The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-05-01
Sunday, May 2.
Read Genesis II :27 to 20:lS.
Study Genesis 1919; 10: IA


Read Genesis II :27 to 20:lS.
Study Genesis 12:l-9; 10: IA
IS.
Abraham (exalted father") was
born early in the twentieth cen
tury before Christ at the city of
Ur in the lower Euphrates valley
south of Babylon the seat of an
empire that extended westward to
the Mediterranean Sea. Remov-
ING up the valley 500 miles or
riore, and expecting to go to
Canaan where the same language
was spoken and other immigrants
from Ur had located, he settled
for time at the City of Haran
which had the same government,
industries, and religion as Ur.
Thence after the death of his ia
Their, and at the call of God, he
set out, at 70, in southwCsterly
direction three hundred miles to
Canaan which proved to be the
chosen land. Traversing it full
length with stops at Shechem and
Bethel, he went on to Egypt which
was then under ASiatic monarchs
at Zoan near the northeastern
border. Returning to Canaan, he
spent the remainder of his days in
the Land Of Promise dying at 115,
the founder of true religion, the
patriarch of a great people, and a
father of the faithful in all ages.
SUMMONS FROM UR AND
Harlan Genesis 12)
The Definite Call came to Alb
ram. In his native city of Ur and
at Haran the moon-god was the
local deity. At Ur he received his
call which in the current of Mes
opotamian emigration to the
shores of the Mediterranean car
ried him and his father with 9th
ers to Haran where, after Terah,s
death at 205, it was renewed. 1t
was a revelation from God which
Abram could not doubt. 1t en-
bodied command and q promise.
The command was twotold--tlrst
negative and then positive: Deny
and do; sacrifice and serve; for
sake and follow. That is, on one
hand he must give up country,
kindred, household, business,
friends and future prospects; and
on the other hand, he must be led
blindfolded by the Divine hand to
his future home. The promise in
volved fourfold blessing: Blessing
for Abram in posterity, in person,
and in popularity; blessing by
Abram to his family, friends and
fellow men; blessing around Abb
ram to those who joined him in
human uplift and world better
ment; and blessing through ABB
ram especially rs progenitor OF
the Messiah, our Saviour and
Lord.
STOP AT SHECHEM
Genesis 12)
The Designated Country was
found to be Canaan. AT first 1t
lay below the patriarch's horizon.
Abram did his duty without know
ing his destination. He risked or
rather rested, everything on faith
in his call-himself, his wife, his
nephew, his servants, his entire
substance, his whole future. AS
he proceeded he followed directly
the road to Canaan, and there
finally he encampcd in an oak
grove near Shechem in the heart
of the country. And now Je-
hovah appeared to him declaring
that this was the Land of Prom
Use, which, though he was child
less now at 70, his descendants
should occupy as the most bene-
ficent people on earth. Promptly
the patriarch consecrated the
country with his altar establishing
the worship of Jehovah at a focal
point where its influence should
90 out to all the world and down
to all the ages.
SOJOURN AT BETHEL AND
THE SOUTH Genesis 12)
The Directed Course lay south
ward through the full length Of
the chosen land for the chosen
people. Abrams second stop was
on the mountain between Bethel
and All where the sacrificial altar
was again erected and divine wor-
ship renewed. From the noun
tain the patriarch proceeded after
a time to the grassy wilds IN
Southern Palestine where he re-
manned until driven by famine to
the valley of the Nile.
SETTLEMENT AT HEBRON
Genesis 13)
The divine comfort was given
the patriarch in the divine prom
L l. I