CONTENTS The History of Abram, just glanced at in the close of the preceding Chapter, the Ho1y Ghost enters upon in this Chapter more particularly. The account of God's first call of Abram; his gracious manifestations unto him; the removal of the Patriarch in consequence thereof, from his native co... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: How eminently was this fulfilled in Abram's history. First, according to nature in the flesh, in the children of Ishmael. See Gen_16:10; Gen_17:20. Secondly, according to promise. H... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Reader! pause over this precious verse; and when you have duly meditated upon it, ask your own heart, whether it is not fully verified? Act 4:12; 2 Corinthians 1:20.--Note... [ Continue Reading ]
So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. If my Reader be among the aged, and is fearing that he may have outstayed the day of grace, I do not know a more precious encouragement than what this v... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. What an illustrious act of faith was this? How highly it i... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. Nine times (if I mistake not) it is noticed of God's appearing to Abram. The Holy Ghost by the mouth of Stephen explains how: Acts 7:2 See Genesis 22:... [ Continue Reading ]
And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. Abram not only served God for himself, but erected an altar for his public worsh... [ Continue Reading ]
And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. Was not this particularly intended for the exercise of Abram's faith? Had he consulted flesh and blood would he not have said, "Is this the land of promise? Is this the end... [ Continue Reading ]
And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? I think it probable, that those plagues were diseases of a particular nature. 1 Samuel 5:6. And it should seem that they were so considered. God's rod has a voice, and spe... [ Continue Reading ]
Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. Observe how God provides for his people's safety. Psalms 105:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS METHINKS I would not read this call of God to Abram, and observe the Patriarch's ready faith to obey it, without begging grace from God, to attend to the many precious invitations with which I am called upon to follow Jesus in the regeneration; and, like Abram, to arise, leave house and... [ Continue Reading ]