The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-02-13

. blessing Gen. ia
The Bible does not profess to Q be
. chronological history Of the world.
II does profess to reveal the steps OF
the redemptive process OF God where
by fallen man shall be justified In his
sight. So Il In that we find but little
record OF those hundreds OF years be-
corded In that OF last week. We do.
however. ind all that Ia 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.
I. sect thee out Of thy country" w.
Is. In this lesson we behold God
again selecting a single man who shall
be the head OF a race. We do not OF
course infer that Abram received an
audible call. though God could certain
iy speak az 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 10 Gods great
est organ OF speech
Abrams Journey.
From Acts Ia 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
ised unto him. He journeyed probably
only as far rs Hsran. which was not
the promised land. II 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. IFS His call was threefold.
az "for thy country" (2 thy kIp-
dred." t3D thy fathers house" Thus
we see that God demanded a complete
separation from the old life. associa-
lions and affections.
II. And Abram Departed w. 90.
ITO obey is better than sacrifice and
to hearken than the fat OF rams"
Samuel Is %. Abram had just enough
faith to obey. We do not read that he
asked for enlightenment: he saw not
the land. but he heard the call and
fully persuaded that God was able TO
perform and therefore II was reck-
oned unto him for righteousness. Acts
7:2022 But he did not go alone. Al
ready God had begun to redeem his
promise ". ~. Abrams character
was such and his name of such import
that his nephew Lot accompanied
him. Lot. however. did not possess
that same faith nor . like character.
Lot went with him" and not. like
Abram. with God. Abram also took
his own family with him. and all their
substance" v. 6. Nothing was left be-
hind to tempt him to return. And
they went forth into the land OF Ca
man." type OF the life into which
we are called In Christ Jesus. Thus
at once another part OF the promise 10
fulfilled.
III. "And the CsnaanIts was In the
land" w. SO. All was not so easily
settled for Abram. Man that IL born
OF woman is OF few days and full Of
troubles" no life In devoid of It's test
ing. Eph.. 6 SIC. r. ". and 80 as Abram
| journeyed no met with enemies.
His Place Of Rest.
Passing on from thence he reached
a place OF rest ". 81. This 10 a beau
tiful lesson on conservation. Here 10
Abram at "a mountain on the east Of
Bethel" (house of Cod. Notice he 10
on the east of Bethel facing westward.
the direction in which he has been
journeying. having Hal (ruins) at his
back. and there he builded an altar
unto the Lord and called upon the
name OF the Lord" ". 81. Let US all
remember to turn our backs upon the
world. and as we face the house. the
altar OF God. render him undivided.
whole hearted worship and service.
Gods appearance to Abram was again
In connection with obedience. God 10
just as ready to assure us as we Jour
ney through this humdrum. toilsome
journey OF life. ever ready to meet US
and to make us glad by the way.
Notice that Abram In a strange land
did not neglect Gods altar like many
a presentday pilgrim. nor to give tes-
timony OF his faith for "called upon
the name OF the Lord" Like the
Christ who had not where to lay his
head" so Abram was pilgrim"
For the older classes consider such
questions as. Every Mans Life Plan
OF God: Our Debt TO Judaism: Our
Treatment OF Others Who Are PHI
grims. Strangers. Q. g., immigrants.
For the younger do not omit Lot
and the dramatic. high-light picture OF
that journey from Ur OF the Chaldees
fuse a map). Emphasize how much
better II Is to be- a blessing than to
seek a blessing for ones self mot
what has happened to myself today.
but what has happened to others
through me-"
80 on I go. not knowing
I would not n I might:
I'd rather walk In the dark with God
Than walk alone In the light:
ia rather go by faith with Him
! Than go alone by sight"