The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-02-15

The Bible does not profess to be
chronological history of the world.
1t does profess to reveal the steps or
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" Wv.
lS. In this lesson we behold God
again selecting a single man who shall
be the head of 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
those 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. Man, feeling the
conscious presence of God, obeying to
the full his revelation, will see" God
and hear him speak" not through the
atmosphere, but with an inward reve-
lation that will direct his life now
even as it did Abrams.
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
country, but not into the land prom
lsed 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 IL was to be,
Heb. 11:8. His call was threefold.
~ "for thy country" (2) thy kin
ired," 90 thy fathers house." Thus
we see that God demanded a complete
separation from the old life, associa-
tons and affections. In this Abram
Is a great type, Isa 55:7. But in this
connection we find the record of an
other and a wonderful covenant OF
God with man wv. 2, 81. How mar
velously God has kept this promise.
Through Abram came the Messiah
who has 80 wondrously blessed the
sarth. We need also to remember that
he descendants of Abram are today
Gods chosen people. Every 'child of
God has his call" to separation. 2 Cor.
| BIT, IS. Abram left his idolatrous
companions, so we, too, must forsake
Dur idols.
The dearest idol I have known.
| What're that idol be
| Help me to tear II from thy throne
And worship only thee"
We are told that Haran means "a
parched place." and SO today Abram
has many like him who start for the
land of promise only to have theiI
purpose killed by the scorching heat
Of testing and trial as they reach the
Haran experiences of life. and many
like the father of Abram did in Haran
ii. And Abram departed" Wv. 4-6
ITO 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 moi
the land, but he heard the call and
staggered not at the promise. He wa.
fully persuaded that God was able tt
perform and therefore 1t was reck
oned unto him for righteousness, Act
7:2O22. But he did not go alone. AL
ready God had begun to redeem hi
promise ". p. Abrams characte
was such and his name of such impor
that his nephew Lot accompanies
him. Lot, however, did not posses
that same faith nor a like character
Lot went with him" and not, lik
Abram, with God. Abram also tool
his own family with him, and "all thei
substance" v. 5. Nothing was left be
hind to tempt him to return. "An
they went forth into the land Of Ca
man." a type of the life into whicl
we are called in Christ Jesus. Thu
at once another part Of the promise !
fulfilled.
III. "And the canaanite was In tn
Iand,v w. SO. All was not so easil
settled for Abram. Man that Is Dor
of woman is of few days and full {
: troubles" no life is devoid Of its ties
ing, Eph., 6:12, R. w., and so as Abrar
journeyed he met with enemies
His Place of Rest.
, Passing on from thence he reache
a place Of rest ". 81. This Is bea'
: tiful lesson on conservation. Here
l. Abram at "a mountain on the east {
: Bethel" (house of Cod. Notice he
I on the east of Bethel facing westwar,
the direction In which he has bee
journeying, having Hal (ruins) at b
! back, and there he builded an alta
4 unto the Lord and called upon I'll
. name of the Lord" ". 81. Let US a
3 remember to turn our backs upon II
Q world, and as we face the house, Il
; altar of God, render him undivide
r whole-hearted worship and servic
g Gods appearance to Abram was aga
/ In connection with obedience. God
Il just as ready to assure US as we jou
ney through this humdrum, toilson
o tourney of life, ever ready to meet |
and to make us glad by the way.
Notice that Abram in a strange lal
did not neglect Gods altar like mai
| ILL 70 cyiu ~