The Brinkley argus., 1913-02-21

tween this and last weeks lesson we
 read of Abrams journey down Into
 Egypt" story that is rich with sug
 gestive typical lessons. Abrams de
 ceit is discovered by Pharaoh and he
 is driven from Egypt Fear is the
 root of unbelief and when we fall we
 are sure to carry some one with us.
 But a mans sin is sure to be discov-
 cred. so 1t was that Pharaoh com
 manded his men. and they sent him
 away. and his wife, and all that he
 had" Egypt. type of the world,
 turned Abram out 02:20D when he
 tried the good Lord good devil" mode of life. Compromise and separation are not compatible.
 Lessons Picture.
 I. up Out of Egypt" w. 1-5. Again we have presented the lesson of sepa- ration This portion is great pie l ture of repentance Abram carried with him not only his own possessions but also those of his nephew Lot No tice Abrams wealth did not make 1 him acceptable in Egypt. The world desires not alone the wealth of man, | but also the man back of the wealth.
 Again Abram turns from conflict un- | to Bethel, the house of God, that place l of confession, of consecration, and of | encouragement.
 These returning pilgrims were not | ordinary men, no more is the man who is in Christ. and God was already 4F Ln ised to Abram G2:2) and of that ma | terial blessing so definitely promised to the descendants of Jacob. We read (v 6) their substance was great" But there is far greater dan- ger however in material prosperity than in diversity This was greater danger to these pilgrims than that of the Canaanites who dwelt in the land IT. "And There Was Strife" w. 5-9. The evidence of this danger manifest ed itself when It was found that the land could not support both Abram and Lot (v. @. Paul calls Timothy's at tention to this same danger q Tim. 6:9). and we are constantly seeing 1t illustrated all about us.
 Lots History.
 Lot was journeying with Abram rather than with Jehovah G2:3). doubtless in a great measure he was governed by cupidity and selfishness when he beheld Abrams prosperity. Millions in America profit by the se- curity and the prosperity of this which so nearly approaches Christian na- | ton and yet in scorn or in neglect re- | fuse to believe in or to serve the God who sends the blessing. The whole | history of Lot Is one of selfishness. | which later resulted in sorrow and sadness and in his being shorn of all of his selfishly acquired prosperity. | Lot had no particular claim upon l Abram nor have we in our own right. or because of our own merit. upon | or be causeof our own merit, upon God | There is so little that divides most of us and so much that we hold in com mon that 1t is but little short of crim- inal to waste our energy upon that which is ephemeral or of slight i'm portance What a difference in the choice of Lot and that of Abram One
 entered into the path of the wicked
 Prov 4:14. 15 while the other into
 the path that "shneth more and more
 unto the perfect day" Prov. 4:18.
 III. And Lot .. BeheId All the
 Plain Of Jordan" w. 1913. Lacking
 the counsel and guidance of Jehovah Lot followed the choice that which was pleasing to the eyes and made a
 sorry mess of it. for in the end he was great loser Already the land was
 doomed tv. l0) and 30 today the man
 who chooses the world in preference
 to Christ makes bad bargain q John
 2.f f71 and the greater condemnation Is
 his for he makes his choice in the blaz
 ing light of nearly twenty centuries oi
 the Gospel Lot made willing com
 promise. a superficial choice and came
 near losing his own soul, Matt, 16 26
 6 33 He deliberately entered into
 danger when he pitched his tent to wards Sodom" The believers peril is worldliness Lots journey (v. ID led
 al last 10 Sodom V l2.
 Abram aspired to know God. Lot had an ambition tO possess the things of time and sense. Abram coveted righteousness Matt B. Lot soveted success In this life only We'll has Goethe exclaimed. Choose well; youl choice is brief and yet lt is endless, Eternity alone will reveal the results of our choice of surroundings. upor
 ourselves. upon our families and upor l our friends
 " "Lift Up Thine Eyes" w. 14-lS After separation comes fellowship ant fruitfulness God invited Abram tt arise and to inspect his promised pos sessions So may we contemplate thu
 vast possessions God has promised
 us in Christ Jesus Rom SIT. 2 Cor |, AIS. After our separation and ou X fellowship comes true fruitfulness ant prosperity Tim. 4:1S Abram wen
 10 Hebron (which means fellowship
 and there in the midst of Mamr,
 (which means fatness) he built an al
 tar unto God Worship and sacrifice
 go hand in hand today as they did il
 ages past