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tw o w a lk to g e th e r in th e la n d ex c ep t th ey b e ag re ed ? T h e c h a ra c te r of A b ram a n d L o t is fully m an ifested in th e ir a ttitu d e tow a rd th e diffi cu lty b e tw e en th e h e rdm en . S e p a ra tio n is inev itab le, a n d A b ram g ra ciously su rren d e rs to L o t th e choice of location. L o t is a w o rld ling a n d chooses without regard to God. T h e re is no confession o f la ck of w isdom , no p ra y e r fo r g u id an c e ; h e uses his n a tu ra l worldly-w ise ju d g m en t an d chose th e w a te re d plain, S odom w a rd . H e uses a pious p h ra se a n d sp eak s of its re sem b lan ce to th e g a rd e n o f th e E o rd . T o him it is a choice p lace fo r his flocks a n d n e a r b y th e g re a t city. H e d o e s n o t know th a t G o d h as a lre a d y se t it a p a rt fo r ju d gm en t. H e chose w ithou t re f erence to his own spiritual interest; h e chose without reference to Abram, to w hom h e ow ed all th a t h e h ad . H e is a b a n d o n e d now to th e th o u g h t of w o rld ly a ccum u la tions, an d h e c an say farew ell to A b ram w ithou t a sigh. L o t is a re p re sen tativ e worldling, w h e th e r in th e C hurch or not. If h e is a C hris tian a t all, h e is a c arn al one. A b ram leaves all to G o d an d H e d irects to th a t which w ill b e w isest an d b e st fo r him . M ark th e o rd e r re c o rd e d h e re : Separation. “A fte r th a t L o t w as se p a ra te d from h im ,” n o t befo re. L o t’s choice ev id en ced th e te n d e n cies o f a w orldly, selfish fellow . A b ram ’s is g o v e rn ed b y lo fty p rin ciples. S ep a ra tio n is th e essential m a rk o f a follow er of th e L o rd an d A b ram ’s life is a tte n d e d b y a series of separation s, from U r to th e offer ing up o f Isaac. Survey. G o d gav e him a vision o f his possessions. T h ey included th e g a rd e n sp o t o f th e ea rth , th e v e ry sp o t u p o n which th e eyes of th e w o rld a re cen te red . Appropriation. H e w as com -
b less thee, an d m ak e th y n am e g re a t; a n d th o u sh a lt b e a blessing. T h e call w as gracious, th e comm and great, an d th e com p en sa tion g en erous. T h is prom ise of the' L o rd has been, is being, an d shall b e fulfilled. H a v e y o u no ticed th a t every com m a n d o f th e L o rd is a c com p an ied w ith a p rom ise of blessing? If H e says, “C om e u n to Me, H e also says, “ I w ill give you rest.” If H e says, “G o y e into all th e w o rld ,” H e also says, “Lo, I am w ith you. If H e says, “Fo llow Me, H e says, I will m ak e you fishers.” If H e says, “ Be th o u faith fu l,” H e says, “ I will give a crow n o f life.” A b ram was a g re a t m an, b u t it w as G o d who m a d e him great. T h e g re a t G o d gav e him a g re a t call an d p rom ised him a g re a t rew ard . L E SSON V III. February 2 3 , 1 9 1 3 . Golden Text— Prov. 10:22. H ow d id L o t com e to b e w ith A b ram ? W e a re to ld in Isaiah 5 1 :2 th a t G o d called A b ra h am alone. H e d id n o t call Lot. G o d h a d com m a n d e d A b ram to se p a ra te him self from his k in d re d an d from his fa th er’s house. L o t w as his nephew . L o t w as a h anger-on . A b ram w a lk ed w ith G od , b u t L o t w a lk ed w ith A b ram . A b ram h a d an altar, b u t you n ev e r h e a r o f L o t s a lta r. L o t m ay h a v e b e e n respon sib le for A b ram 's going dow n in to Egypt, w hich is a ty p e of th e w o rld . E gy p t is th e p lace to fa tten c a ttle a n d lose faith. T h e re w as no a lta r in E gyp t u p o n which faith cou ld offer its sac rifice, b u t th e se rp en t w as th e re a n d faith itself w as sacrificed» In th e la n d of E g y p t A b ram an d L o t jo u r n ey ed along to g e th e r an d now th ey com e b a c k g re a tly en riched w ith w o rld ly goods. P ro sp e rity b eg e ts p ride, p rid e le ad s to strife, an d strife end s in separation . H ow can
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