The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-12-27


the land of promise.
Abram had been called to a life of
faith. God had made a wonderful
covenant with him. He oteyed the
call and became Il pioneer in Gods
land. But before he could be of value
as Gods representative, a sample man
Of faith. he must be tested. So the
famine, came in the very place to
which God had led him. God permit
ted him to suffer hunger to teach him
that man shall not live by bread
alone but by every word thai proceed
eth out Of the mouth of God" The
famine was God lifting His child of
tender spiritual years UPON His knees
and teaching him that He Is able to
provide in the awful day of Hunger.
Ever since Abrams day God has found
1t necessary TO permit dire need to
come in the life of faith In order that
His little children might learn lessons
that only the schoolroom of His e
could disclose.
Three lessons God would teach,
through a famine in the land of His
promises:
l.. To Trust Him Wholly. God called
Abram out of a life of self-confidence
to one of absolute dependence. He
left his old home and Travelled TO q
new land. The journey was unevent-
full except for the death of his father,
Terah. The presence of some of his
relatives in the aravan suggests that
Abram had not fully obeyed God. He
may have thought SO, but an expert
ence must come to test whether he
is shut up to God, or still trusting in
human "There was a fam
inc in the land"
What will Abram do? / can imagine
he talked it over with Sarah and Lot.
Why not move to Egypt? just the
thing. Was God consulted? No.
Abram acted upon the rule Of the old
Ife-sight and sense. Had he trust
ed God wholly, he would have thrown
the responsibility for his provision.
upon the Omnipotent One who had led
him to this famine-stricken country.
How like Abram we are-so ready
to follow human judgment and turn
aside to the world for help. We seek
counsel of men instead of God. Why?
Because it is so much easier to trust
the arm of flesh than to rely upon the
Unseen. We sing, "God will take care
of you" in prayer meeting, but are
paralyzed with fear when something
unusual happens CD in u Canaan.
Oh, to learn to trust God in the fam
inc, in the dark. in the storm.
1.-THE eye of the Lord Is upon them
that fear Him. that hope in His mer-
cy, to deliver their soul from death
and to keep them alive ir famine"
2. To Know Ourselves Fully. The
life of faith begins in a confession hat
we believe the Word of God, that
what He has promised, He will per-
form. Our intentions are sincere, but
they must be proved. At Sandy Hook
the War department has its proving
grounds. There the great guns upon
which the fate of the nation may hang
in the eventeof war, are tested. They
are constructed to meet certain re-
quirements. They will fire a shell
weighing 1000 pounds 10 miles. But
they may not do as expected, so they
are proved. A much larger charge
of ammunition Is used to see If they
will stand the test. Some may go to
pieces. How true of the man of faith
He must be proved. Conduct undees
stress and strain must be determined.
The genuineness of faith must be at
tested beyond question. Blessed is
the trial of faith that acquaints us
with our weakness. 1t is more pre-
cious than gold that perisheth."
g.. To Help Others Truly. Attest
ing is for a testimony" Peter was
violently shaken in the DEVILS sieve
not only to separate the wheat from
strengthen the brethren. The Ian
guage of his epistles bears testimony
to what he learned in the sitting proc
ess. What we have experienced
helps others in need.
How heartening the words, He
without SIM Touched with a feel
ing OF our 1nnrfnltleS," Christ is able
to succor us in the hour of need and
make q way of escape.
Abram chose the path of compro-
mise and lack of faith. This involved
him in deceit and falsehood concern
ing his wife that would have cost his
life but for divine i~nterposition. The
very peril he ran away from In
Canaan awaited him with wide open
jaws in Egypt, but Goo delivered un-
faithful, unbelieving Abram. "If we
believe not. He abideth faithful.
What encouragement for foolish,
perverse. doubling disciples. Though
we turn our back upon Him He will
not cast us. off, but brings us back tc
the place OF the altar and the tent-tc
renewed confidence and fellowship
even as Abram. Chapter 13 Bid.