Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-05

Abraham, the pioneer of faith, ap-
propriately is assigned for the first les
son in "A Six Months Course on Rep
resentative Men and Women Of the
Bible" We are at the fountain head
Of Hebrew history. Dodds says that
with Abraham there opens up a new
chapter in the history of the race, a
chapter of the profoundeSt Signif1-
canoe" In Abraham we have the great
spiritual leader, the pioneer of the
faith. whose adventures in religion have
given to the world its three outstanding
monotheistic faiths--Judaism, Chris
tianity and Mohammedanism
We ind that the beginnings of this
epoch-making life are hidden from us,
like some great river which fertilizeS a
continent and springs from some I'M
known source in the mountains. We
cannot account for the development of
his faith in one God or the growth of
his character on any ordinary lines.
The fact is that he towers above the
men of his generation and of his coun-
try. that has been now definitely lo-
Gated as the ancient ruins in Southern
Babylonia called Mugheir. Ur of the
Chaldees was port on the Persian
Gulf, although its ruins are found to-
day $50 miles inland. above the mouth
L
the environment of Ur has been caused
by the annual deposit of alluvia for the
last 1000 years.
Abraham'S Greatness,
When we search the Scriptures to
seek to understand something of Abra-
hams greatness we find that "his name
occurs IA times in the New Testament"
We find that Jesus used "Abrahams
bosom" as a figure of speech to repre-
sent heaven. Among the titles con-
ferred upon Abraham Is that of a
friend of God" No higher title could
possibly be conferred upon this pioneer
Of the faith. 1t. was due to that init
mate fellowship with Jehovah and his
faith in Him as the one and only God
in an hour of idolatry that made Abram
the exalted father" to cast the
shadow Of his life over history as Abra-
ham, the father of a multitude"
When the Lord called Abram to leave
the fertile section, where he was accu-
mulating wealth and assured of a per-
manent home and a life OF prosperity
and power in Ur, the friend of God
demonstrated his faith by launching
out and moving toward the Promised
Land
The fourfold promise that Jehovah
made to the pioneer of faith has all
been fulfilled. The presence, position
and power of the Jewish people in the
history of the world prove how God has
made of Abraham a great nation. The
pioneer of faith found i'll the deepening
fellowship and enlargement of his
knowledge of God the source Of real
blessing. No name among men out
ranks Abraham's in the history Of ma
tions 1t is world wide in It's infiu-
ence and prestige today The mission
Of Abraham'S descendants has been to
bless others. None has done more than
Jesus, who was n descendent of Abra-
ham, to I'LL the world with the richest
blessings Of life and fellowship with
God
Abraham went out without seeing
how God planned to give him the posi-
ton and power that He promised to
bestow upon Abraham. He went forth
in faith in obedience to Gods COM
mands. The leaders in the great reli-
gious movements that have marked the
spiritual development of the race have
been men of faith, who did not expect
the tremendous results that have fol-
lowed their efforts. They simply obeyed
each day the divine orders which were
given them along the way of PRAYER
OF righteousness and of duty. Trusting
the Lord, they have moved forward in
response to His command. Nothing can
hinder the rewards of a life of faith
being marked by the outpouring of
power from on high, that will give VIC
tory
Trials Developed Character.
Following the career of Abraham, we
can see how his character was developed
by trials. AbrahamS faith was tested.
His courage tried many times en- route
70 canaan and during his sojourn In
Egypt. He turned to God for aid in
every hour of trial and succeeded in
Leading his caravan from Ur to Canaan,
down into Egypt and back into Canaan
without once being drawn into conflict
Al least we do not find any record of
any conflict or warfare. save the one
expedition that he made into the north
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