patriarchs and prophets-第24部分

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strangers。　His　character　must　be　peculiar；　differing　from　all　the　world。　He
could　not　even　explain　his　course　of　action　so　as　to　be　understood　by　his
friends。　Spiritual　things　are　spiritually　discerned；　and　his　motives　and
actions　were　not　comprehended　by　his　idolatrous　kindred。

〃By　faith　Abraham；　when　he　was　called　to　go　out　into　a　place　which　he　should
after　receive　for　an　inheritance；　obeyed；　and　he　went　out；　not　knowing
whither　he　went。〃　Hebrews　11：8。　Abraham's　unquestioning　obedience　is　one　of
the　most　striking　evidences　of　faith　to　be　found　in　all　the　Bible。　To　him；
faith　was　〃the　substance　of　things　hoped　for；　the　evidence　of　things　not
seen。〃　Verse　1。　Relying　upon　the　divine　promise；　without　the　least　outward
assurance　of　its　fulfillment；　he　abandoned　home　and　kindred　and　native　land；
and　went　forth；　he　knew　not　whither；　to　follow　where　God　should　lead。　〃By
faith　he　became　a　sojourner　in　the　land　of　promise；　as　in　a　land　not　his
own；　dwelling　in　tents；　with　Isaac　and　Jacob；　the　heirs　with　him　of　the　same
promise。〃　Hebrews　11：9；　R。V。

It　was　no　light　test　that　was　thus　brought　upon　Abraham；　no　small　sacrifice
that　was　required　of　him。　There　were　strong　ties　to　bind　him　to　his　country；
his　kindred；　and　his　home。　But　he　did　not　hesitate　to　obey　the　call。　He　had
no　question　to　ask　concerning　the　land　of　promisewhether　the　soil　was
fertile　and　the　climate　healthful；　whether　the　country　afforded　agreeable
surroundings　and　would　afford　opportunities　for　amassing　wealth。　God　has
spoken；　and　His　servant　must　obey；　the　happiest　place　on　earth　for　him　was
the　place　where　God　would　have　him　to　be。

Many　are　still　tested　as　was　Abraham。　They　do　not　hear　the　voice　of　God
speaking　directly　from　the　heavens；　but　He　calls　them　by　the　teachings　of
His　word　and　the　events　of　His　providence。　They　may　be　required　to　abandon　a
career　that　promises　wealth　and　honor；　to　leave　congenial　and　profitable
associations

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and　separate　from　kindred；　to　enter　upon　what　appears　to　be　only　a　path　of
self…denial；　hardship；　and　sacrifice。　God　has　a　work　for　them　to　do；　but　a
life　of　ease　and　the　influence　of　friends　and　kindred　would　hinder　the
development　of　the　very　traits　essential　for　its　accomplishment。　He　calls
them　away　from　human　influences　and　aid；　and　leads　them　to　feel　the　need　of
His　help；　and　to　depend　upon　Him　alone；　that　He　may　reveal　Himself　to　them。
Who　is　ready　at　the　call　of　Providence　to　renounce　cherished　plans　and
familiar　associations？　Who　will　accept　new　duties　and　enter　untried　fields；
doing　God's　work　with　firm　and　willing　heart；　for　Christ's　sake　counting　his
losses　gain？　He　who　will　do　this　has　the　faith　of　Abraham；　and　will　share
with　him　that　〃far　more　exceeding　and　eternal　weight　of　glory；〃　with　which
〃the　sufferings　of　this　present　time　are　not　worthy　to　be　compared。〃
2　Corinthians　4：17；　Romans　8：18。

The　call　from　heaven　first　came　to　Abraham　while　he　dwelt　in　〃Ur　of　the
Chaldees〃　and　in　obedience　to　it　he　removed　to　Haran。　Thus　far　his　father's
family　accompanied　him；　for　with　their　idolatry　they　united　the　worship　of
the　true　God。　Here　Abraham　remained　till　the　death　of　Terah。　But　from　his
father's　grave　the　divine　Voice　bade　him　go　forward。　His　brother　Nahor　with
his　household　clung　to　their　home　and　their　idols。　Besides　Sarah；　the　wife
of　Abraham；　only　Lot；　the　son　of　Haran　long　since　dead；　chose　to　share　the
patriarch's；　pilgrim　life。　Yet　it　was　a　large　company　that　set　out　from
Mesopotamia。　Abraham　already　possessed　extensive　flocks　and　herds；　the
riches　of　the　East；　and　he　was　surrounded　by　a　numerous　body　of　servants　and
retainers。　He　was　departing　from　the　land　of　his　fathers；　never　to　return；
and　he　took　with　him　all　that　he　had；　〃their　substance　that　they　had
gathered；　and　the　souls　that　they　had　gotten　in　Haran。〃　Among　these　were
many　led　by　higher　considerations　than　those　of　service　and　self…interest。
During　their　stay　in　Haran；　both　Abraham　and　Sarah　had　led　others　to　the
worship　and　service　of　the　true　God。　These　attached　themselves　to　the
patriarch's　household；　and　accompanied　him　to　the　land　of　promise。　〃And　they
went　forth　to　go　into　the　land　of　Canaan；　and　into　the　land　of　Canaan　they
came。〃

The　place　where　they　first　tarried　was　Shechem。　Under　the　shade　of　the　oaks
of　Moreh；　in　a　wide；　grassy　valley；　with　its　olive　groves　and　gushing
springs；　between　Mount　Ebal　on　the

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one　side　and　Mount　Gerizim　on　the　other；　Abraham　made　his　encampment。　It　was
a　fair　and　goodly　country　that　the　patriarch　had　entered〃a　land　of　brooks
of　water；　of　fountains　and　depths　that　spring　out　of　valleys　and　hills；　a
land　of　wheat；　and　barley；　and　vines；　and　fig　trees；　and　pomegranates；　a
land　of　oil　olive；　and　honey。〃　Deuteronomy　8：7；　8。　But　to　the　worshiper　of
Jehovah；　a　heavy　shadow　rested　upon　wooded　hill　and　fruitful　plain。　〃The
Canaanite　was　then　in　the　land。〃　Abraham　had　reached　the　goal　of　his　hopes
to　find　a　country　occupied　by　an　alien　race　and　overspread　with　idolatry。　In
the　groves　were　set　up　the　altars　of　false　gods；　and　human　sacrifices　were
offered　upon　the　neighboring　heights。　While　he　clung　to　the　divine　promise；
it　was　not　without　distressful　forebodings　that　he　pitched　his　tent。　Then
〃the　Lord　appeared　unto　Abram；　and　said；　Unto　thy　seed　will　I　give　this
land。〃　His　faith　was　strengthened　by　this　assurance　that　the　divine　presence
was　with　him；　that　he　was　not　left　to　the　mercy　of　the　wicked。　〃And　there
builded　he　an　altar　unto　the　Lord；　who　appeared　unto　him。〃　Still　a　wayfarer；
he　soon　removed　to　a　spot　near　Bethel；　and　again　erected　an　altar；　and
called　upon　the　name　of　the　Lord。

Abraham；　〃the　friend　of　God；〃　set　us　a　worthy　example。　His　was　a　life　of
prayer。　Wherever　he　pitched　his　tent；　close　beside　it　was　set　up　his　altar；
calling　all　within　his　encampment　to　the　morning　and　evening　sacrifice。　When
his　tent　was　removed；　the　altar　remained。　In　following　years；　there　were
those　among　the　roving　Canaanites　who　received　instruction　from　Abraham；　and
whenever　one　of　these　came　to　that　altar；　he　knew　who　had　been　there　before
him；　and　when　he　had　pitched　his　tent；　he　repaired　the　altar；　and　there
worshiped　the　living　God。

Abraham　continued　to　journey　southward；　and　again　his　faith　was　tested。　The
heavens　withheld　their　rain；　the　brooks　ceased　to　flow　in　the　valleys；　and
the　grass　withered　on　the　plains。　The　flocks　and　herds　found　no　pasture；　and
starvation　threatened　the　whole　encampment。　Did　not　the　patriarch　now
question　the　leadings　of　Providence？　Did　he　not　look　back　with　longing　to
the　plenty　of　the　Chaldean　plains？　All　were　eagerly　watching　to　see　what
Abraham　would　do；　as　trouble　after　trouble　came　upon　him。　So　long　as　his
confidence　appeared　unshaken；　they　felt　that　there　was　hope；　they　were
assured　that　God　was　his　Friend；　and　that　He　was　still　guiding　him。

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Abraham　could　not　explain　the　leadings　of　Providence；　he　had　not　realized
his　expectations；　but　he　held　fast　the　promise；　〃I　will　bless　thee；　and　make
thy　name　great；　and　thou　shalt　be　a　blessing。〃　With　earnest　prayer　he
considered　how　to　preserve　the　life　of　his　people　and　his　flocks；　but　he
would　not　allow　circumstances　to　shake　his　faith　in　God's　word。　To　escape
the　famine　he　went　down　into　Egypt。　He　did　not　forsake　Canaan；　or　in　his
extremity　turn　back　to　the　Chaldean　land　from　which　he　came；　where　there　was
no　scarcity　of　bread；　but　he　sought　a　temporary　refuge　as　near　as　possible
to　the　Land　of　Promise；　intending　shortly　to　return　where　God　had　placed
him。

The　Lord　in　His　providence　had　brought　this　trial　upon　Abraham　to　teach　him
lessons　of　submission；　patience；　and　faith　lessons　that　where　to　be　placed
on　record　for　the　benefit　of　all　who　should　afterward　be　called　to　endure
affliction。　God　leads　His　children　by　a　way　that　they　know　not；　but　He　does
not　forget　or　cast　off　those　who　put　their　trust　in　Him。　He　permitted
affliction　to　come　upon　Job；　but　He　did　not　forsake　him。　He　allowed　the
beloved　John　to　be　exiled　to　lonely　Patmos；　but　the　Son　of　God　met　him
there；　and　his　vision　was　filled　with　scenes　of　immortal　glory。　God　permits
trials　to　assail　His　people；　that　by　their　constancy　and　obedience　they
themselves　may　be　spiritually　enriched；　and　that　their　example　may　be　a
source　of　strength　to　others。　〃I　know　the　thoughts　that　I　think　toward　you；
saith　the　Lord；　thoughts　of　peace；　and　not　of　evil。〃　Jeremiah　29：11。　The
very　trials　that　task　our　faith　most　severely　and　make　it　seem　that　God　has
forsaken　us；　are　to　lead　us　closer　to　Christ；　that　we　may　lay　all　our
burdens　at　His　feet　and　experience　the　peace　which　He　will　give　us　in
exchange。

God　has　always　tried　His　people　in　the　furnace　of　affliction。　It　is　in　the
heat　of　the　furnace　that　the　dross　is　separated　from　the　true　gold　of　the
Christian　character。　Jesus　watches　the　test；　He　knows　what　is　needed　to
purify　the　precious　metal；　that　it　may　reflect　the　radiance　of　His　love。　It
is　by　close；　testing　trials　that　God　disciplines　His　servants。　He　sees　that
some　have　powers　which　may　be　used　in　the　advancement　of　His　work；　and　He
puts　these　persons　upon　trial；　in　His　providence　He　brings　them　into
positions　that　test　their　character　and　reveal　defects　and　weaknesses　that
have　been　hidden　from　their　own　knowledge。　He

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gives　them　opportunity　to　correct　these　defects　and　to　fit　themselves　for
His　service。　He　shows　them　their　own　weakness；　and　teaches　them　to　lean　upon
Him；　for　He　is　their　only　help　and　safeguard。　Thus　His　object　is　attained。
They　are　educated；　trained；　and　disciplined；　prepared　to　fulfill　the　grand
purpose　for　which　their　powers　were　given　them。　When　God　calls　them　to
action；　they　are　ready；　and　heavenly　angels　can　unite　with　them　in　the　work
to　be　accomplished　on　the　earth。

During　his　stay　in　Egypt；　Abraham　gave　evidence　that　he　was　not　free　from
human　weakness　and　imperfection。　In　concealing　the　fact　that　Sarah　was　his
wife；　he　betrayed　a　distrust　of　the　divine　care；　a　lack　of　that　lofty　faith
and　courage　so　often　and　nobly　exemplified　in　his　life。　Sarah　was　fair　to