Arkansas State press., 1945-07-13
GODS PURPOSE FOR ABRAHAM

permission,
GODS PURPOSE FOR ABRAHAM
LESSON TEXT-Genesis l2:l.s.
GOLDEN TExT-ln thee shall all
families Of the earth be blessed.-Gene-
| sis 1873.
Separation, which means release
from the influence Of those things
which hinder full development. Is a
blessing even though 1t may be dif-
ficult. God had great purpose in
mind for Abram. but to accomplish
1t He had to get him out OF his own
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
was 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. Hearing Gods Call wv, Id.
Men who have been used to ac-
eomplishing 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 1t 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 man Of such
strength of character and obvious
ability. that he undoubtedly held
place of real importance in his own
country. To leave that and 60 out
to an unknown destination Heb.
1873 called for real falkland
Abram had it!
God had purpose in calling him
out-the bIishment Of a great ma
ton. Through Abram all the nations
Of the earth were to be blessed. That
stupendous eventuality hung in the
balance until he decided to obey
God, and we are glad he did.
When God takes anything from US,
we can be sure that He is planning
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.
III. Responding to Gods Command
| (vv 40
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
4 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 Lord S 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. Consecrate
your substance as well as yourself
and your service to God.
The journey of Abram ended ".
81 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.
7-9).
God kept His promise to Abram.
True he did not see the entire full
fillment OF II, but Is that necessary
to the man Of faith? God says It,
we believe 1t; IT becomes our pres
ent possession by faith, though the
enjoyment Of 1t may be yet to come.
Note that wherever Abram pitched
his tent he built an altar. He was
not too hurried or busy to remem-
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 tes-
timony for Him.