The Omaha guide., 1945-07-14
Lesson for July IS

/ Lesson for July ID
Lesson subjects and Scripture texts Sc;
lecteo and copyrighted by international
Council of Religious Education; used by
permission.
GODS PURPOSE FOR ABRAHAM
LESSON TEXT-Genesis 12:l-9-
GOLDEN TEXT-In thee shall all
families of the earth be blessed.-Gene-
sis 1913.
Separation, which means release
from the influence of those things
which hinder full development, is a
blessing even though it may be diff
ficult. God had a great purpose in
mind for Abram, but to accomplish
it He had to get him out of his
country. away from the downward
pull of heathendom, and out into a
new adventure of faith with Him.
Down in the midst of those who
worshiped the heavenly bodies was
a man who had found that there
vas no satisfaction for his soul in
such worship. He had found the
true God, and was ready to re-
spond to His call. We find Abram
L. HearA Gods Call wv. 1-3).
Men who lave been used to ac-
comprising great and good things
in the world have, like Abraham,
been willing to step out into the
dark. They have not foreseen great
ness nor even striven for it, but have
gone out at Gods call, obeying Him
day by day, and He has been re-
sponsible for the outworking of their
destiny.
How important it is to have the
listening ear, and the obedient
heart. He was attentive to Gods
word, and willing to take Him at
His word.
Abram was strongly attached to
his homeland. He was a man of such
strength of character and obvious
ability, that he undoubtedly held a
D1dGC VI ICdl llllROl ldllIC LII IL w
country. To leave that and go out
to an unknown destination Heb.
11:8) called for real falkland
Abram had it,
God had a purpose in calling him
out-the establishment of a great ma
ton. Through Abram all the nations
Of the earth were to be blessed. That
stupendous e~ventuality hung in the
balance until he decided to obey
God, and we are glad he did.
When God takes anything from us,
a greater blessing to take its place.
Material loss often brings spiritual
blessing. Separation from family
may give a broader relationship to
others. Sacrifice for the Lords serv-
ice brings hundredfold returns !
Matt. 1920.
ii. Responding to Gods Command
(vv. 4-6). ;
AS the Lord spoke, so Abram de-
parted. He was to be the channel
of Gods blessing, and he put him.
self in Gods hand for His use. The
lives of each of us may, in our own !
way, be the channels of Gods bless .
ings to those round about US; but
only if we, like Abram, respond to
His call. |
The migration of Abram from
Chaldea to Canaan is one of the most
important events in all history 1t
was one of the grand turning points
in the story of the human race.
The fact that Abram took with him /
his entire family into the prom
ised land, reminds us that we are
not to 60 alone into the Lords heav-
emily kingdom. We are to take our
families with US.
Note also that Abram brought his
substance, his riches, with him.
That tells us anew that when a man
comes into the household of God
through Jesus Christ, he is to bring
his purse with him. C%onsecrate
yOQl SQOSld14(C do well do yOo4 oOL 1
and your service to God. !
The journey of Abram ended ". !
g. in what is said to be the most
beautiful spot in all of Palestine
but even here difficulty faced him,
for '"the Canaanite was then in the
land"
Even so, the Christian life is not
one of ease and idleness, but of
heroic endeavor and victory. The
Promised Land is a type, not of
heaven, but of the Christians life
and experience. We, too, find the
Canaanite in the land. There is a
constant struggle with the world,
the flesh and the devil; but there is
victory in Christ.
iii. Receiving Gods Blessing wv.
TO.
God kept His promise to Abram.
True he did not see the entire full
fllment of it, but is that necessary
to the man of faith? God says it,
we believe it; it becomes our pres
ent possession by faith, though the
enjoyment of it may be yet to come.
Note that wherever Abram pitched
his tent he built an altar. He was
not too hurried or busy to emem-
Der God. We, too, are pilgrims and
strangers in this world. Let US not
fail to raise an altar to God. Wher-
ever we may be, let US leave a tes-
timony for Him.
For such a man, God could well
have a high purpose. He was among
that noble company who in all ages
have simply obeyed each day the
divine orders which were given
them, took each day the way of
prayer, Of righteousness, of duty;
content if they had light enough for
that and the next step, leaving to
Lib. Ill III 4Lz4 -Lo,,1l o1-z