New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-10-11

LESSON TEXT-Genesis 13:l-1l; N:l4-ls
GOLDEN TEXT-A friend loveth at all
times. and a brother IL born for adver.
sity.-Proverbs 17:l7.
DEVOTIONAL READING-Romans .:
1921.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
1928.
l.. Abram and Lot Return From
Egypt wv. 1-4).
Abram went into Egypt because Of q
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 W heart, and the faithfulness Of
God. The child Of God is not prom.
ised 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 VA unworthy Of Abram. He
lied, and n lie is never justifiable. 1t
Is 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-
rience was a loss spiritually to Abram,
though he became rich there. Increase
OF riches is no sign that u man 10 In
fellowship with God.
u. Abram and Lot Separate wv. s.
~.
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
interfere with friendship. They kindle
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.
1.-THE Canaanite and the Perizzite
dwelt then in the land" ". y. 1t Is
bad enough for Gods children to quar-
rel, but to do so In the presence of the
world which delights therein is greatly
to sin. Abrams behavior is a fine ex-
ample of the art Of living together
%peaceably. The %disgraceful situation
was relieved by a generous proposition
from Abram. Lot was allowed his
choice. Separation is sometimes nec-
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 ruinous 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 1t. This was
a 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
n saved SO as by fire Il Cor. 3:11-15).
He set his affections upon earthly
things, and the time 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
Il 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 1t III
Peter 1853.
~. Abram Delivers Lot Genesis
IA :14-16).
Though Lots trouble was the result
Of his selfish choice, Abram'smagnanim.
ity Of soul expressed itself, taking up
to deliver 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
Abram was greatly prospered.
He grew rich in temporal things. while
Mt the same time he vas rich toward
God. 1t were much better to have God
md a poor piece Of land, than a rich
piece of land without God. When Lot
was involved In the ruin Of his sad
choice Abram had the power to deliver
him. Abrams whole life shows that
hose who make obedience to God first
get the needed worldly gain Il Kings
1913; Matthew 6:33).