_THE PILGRIM FATHER_ Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.’ Genesis 12:1 Abraham was the father of the faithful, and we have here the first recorded test to which his faith was put. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_BLESSING RECEIVED AND IMPARTED_ ‘And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.’ Genesis 12:3 I. A DOUBLE STREAM OF NARRATIVE RUNS THROUGH THE FIRST FOUR BOOKS OF THE PENTATEUCH.—One of these may be called the Pries... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE FIRST COLUMBUS_ ‘So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him.’ Genesis 12:4 At this time there was no special nation belonging to the Lord. The Lord was even then but beginning to set apart a people for Himself. To create that people, He had first of all to make a family, and to make... [ Continue Reading ]
_‘I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE’_ ‘So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; … and they went forth, to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.’ Genesis 12:4 I. THIS TEXT MAY BE PARAPHRASED GEOGRAPHICALLY, by saying that it contains a direction to the L... [ Continue Reading ]
_A FATEFUL JOURNEY_ ‘Abram went down into Egypt.’ Genesis 12:10 I. EGYPT WAS TO ABRAHAM, TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE, TO THE WHOLE COURSE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, WHAT THE WORLD WITH ALL ITS INTERESTS AND PURSUITS AND ENJOYMENTS IS TO US.—It was the parent of civilisation, of learning, of royal power, of v... [ Continue Reading ]