The Tupelo journal., 1913-02-14

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The Bible does not profess To a pc
a chronological history of the world.
1t does profess to reveal the steps of
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.
/. "Get thee out of thy country" w.
1-3. 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
ly speak as he did on other and numer-
Gus occasions. God calls today by
these 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.
Abrams Journey.
From Acts 70 we learn that the call
first came to Abram when he was in
Alesopotamia. 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
Used unto him. He ~journeyed probably
800 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 a land,
nor was he told where it was to be,
Heb. 11:8. His call was threefold,
% "for thy country" GU thy kin
bred" 60 thy fathers house" Thus
we see that God demanded a complete
separation from the old life, associa-
tons and affections.
II. And Abram departed" w. 46.
'To 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 not
the land. but he heard the call and
staggered not at the promise. He was
fully persuaded that God was able to
perform and therefore it was reck-
oned unto him for righteousness, Acts
1902. But he did not go alone. AL
ready God had begun to redeem his
promise ". y. 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 a 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. 5. Nothing was left be-
hind to tempt him to return. And
they went forth into the land of Ca
naan," a type of the life into which
we are called in Christ Jesus. Thus
at once another part Of the promise is
fulfilled.
III. "And the Canaanite was in the
land" w. 60. All was not so easily
settled for Abram. Man that is born
of woman is of few days and full OF
troubles no life is devoid Of its test
ing, Eph., 6:12, r. v, and so as Abram
i~ourneyed he met with enemies.
His Place of Rest.
Passing on from thence he reached
q place Of rest (v. 81. This is a beau
tiful lesson on conservation. Here is
Abram at "a mountain on the east OF
Bethel" (house of God. Notice he is
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" (y. 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 is
Just as ready to assur 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 %present-day 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 a pilgrim"
For the older classes consider such
questions as, Every Mans Life a Plar
of God; Our Debt to Judaism; Oul
Treatment of Others Who Are Pill
grims, Strangers, e. e., Immigrants
For the younger do not omit Lo'
and the dramatic, high-light picture O
that journey from Ur of the Chaldee'
(use a map). Emphasize how mucf
better it is to be a blessing thar U
seek a blessing for ones elf. NO
what has happened to myself today
but what has happened to other
through me-"