The Winslow mail., 1923-10-05

4OONG PEOPLE AND ADULT 1O9lC
Abraham, a Religious Pioneer.
/. Abraham's Ancestors (Josh. PAP.
II.
Abraham's people were idolaters.
Very likely as a young man, he himself
worshiped idols. Tradition furnishes US
with some interesting stories touching
his struggle against idolatry. At any
rate, his experience was such as to well
qualify him to be the head Of people
whose God was the Lord. He knew how
hopelessly disastrous idolatry was to
the morals of the people, and, there
fore, would be able to lead them back
to God.
u. Abraham's Call (Gen. 1871,
CT. Acts 7:2-3).
God came to him in Ur of the Chal-
dees and said unto him:
l. "Get thee out of thy country"
One is tied to his country with a
strong bond. Abraham had lived long
enough to have formed strong attach
ments to his country.
2. "Get thee out from thy kindred"
Abraham was not only to leave be-
hind him his native land, but his rela-
| tives as well, even his fathers house.
| Since his kindred were idolaters, he
must leave them. Abraham was to
become a pilgrim, to be without a
home. Even in Canaan, the only land
he ever owned, was burial place.
q r e,I,r
thee" He was not told what or where
the land was. He went out not know
ing whittier he went (Heb. II ~.
While he dwelt in tents during his
earthly sojourn, yet "he looked for a
city which hath foundations whose
builder and maker is God" (Heb.
:10). And thus he was typical be-
| lever called out from his family and
country, and renouncing idolatry, he
| walked by faith, testifying to his and
succeeding generations to the faithful
ness of God. 1t costs to obey God, but
there is an abundant recompense.
Ill. Gods Promise to Abraham
(Gen. II :2-3; 18 8:17-18).
1. The Father Of a Great Posterity
| (v. y. This has been literally fulfilled.
He was not to go out primarily for
what he could get, but for what he
| could do. The minister and mission
ary forget their own personal bless
| ings in the supreme JOY of their con-
verts who are the fruits of their labor.
No name in all history equals that of
A I1,oI Sxn s%e IL SvNa
His is the name of honor among Jews,
MOhammedans and Christians. They
all acknowledge him as father.
2. A Blessing to Others wv. 2, 81.
He was not only to become great and
to share Gods blessings, but to be a
blessing to others. He has become a
blessing to countless multitudes. This
is the prevailing law Of the spiritual
life-being blessed to be a blessing.
Those who respond to this law become
the very touchstone of God, so precious
that God will bless them who bless
them, and curse those who curse them.
God makes common cause with His
people. So vitally is He one with
them that it is a. serious thing to mis-
treat them. To maltreat Gods chill
dren is to lift the hand against God.
No one who goes against Him can
prosper. Not only is this so with ref
erence to wilful acts against His chill
dren, but neglect or refusal to do good
to them. Christ regards all acts for
or against them as for or against
Him.
~. God Testing Abraham (Gen.
% :2-1S).
Abraham's faith was shown in that
he obeyed the call of God and left his
land and kindred, but his faith
reached it's highest point in offering
Isaac. For many years, he had waited
for the fulfllment of Gods promise as
to his heir. At last that promise was
reality. Abrahams hope was not the
ordinary hope which fills the heart of
every father, that his name and work
may be perpetuated through his son.
A new nation and the worlds Savior
were to spring up from Abraham
through this son. Through this great
ordeal, his faith responded enabling
him to believe that God would give
Isaac back from the dead (Heb.
II :17-19). God tries all His children.
The more important, the more severe
the trial.
Edura+ion