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LESSON FOR JULY 22 Abraham’s Practice of Brotherhood
FISHING? FOR WHAT? “ And he said unto them, F o l l o w me, an d I wi l l make you fishers o f men MATTHEW 4:19 Study methods o f Soul Winning through our interesting and systematic CORRESPONDENCE COURSES • PERSONAL and PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN WORK. Eight Examinations ...... $3,50 • CHILD EVANGELISM Nine Examinations ........ $5.00
bitter strife. But let us not be too hard upon Abram and Lot in this matter; we should remember how easy it is for us to become divided and to engage in “strife” with our brethren. III. T h e S e paration in t h e L an d ' (13:8-12) Abram’s grace shines forth as he takes steps to quiet the trouble and to bring peace between himself and Lot. He was willing to give Lot the first choice. He abandoned his own rights in order to heal the breach. He considered his testimony of greater value than maintaining these rights. In reality, he was leaving his choice to the Lord. Lot revealed his selfishness . in choosing what he thought was the very best part of the land. But since he did not consult the Lord, he made a wrong decision. He chose by the sight of his eyes the well-watered plain that appeared to be exactly suited to his needs. His choice was for the present; it was “before the Lord destroyed Sodom.” He chose an imitation; it was “like the garden of the Lord.” His selection was of the flesh; it was “like the land of Egypt.” So Abram “dwelt in the land of Canaan,” .but Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom,” or “moved his tent as far as Sodom” (R.V., v. 12). Later history reveals that Lot’s choice was all wrong. Today the story certainly teaches us the danger and disaster of any Christian’s choice, however promising it may appear, apart from the definite leading of the Lord. Due to wartime conditions which result in delays on the part of stationers, p r i n t e r s , book-binders a n d all services where the employment problem is a major one, we ask you to be patient if y o u r magazine does not reach you as promptly as it did in the past. The en- t i r e publication industry has been affected in the same man ner. It is another opportunity for all of us to exhibit the grace of God. If Your King’s Business Is Late
LESSON MATERIAL: Genesis 13:1-12. GOLDEN TEXT: Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee • . .; for we be brethren" (Gen, 13:8). Outline and Exposition I. T he R eturn from E gypt (G en . 13:1-4) B ECAUSE of a famine fei the But the Lord intervened and, in spite of his failure, God blessed him and Abram returned “very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.” It should be noted that the heroes of the Bible, un like those of secular history, are never presented as “supermen” or as being perfect; their mistakes and failures are recorded, revealing them as men of like passion with ourselves. Fortu nately, today there is the same possi bility of rectifying mistakes and of be ing restored to fellowship with God for was riot their history written for our learning? (Rom. 15:4.) Abram returned to the right place, "even to Bethel,” where he had first met the Lord. He returned to the right position, where he had been “at the beginning.” He returned to the right condition, to the “place of the altar” ; and there he “called on the name of the Lord.” Here he found himself, beginning anew, as if he had never left! Such are the necessary steps for the returning backslider who wants again to- enjoy fellowship with the Lord. II. T he S trife in the L and (13:5-7) Lot also had gone with Abram and he too had been enriched with "flocks, and herds, and tents.” But one of the most revealing lines in all the Bible is, “the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great.” "Substance” b e g e t s , strife among brethren, and riches readily separate them. The Holy Spirit adds a sad com ment on this state of things by say ing, “and the Canaanite and the Per- izzite dwelt then in the land.” Evi dently these two peoples, strangers to the covenant of Abram, were able to dwell together in peace, but God’s people could not. What a testimony before pagan peoples.! In spite of God’s grace and blessings, and in spite of the fact that they belonged to God and were His representatives before other peoples, they exhibited a shameful selfishness which led to
land, Abram had gone to Egypt where he nearly resort ed to falsehood to preserve himself.
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