Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-10-10
rArRovED UNlfoRM INTERNATIONAL
.S[JNINYSQlOOL
! LESSON
(By REV. r. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
copyright, 1918. Western Newspaper
Union)
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 10
ABRAMS GENEROUS TREATMENT
OF LOT.

ABRAMS GENEROUS TREATMENT
e OF LOT.
LESSON TExT-Genesis Bill; 1:14-16.
GOLDEN TEXT-A friend loveth at all
times, and brother is born for adver-
sity.-Proverbs 17:17.
DEVOTIONAL Neutrality-suspicious. .:
1921.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Genesis R:10-14; "a; 1S:16-ss;
1929.
I. Abram and Lot Return From
Egypt wv. Id.
Abram went into Egypt because of
famine. No doubt the famine was sent
In judgment for the sins of the people,
but also for Abrams sake. He needed
the graces of his heart developed. He
needed to be taught the weakness OF
his own heart, and the faithfulness Of
God. The child of God is not prom
Used exemption from trials, but grace
sufficient to endure them. Abram
failed. In the midst of his trials he
went off to Egypt without Gods direc-
ton, where he got into trouble. To
/ take ones own way always brings him
into trouble. His expedient to save
his life was unworthy of Abram. He
| lied, and a lie Is never justifable. 1t
| fs much better to die than to lie.
| Abram by prevarication deceived the
! king, but as soon as the truth was
known he was thrust out. Though
| Abram had strayed from the path
way of faith, he had the good sense
| to go unto the place where his tent
had been in the beginning, where the
altar was" This showed that he was
willing to confess his mistake, and be-
/ gin life over again. This Egypt expe-
! rienee was a loss spiritually to Abram,
though he became rich there. Increase
of riches is no sign that a man is in
! fellowship with God.
II. Abram and Lot Separate wv. s.
/ III.
The goods of both Abram and Lot
greatly increased. When they attempt
| ed to settle down, trouble arose be-
tween their herdsmen. This is the first
record of trouble between relatives
over financial matters. Riches often
! ~.
Jealousy and strife between men. They
engender greed and selfishness in men.
Many times members of the same fam
lily are estranged from each other
through strife for wealth. For the
! chosen of God thus to quarrel is utter
folly and criminal, especially when the
enemy of the Lords people looks on.
| nj aA1 M Dar 90
ewelt then in the land" ". y. 1t Is
bad enough for Gods children to quar-
rel, but to do 80 In the presence Of the
world which delights therein Is greatly
to sin. Abrams behavior is fine ex-
ample Of the art Of living together
pcaceably. The dfsgTaceful situation
was relieved by generous proposition
4 from Abrann. Lot was allowed his
choice. Separation is sometimes nee
essary. Though he owed all to Abram
his selfish heart caused him to grasp
for the best. Lots action shows that
! his stay In Egypt was ruif1ous to him.
Perhaps he chose the plains Of the
Jordan because of their resemblance
to Egypt. One cannot go into Egypt
without being affected by it. This was
fatal choice for Lot. The motive
| actuating him was worldly advantage.
Though he for awhile prospered, it
was an expensive undertaking for him.
Lot with all his goods was taken away
when the confederate kings came
against Sodom. He is an example of
one saved so as by fire q Cor 3:11-15).
] ,Ixv
things. and the tirle came when he
had to separate from them. The world
and its lusts pass away, but he that
doeth the will of God abideth forever
| q John 2:15-17). Lot was not wholly
corrupt; he was a man who allowed
the world to get the better of him.
/ Once his money and his family were
IN Sodom he simply endured the wick
edness, longing to escape from it Gil
Peter 2:G-S).
i'll. Abrsm Delivers Lot Genesis
14:1416).
s-Thopa Lots trouble was the result
gff his selfish choice, Abram'smagnanim
ity of soul espresso itself, taking up
arms tosdeliver him from the oppres-
sor. This was because Abram was a
man of faith. Faith trusts God and
fights for the right.
While Lot suffered from his evil
choice, Abram was greatly prospered.
He grew rich in temporal things, while
at the same time he was rich toward
| God. 1t were much better to have God
7 and poor piece of land, than d rich
piece of land without God. When Lot
was involved in the ruin of his sad
choice Abram had re power to deliver
him. Abrams who,e life shows that
those who make obedience to God first
get the needed worldly gain Il Kings
3:5-13; Matthew 6 :33).