The Jasper news., 1918-10-03

GOLDEN TEAT-Be thou O blessing.@
DEVOTIONAL READJNa-Hebrew Ii.
LILO.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERs-Genesis n:N-s2; Hebrews
u;8-1o.
I. Abraham,s Call ". u.
The new era inaugurated with Noah
at Its head ended In a colossal failure.
In view of such failure God turned
aside from the nation as such, and call
ed Abram out from his kindred and
land, and placed him at the head of a
new nation which he would train for
himself. This call involved:
I. A call to separation. He was to
leave the place of his fond associa-
tions for land unknown to him. Obe-
dience to this command meant the sew
erance Of three ties.
(1) "His country in the widest
range Of his affections. (2) His place
of birth and kindred, which comes
closer to his heart. (3) His fathers
house, as the inmost circle Of all ten
der emotions" All this must be cast
OF before the Lord could get him into
the place Of blessing. When kindred
and possessions stand in the way Of
love and service to Christ, one must
renounce them (Matthew 10:37).
2. A call to heroic tasks. For Abram
to go into strange land and take pos
session Of 1t for God called for the
heroic in him. It costs much to live
the life Of separation, butt is the only
way to have Gods favor. Those who
are children Of faithful Abram must
trust God.
u. Gods Promise to Abram wv.
2:3).
Gods demand for separation was fol-
lowed by seven-fold promise-a gra-
cious engagement on the part of God
to communicate certain unmerited fa-
vors and to confer blessings upon him.
1. II will make of thee great ma
tion." ". 2). This in some measure
compensated for the loss of his coun-
try. He escaped from the defiling in
fuences of~his own nation, and became
the head Of chosen nation. This was
| fulfilled in natural wayfn the Jewish
nation and in Ishmael (Gen. II :20),
also in spiritual seed embracing both
Jews and Gentiles Galatians 1878.
2. II will bless thee" ". 2). This
was fulfilled (1) Temporarily (Gen.
13:14-17 :24-35). He was enriched with
lands and cattle, silver and gold. (2)
Spiritually (Gen. Is 20; John :56). He
was freely justified on the grounds Of
his faith. The righteousness of Christ
was imputed to him.
3. "And make thy name great" ". p.
He renounced his fathers house, and
became the head Of new house which
would be venerated far and wide. he
is known as the friend of God Games
2:23).
a. "Thou shalt be blessing" ". q.
1t was great thing to be thus honored
and blessed by God, but to be the me-
dium Of blessings to others was greater
still. 1t is more blessed to give than to
receive.
| 3. II will bless them that bless thee"
". 81. God so identified himself with
his servant that he regarded treatment
| of Abram as treatment of himself.
Christ so completely Identifies himself
with his people that he regards wrong
done to them as done to himself. Since
he was Gods friend, God regarded acts
performed toward Abram as performed
toward himself. In all ages since then
the nations and individuals that have
used the Jew well have been blessed.
9. "And curse him that curseth thee"
". 81. The nations that have been
against the Jews have never pros
pered. While God at different times
used the surrounding nations as
scourges Of Israel. he In turn punished
them for their mistreatment Of Israel.
| z. "In thee shall all families of the
earth be blessed" ". 81. This has been
fulfilled ~ In the Jewish nation be-
ing made the repository of the Oracles
Of God. Through them the Bible has
been given to the world. (2) The
bringing into the world Of the Redeem
| er.
(3) In the future time when the
Jews shall be Gods missionaries in
carrying the good tidings of the Gospel
to the ends Of the earth.
| III. Abrams Obedience wv. 4-9).
Abram ut once departed out of his
own land. He proved his faith by his
works. He did not argue or parley.
Neither did he demand some guaran-
tee, but stepped out upon Gods naked
word. There were difficulties In his
way, but faith In God made him brave