 1867. The
me think that God demands is that
We believe him and his word.
II. Whereby Shall Know" w.
-18. The weakness OF human faith in
licated by Abrams question " 81 Is
by God giving to him direc-
ions for the preparation of sacri-
ce. Abram did not really doubt
Iod's word ". g., but he did desire
onfirming sign. Many today are
boxing for assuring signs from God
hen his bare word should be enough.
skiing for signs Is not always safe,
uke 1880. but as in Abrams case
cd does give us pledge a sign OF
ur Inheritance, 2 Cor 1922, Eph. 1:14.
cd gave Abram, after he had explic-
ly followed his directions, a sym
olic vision Of himself. Someone has
lggested that the vile birds of prey
'. III are symbolic of Satan, and
BRAN, driving them away, a symbol
one victory over evil, Jas. AT.
cd is always nearer to man and best
,veals himself when we are in the
idst of sacrifice. God tells Abram
those days of servitude on the part
his descendants while they are to
, in Egypt, Of Gods judgment to be
ought upon that land and of their
innate deliverance.
Symbols of God.
Every detail Of these predictions
Id promises was fulfilled. In verse
there is presented the great
ought of the need of preparation in
nth for the future days of good
age"-also in this verse a sugges-
IN of the life beyond the grave.
The smoking furnace and the fam
g torch were symbols of God HIM
H. Four centuries of opportunity
re to be allowed the powerful Amo-
es who now possessed the land be-
e the land came into bona-fide pos
;sion in accordance with the prom
, for Gods judgment was condition
upon the measure of their iniquity
Op fIfll % In fho Y,,fdot 80 fhfa 1,o-