Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
ABRAM AND LOT.-Gen., 1856
IL; 14:14-16.
Golden Text-A friend loveth
at all times; and a brother is
born for adversely.
Prov, 17:f7.
By REV. HUGH +. STEVENSON.

! By REV. HUGH r. STEVENSON
Abram appears in this weeks study
as a man Of peace and a warrior te
Whom Lots presence was menace
THE great-hearted soul could not leave
the orphan lad behind when he fol.
lowed Gods call to leave his family
friends and familiar scenes. If it were
not for his baneful influence one may
well doubt If Abram would have left
the promised land during the famine
for the fertile fields of Egypt with
out being directed by Jehovah. Abram
returned from his experiences. in
Egypt disgraced because Pharaoh had
exposed and condemned him for his
efforts to deceive the Egyptians con-
corning Sarah.
| Humbled by the rebuke Of the
heather ruler, who banished him from
his realm. Abram returned to the very
place he had left to begin over again
his life Of faith, which, under the
threatened perils of famine and fear,
had suffered lapse. The return jour
ney took longer than his departure.
He was compelled to make it by slow
loaded with silver and gold (silver
was the more rare and valuable metal
in that period), and his great hocks
could not make fast time. When he
returned to Bethel the repentant man
restored the broken affairs and again
acknowledged his absolute depend
jence upon Jehovah.
Famine had tested his faith. but
now he must face the peril Of prosper
lity, which, although then considered
as an evidence of divine favor, fire.
quently has been the source Of hin
drance to spiritual life. The rich and
moral young man found his wealth
Ahram, who is the first person re-
corded in the Scriptures as a rich man.
found his possessions the source Of a
family quarrel. 1.-The love of money
is the root of all evil" 1t is the
source of many of the great industrial
| Abram revealed his great soul in
the conference which he held with
Lot concerning the strife between
their shepherds. The quarrel arose
between their herdsmen over the use
Of water and the pasturage for their
| country would not support them to-
gether. There would have been no
difficulty except for the avarice of
Lot, who, forgetting his Indebtedness
to Abram, sided with his herdsmen,
who had reported that his uncle's
herdsmen claimed that, in view of
Lots dependence upon Abram, the
1atter's stock should have precedence.
Lot believed, from his selfish and COW
etous nature, that they were acting
under the orders of his uncle. 1t did
not reflect Abrams views, but was
put forth by his herdsmen SO that
they would have less work and worry
in finding water and pasturage for
their focks, which was difficult, be-
cause the Canaanites controlled the
fertile plains and the Perizzites occu-
pied the mountains.
The generosity, greatness and good
ness of Abram were seen in his pro-
posal to Lot-'Let there be no strife.
pray thee, between me and thee, and
between my herdsmen and thy herds
men; for we be brethren 1t re-
vealed the spirit that had made him
Gods friend. 1t is beautiful to see
how he stopped to avoid an open rup-
ture. 1t was a difficult thing to do,
but the spirit of love seeks to avoid
an open conflict and tries to live
allied that the cause of Jehovah was
in danger, for 1.-The Canaanite and
Perizzite dwelled in the land" They
would take advantage of any division
between Lots followers and those of
Abram and raid their camp. The
cattle, but the false conceptions which
these pagans would form of Jehovah
if they did not agree among them
selves. The same spirit prompted our
President in all his efforts to avert
Americas entrance into the war,
which was caused by Germany. whose
decision was marked by greater folly
and irreligion than Lots choice of the
fertile plains toward Sodom. Lots
choice filled Abram with disappoint-
ment, because he had hoped for bet
ter things. Modern profiteers and
Germanic pirates have exhibited the
same lack of spiritual vision as Lot
1t drew Judas away from the Lord
and caused Demas to forsake the
early church for the world. The road
to riches soon spelled trouble and dis
aSter for Lot
Lots choice resulted far differently
than he had expected. It did not take
long for him and his family to be in
fluenced by the sinful life Of Sodom.
He had decided to cast his lot in the
section near sodom. with the result he
and his possessions were carried away
by the kings who made war upon
Sodom. The man who, Indifferent to
his obligations to God, man and family,
had selected the plains of Sodom for
his dwelling place, became involved in
an international conflict, four strong
kings being arrayed against five
weaker ones, his neighbours, who had
rebelled against them. The opening of
the campaign found the power of might
winning the battles and capturing the
king of Sodom and Lot with his family
and flockS.
When an escaping prisoner brought
the news of the disaster which over
took Lot the magnanimity of Abfam
appeared. Without thinking Of how
Lot, when given the opportunity
Of proving his appreciation Of the priv
ileges that he had enioye1. had taken