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Pharaoh chastened by God

[GEN. XIII.

was full of praise for Sarah's beauty and envy of her good fortune. But she herself looked to God for rescue; she had no other friend, and He did not forsake her.

16. And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

Abraham was enriched with costly presents; Sarah honoured in the king's palace who could not have thought them happy? And yet this outward prosperity covered aching hearts. How different is men's real condition from that which strikes the outward eye! God hears the cries of pain that go up to Him from many who live in splendour and are envied by the multitude. He does not forget the sorrows of those who trust Him.

17. And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife.

So dear were God's elect to Him that 'He suffered no man to do them wrong, but reproved even kings for their sake.' He sent pain and danger upon king and court; then they examined their ways and learnt what was amiss. So do thou, O Teacher of men, teach

me.

18. 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? 19. 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.

I notice, with admiration, how heathen monarchs in the plenitude of their power had still great respect for the law which forbade the taking of another man's wife. Christians may well learn this lesson from them, now that such sins prevail and are treated lightly. I see how God dealt with Pharaoh by chastisements and warnings, and I too desire to profit by His grave and severe dealings with me. Pharaoh, in all his glory, was not above learning and acknowledging his fault.

20. And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had. Here is an exodus from Egypt, a figure of that of Abraham's descendants which took place long afterwards. Abraham breathed freely again, when the desert was round him and he had left behind the splendours and dangers of Pharaoh's court. In going down into Egypt, he had thought more of schemes for his own

VER. 4.]

Abram's Wealth

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advantage than of the duty of sincerity, yet God had turned evil to good and brought him safely through, for His Name's sake, for His promise's sake. With such thoughts, he felt himself more than ever the instrument of a Divine Power Who was guiding all things to a good end.

CHAPTER XIII

1. Abram and Lot return out of Egypt. 7. By disagreement they part asunder. 10. Lot goeth to wicked Sodom. 14. God reneweth the promise to Abram. 18. He removeth to Hebron, and there buildeth an altar.

A

ND Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

It is well to be safe out of Egypt, and started on our road heavenwards, but the world's possessions cling round our heart and put us in danger of forgetting heavenly promises. Here we find the first mention in Scripture of silver and gold. They are but counters, yet such as carry with them a great value by the common consent of mankind. Many have sold their souls to get store of these precious metals. We do not find that Abraham allowed his riches to make him forget God or the inheritance of promise. No, all that he possessed did not make him value less the treasures of faith, the blessing to come; he knew those were the best riches.

3. And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Hai; 4. Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the Name of the Lord.

This second altar which was erected to the true God became for the Patriarchs a sacred place, dear to them by holy memories. Let me so avail myself of God's House that I may return to it with joy, remembering what I have learnt there, what I have felt there. O God of Bethel, be Thou my God always; let me hear from Thee a word of promise, let me devote myself to serve Thee faithfully, let me trust in Thy protecting care.

E

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Parting needful to preserve Love [GEN. XIII.

5. And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

Lot had shared Abraham's wanderings, had learnt from him how to worship and serve God, had joined with him in prayer and good deeds. Now there came a trial upon him which proved what manner of man he was: whether he valued most his abundant flocks, or the possession of religious privileges, the right to God's future blessing. Lot, while he lived with Abraham, enjoyed the protection and the mercy which God bestowed on Abraham. When he threw up that society and took Sodom in exchange, he made a bad bargain.

:

6. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

What, in the presence of the Canaanites, who doubtless scoffed, should God's household be divided, His servants at strife? Here are sad consequences of too much wealth. When Lot was poor and dependent on his uncle, no such troubles had appeared, but they came with prosperous days. Thus the servants of Abraham and Lot, who joined together to worship the one true God, could not bear each other, and got to variance, almost to blows!

8. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

Brethren, both in blood and in faith; we have common blood in our veins, and are joined together yet more closely as servants of the one true God and heirs of the promise; we must not strive about this world's advantages, lest we lose substance for shadow. If believers had always stopped the beginning of strife, after Abraham's method, this would be a happier world than it is. In many families brethren have been divided and made enemies by some question of profit or division of wealth. God's children hate and revile each other, and all for some trifle.

9. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

'Choose,' he said, 'let us only remain friends. while, in order to be still joined in heart.

Let us part for a I give the choice

VER. 13.]

A worldly Choice

67

wholly into your hands, and am quite content with what you leave.' In this we see that Abraham's great wealth left him an unworldly heart. He was much more set on remaining in love and goodwill than on living where he could get richer. North or south, hill or valley, was all one to him so that he could live at peace and obey the leading of his Heavenly Friend.

10. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

Lot forgot what he owed to Abraham. He forgot the knowledge of Divine Truth, the promise of protection, the hope of blessedness to come. He was guided by earthly sight alone. He left him in whom all nations were to be blessed, and went to live among the accursed, just because of the rich returns of the fertile soil.

II. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Lot

Here is the holy household parted. Abraham remained on the hills of Canaan, without changing his life or plans. He was true to the Voice of his unseen Guide, loyalty to God was his first care. meanwhile was wholly intent on the prospects which opened before him as he settled in the (then) rich valley. Abraham was now weakened in numbers, left more alone, he felt the desertion of one who had so far shared his hopes, yet he continued in the same line without altering.

13. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

Such are Lot's new surroundings; perhaps he went there with the hope of doing some good. If so, he was much mistaken, for when he left Sodom he could not count one convert, one religious friend. Alas, how contagious is vice! Here it has spread throughout a whole community. Deadly sins were reckoned as trifles. No one feared offending God; no one noticed the terrible results of evil in the withering of all holy affections. Keep me, O God, from sharing such vileness. Let me by Thy all-powerful grace cherish a pure heart, wherever I go.

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The Eternal Promises

[GEN. XIV.

14. And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15. For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

He had lost a friend, but God would recompense him. He was shut out from rich lands, but not from heavenly blessings. This promise comes to us. We are Abraham's seed, and inherit, not the literal Canaan, but that which was figured by it-the blessings of God's Church now and of the heavenly Jerusalem hereafter. This look of faith which Abraham took reminds us of Moses' vision before his death. He too did not literally inherit the land, but obtained somewhat better and more lasting. What we crave is an

Eternal Home; all things here below are disappointing.

16. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

Stars and sand could not equal the number of Abraham's descendants, and as yet he had no son. Scarcely any one in that ancient world shared his faith or hope, and yet now innumerable believers have learnt the lesson. It is Abraham's faith, Abraham's God, that has triumphed, and the false gods of the heathen that have vanished away. If we are grateful to those who have discovered truth and found out gains for humanity, here is a benefactor to whom we owe much.

17. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

'Walk through the land,' said the Voice, 'as its owner, look on it as thine through faith and trust; let faith triumph over sense.' Oh may this sure trust be mine! May I, as I go through this world, understand that it is wholly my God's, and therefore mine! I am His child, and therefore all things are ordered by Him for my good. Men are but instruments in His Hands, to work out those wise ends which He designs for my everlasting profit.

18. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.

Here is a longer stay made; here is a third altar built; here is the true heir settling among strangers, and keeping to himself his