_Abraham went up out of Egypt_ THE BELIEVER LEARNING FROM HIS GREAT ENEMY It is an old saying that “It is lawful to learn from an enemy. ” The patriarch had sojourned in the world’s kingdom, and had learned those solemn lessons which, as it too often happens, only a bitter experience can teach. H... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abram was very rich_ WEALTH IN BOTH WORLDS I. Abram, whilst “very rich,” was TRULY GODLY. II. Whilst “very rich,” Abram was VERY godly. III. Abram, whilst “very rich,” highly VALUED “A GOOD NAME.” IV. Abram, whilst “very rich,” TAUGHT HIS CHILDREN TO TRUST, not in uncertain riches, but IN THE... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first_ ABRAM’S JOURNEY TO THE PLACE OF THE ALTAR I. HIS LOVE TO THE LAND OF PROMISE, WHICH ALL THE ATTRACTIONS OF EGYPT COULD NOT EXTINGUISH OR OVERPOWER. II. HIS VENERATION FOR THE PLACE WHERE GOD FIRST APPEARED TO HIM. There may be in... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was a strife between the herdmen_ STRIFE BETWEEN BRETHREN I. AS TO THE CAUSES OF IT. 1. Worldly prosperity. 2. The mean ambition of ignoble souls associated with us. 3. The want of the obliging nature. II. AS TO THE EVILS OF IT. 1. It destroys the sacred feeling of kinship. 2. It expo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is not the whole land before thee?_ THE GOODLY LAND IN PROSPECT In many respects the earthly Canaan was typical of the heavenly. The heavenly Canaan is-- I. A LAND OF PROMISE (1 John 2:25; Revelation 21:7; Revelation 22:14). II. A LAND OF LIFE (1 John 3:15; Revelation 21:4). III. A LAND OF LIG... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan_ ABRAHAM AND LOT The lesson to be gained from the history of Abraham and Lot is obviously this: that nothing but a clear apprehension of things unseen, a simple trust in God’s promises, and the greatness of mind thence arising, can make us act above the world... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the men of Sodom were wicked_ THE MINISTRY OF NATURE We here behold the wickedness of man in strange conjunction (verse10) and contrast with the beauty of nature. I. HUMAN DEPRAVITY AS DISCOVERED BY THE LIGHT OF NATURE. 1. The wealth of nature, and the poverty of man. 2. The cleanliness of... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever_ THE SAINTS COMFORT IN SOLITUDE I. THE DIVINE VOICE IS MORE DISTINCTLY HEARD. 1. We need this consolation to confirm our faith. 2. We require a renewed sense of the Divine approval. 3. We require comfort for the evi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mature, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord._ MAMRE Mamre is the first village that comes before us distinctly in any authentic history. If Ararat was the cradle of the races of our world, Mamre was the cradle of th... [ Continue Reading ]