The Wilmington morning star., 1945-07-28
Sunday School
eSS on
Scripture: Genesis, Chapters 1918
BY WILLIAM E. GILROY, d. D.

Scripture: Genesis, Chapters 1918
BY WILLIAM E. GILROY, d. d.
HOW did God speak to men in
olden times? the conversation be-
tween God and Abraham, record
ed in Genesis II. is detailed and
specific. It has to do with the COW
enart. between God and Abraham,
and the promise that he would be
the founder of a great people, and
that in him would many nations
be blest. Does God speak in that
way to men today? Or did He
speak to man in ancient times a
different way?
Dreams may have been a means
of communication, as we know was
the case with Jacob. The Bible is
an Eastern book; and the people
of the Orient have never been
bothered with our western materi-
alism and liberalism. They express
things in figures and symbols, and
put truth in story form. The dram
atize experiences and events, so
that thoughts of God, and of God S
grace and goodness, become OK
pressed In God speaking.
Whatever the means or method,
Abraham was sure that God spoke
to him, and made a covenant with
him. A covenant implies two par
ties, each of whom is to fulfill his
part. The striking thing about this
covenant implies two parties, each
of whom is to fulfill his part. The
striking thing about this covenant
that Abraham experienced is that
it was a moral covenant.
THE story is not that of a grandi-
ose person, assuming that God had
chosen him as a special favorite,
glorying and Boosting in his good
fortune. On the contrary, it is the
story of a man of great humility,
accepting deep responsibility
knowing that anything that comes
to him of possessions or of power
is to be exercised and used for
the benefit of others. 1t is the lofti-
ness and nobility of such concep-
tons that make one sure that, in
whatever way it may have occur
ed, God really did speak to Abra-
ham, and held before him both a
way of duty and a great destiny.
Gods covenants AID promises
are all conditioned on mans per
Torrance. Israel did become a
great nation, but her greatness
soon ceased when she forgot God
and Gods power in her deliver
ance and leadership, turning to
idolatrous ways and socially harm
full practices. A remnant of the
sincere and devout, however, al
ways remained, no matter how
great the peril, suffering, or dis
persement; and through these the
faithful in Israel, and the Christi
ans, whose religion has been super
imposed upon that of Judaism,
have been blest, and greater bless
ings for them are in store.
DOES God make similar cove
nants with men and nations today?
1 believe so; and I believe that the
quality of our American life and
destiny depends upon the way in
which we acdept Gods covenant
and work out our salvation. and
the salvation of the world, knowing
that it is HE that worketh in us
both to will and to do of His good
pleasure
We are too apt to assume that
character and performance have
little to do with our destiny; that
we are chosen for greatness, ano
are going to be greater and greater
just because it is our destiny. The
history of the kingdoms of Isare
ought to teach us better. 1t is as
true of nations, as it is of individu
ais, that "the soul that sinneth, Il
shall die" No more than the Jews
of old are we Americans God
chosen people, unless we accept
His choice as those who above al
else will seek to do His will, ano
build for ourselves, and serve the
world, in love, righteousness, anc
truth.