The Brinkley argus., 1913-02-14


 The Bible does not profess to a be . chronological history of the world. It does profess to reveal the steps of the Tedemptfve process of God where by fallen man shall be justified in his sight. So 1t 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, Ind 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.
 1. "oet thee out of thy country" w. Ia. In this lesson we behold God again selecting 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 fy speak as he did on other and numer- ous 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.
 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 ised unto him. He journeyed probably 500 miles to the northwest but got the promised land. It took, evidently, the death of his father to move him from that place, Acts "A. Abram went not knowing the kind of a land. nor was he told where 1t was to be, Heb. HIS. His call was threefold, CD flor thy country" CD thy kin dred," (3) thy fathers house." Thus we see that God demanded complete separation from the old life, associa- tions and affections.
 II. And Abram departed" w. 4-6. "To obey is better than sacrifice and
  Samuel 15:22. 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 1t was reck- oned unto him for righteousness, Acts 7:20-72 But he did not go alone. Al ready God had begun to redeem his promise (v. 9. 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 substances" v 5. Nothing was left be- hind to tempt him to return. And they went forth into the land of Ca man." a type of the hfs 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 Iand," w. 6-9. All was not so easily settled for Ahram. Man that Is born of woman is of few days and full of troubles" no life is devoid of its test ing. Eph.. e:12. R. ". and 50 as Abram tourneyed he met with enemies.
 He Place Of Rest.
 Passing on from thence he reached . place of rest (v. 8). This is bean tfful lesson on consecration- Here is Abram at "a mountain on the east of Bethef' (house of 0od). Notice he is on the east of Bethel facing westward. the direction in which he has been tourneytng. having Hal (ruins) at his back. and "there he builded an altar unto the Lord and called upon the panns of the Lord- (y. 8. Let us all remember to turn our backs upon tho vorA. and as we face the house. tho altar of God, render him undivided. whole-hearted worship and service. Gods appearance to Abram was again in connection with obedtence- God is just as ready to assure us as we jour nsy through this humdrum, to1lsome tourney of life, ever ready to meet us and to make us glad by the way.
 Notice that Abram in . strange land d1d not neglect Gods altar like many . pressnt-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" 70 Abram was a pilgrim"
 For the older classes consider such questions as. Every Man's Life Plan of God; Our Debt to Judaism; Our Treatment of Others Who Are Pill erims. Strangers. e. z. immigrants.
 For the younger do not omit Lot and the dramatic. high-light picture Of that journey from UT of the Chaldees (use a map). Emphasize how much better it is to be a blessing than to seek a blessing for ones self. Not what has happened to myself today, but what has happened to others through me-.
 "So on I go, not knowing
 would not if I might;
 T,d rather walk in the dark with God
 Than walk alone in the light
 I'd rather go by faith with Him
 Than go alone by sight
 -Dr. David J. Burrell 
 Easy Method of Divorce
 A wholesale grocer in Pittsburgh Fideli Isabella, hit upon an easy meth