patriarchs and prophets-第28节

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of　a　famine；　and　both　sojourned　there。　Through　the　manifestation　of　divine
judgments　in　their　behalf；　the　fear　of　them　fell　upon　the　Egyptians；　and；
enriched　by　the　gifts　of　the　heathen；　they　went　out　with　great　substance。





（132）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　12

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Abraham　in　Canaan


Abraham　returned　to　Canaan　〃very　rich　in　cattle；　in　silver；　and　in　gold。〃
Lot　was　still　with　him；　and　again　they　came　to　Bethel；　and　pitched　their
tents　by　the　altar　which　they　had　before　erected。　They　soon　found　that
increased　possessions　brought　increased　trouble。　In　the　midst　of　hardships
and　trials　they　had　dwelt　together　in　harmony；　but　in　their　prosperity　there
was　danger　of　strife　between　them。　The　pasturage　was　not　sufficient　for　the
flocks　and　herds　of　both；　and　the　frequent　disputes　among　the　herdsmen　were
brought　for　settlement　to　their　masters。　It　was　evident　that　they　must
separate。　Abraham　was　Lot's　senior　in　years；　and　his　superior　in　relation；
in　wealth；　and　in　position；　yet　he　was　the　first　to　propose　plans　for
preserving　peace。　Although　the　whole　land　had　been　given　him　by　God　Himself；
he　courteously　waived　this　right。

〃Let　there　be　no　strife；〃　he　said；　〃between　me　and　thee；　and　between　my
herdmen　and　thy　herdmen；　for　we　be　brethren。　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。〃

Here　the　noble；　unselfish　spirit　of　Abraham　was　displayed。　How　many　under
similar　circumstances　would；　at　all　hazards；　cling　to　their　individual
rights　and　preferences！　How　many　households　have　thus　been　rent　asunder！　How
many　churches　have　been　divided；　making　the　cause　of　truth　a　byword　and　a
reproach　among　the　wicked！　〃Let　there　be　no　strife　between　me　and　thee；〃
said　Abraham；　〃for　we　be　brethren；〃　not　only　by　natural　relationship；　but　as
worshipers　of　the　true　God。　The　children　of　God　the　world　over　are　one
family；　and　the　same　spirit　of　love　and　conciliation　should　govern　them。　〃Be
kindly

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affectioned　one　to　another　with　brotherly　love；　in　honor　preferring　one
another〃　（Romans　12：10）；　is　the　teaching　of　our　Saviour。　The　cultivation　of
a　uniform　courtesy；　a　willingness　to　do　to　others　as　we　would　wish　them　to
do　to　us；　would　annihilate　half　the　ills　of　life。　The　spirit　of
self…aggrandizement　is　the　spirit　of　Satan；　but　the　heart　in　which　the　love
of　Christ　is　cherished；　will　possess　that　charity　which　seeketh　not　her　own。
Such　will　heed　the　divine　injunction；　〃Look　not　every　man　on　his　own　things；
but　every　man　also　on　the　things　of　others。〃　Philippians　2：4。

Although　Lot　owed　his　prosperity　to　his　connection　with　Abraham；　he
manifested　no　gratitude　to　his　benefactor。　Courtesy　would　have　dictated　that
he　yield　the　choice　to　Abraham；　but　instead　of　this　he　selfishly　endeavored
to　grasp　all　its　advantages。　He　〃lifted　up　his　eyes；　and　beheld　all　the
plain　of　Jordan；　that　it　was　well　watered　everywhere；　。　。　。　even　as　the
garden　of　the　Lord；　like　the　land　of　Egypt；　as　thou　comest　unto　Zoar。〃　The
most　fertile　region　in　all　Palestine　was　the　Jordan　Valley；　reminding　the
beholders　of　the　lost　Paradise　and　equaling　the　beauty　and　productiveness　of
the　Nile…enriched　plains　they　had　so　lately　left。　There　were　cities　also；
wealthy　and　beautiful；　inviting　to　profitable　traffic　in　their　crowded
marts。　Dazzled　with　visions　of　worldly　gain；　Lot　overlooked　the　moral　and
spiritual　evils　that　would　be　encountered　there。　The　inhabitants　of　the
plain　were　〃sinners　before　the　Lord　exceedingly；〃　but　of　this　he　was
ignorant；　or；　knowing；　gave　it　but　little　weight。　He　〃chose　him　all　the
plain　of　Jordan；〃　and　〃pitched　his　tent　toward　Sodom。〃　How　little　did　he
foresee　the　terrible　results　of　that　selfish　choice！

After　the　separation　from　Lot；　Abraham　again　received　from　the　Lord　a
promise　of　the　whole　country。　Soon　after　this　he　removed　to　Hebron；　pitching
his　tent　under　the　oaks　of　Mamre　and　erecting　beside　it　an　altar　to　the
Lord。　In　the　free　air　of　those　upland　plains；　with　their　olive　groves　and
vineyards；　their　fields　of　waving　grain；　and　the　wide　pasture　grounds　of　the
encircling　hills；　he　dwelt；　well　content　with　his　simple；　patriarchal　life；
and　leaving　to　Lot　the　perilous　luxury　of　the　vale　of　Sodom。

Abraham　was　honored　by　the　surrounding　nations　as　a　mighty　prince　and　a　wise
and　able　chief。　He　did　not　shut　away　his　influence　from　his　neighbors。　His
life　and　character；　in　their　marked　contrast　with　those　of　the　worshipers　of
idols；　exerted　a

134

telling　influence　in　favor　of　the　true　faith。　His　allegiance　to　God　was
unswerving；　while　his　affability　and　benevolence　inspired　confidence　and
friendship　and　his　unaffected　greatness　commanded　respect　and　honor。

His　religion　was　not　held　as　a　precious　treasure　to　be　jealously　guarded　and
enjoyed　solely　by　the　possessor。　True　religion　cannot　be　thus　held；　for　such
a　spirit　is　contrary　to　the　principles　of　the　gospel。　While　Christ　is
dwelling　in　the　heart　it　is　impossible　to　conceal　the　light　of　His　presence；
or　for　that　light　to　grow　dim。　On　the　contrary；　it　will　grow　brighter　and
brighter　as　day　by　day　the　mists　of　selfishness　and　sin　that　envelop　the
soul　are　dispelled　by　the　bright　beams　of　the　Sun　of　Righteousness。

The　people　of　God　are　His　representatives　upon　the　earth；　and　He　intends
that　they　shall　be　lights　in　the　moral　darkness　of　this　world。　Scattered　all
over　the　country；　in　the　towns；　cities；　and　villages；　they　are　God's
witnesses；　the　channels　through　which　He　will　communicate　to　an　unbelieving
world　the　knowledge　of　His　will　and　the　wonders　of　His　grace。　It　is　His　plan
that　all　who　are　partakers　of　the　great　salvation　shall　be　missionaries　for
Him。　The　piety　of　the　Christian　constitutes　the　standard　by　which　worldlings
judge　the　gospel。　Trials　patiently　borne；　blessings　gratefully　received；
meekness；　kindness；　mercy；　and　love；　habitually　exhibited；　are　the　lights
that　shine　forth　in　the　character　before　the　world；　revealing　the　contrast
with　the　darkness　that　comes　of　the　selfishness　of　the　natural　heart。

Rich　in　faith；　noble　in　generosity；　unfaltering　in　obedience；　and　humble　in
the　simplicity　of　his　pilgrim　life；　Abraham　was　also　wise　in　diplomacy　and
brave　and　skillful　in　war。　Notwithstanding　he　was　known　as　the　teacher　of　a
new　religion；　three　royal　brothers；　rulers　of　the　Amorite　plains　in　which　he
dwelt；　manifested　their　friendship　by　inviting　him　to　enter　into　an　alliance
with　them　for　greater　security；　for　the　country　was　filled　with　violence　and
oppression。　An　occasion　soon　arose　for　him　to　avail　himself　of　this
alliance。

Chedorlaomer；　king　of　Elam；　had　invaded　Canaan　fourteen　years　before；　and
made　it　tributary　to　him。　Several　of　the　princes　now　revolted；　and　the
Elamite　king；　with　four　allies；　again　marched　into　the　country　to　reduce
them　to　submission。　Five　kings　of　Canaan　joined　their　forces　and　met　the
invaders　in　the　vale　of　Siddim；　but　only　to　be　completely　overthrown。　A
large

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part　of　the　army　was　cut　to　pieces；　and　those　who　escaped　fled　for　safety　to
the　mountains。　The　victors　plundered　the　cities　of　the　plain　and　departed
with　rich　spoil　and　many　captives；　among　whom　were　Lot　and　his　family。

Abraham；　dwelling　in　peace　in　the　oak　groves　at　Mamre；　learned　from　one　of
the　fugitives　the　story　of　the　battle　and　the　calamity　that　had　befallen　his
nephew。　He　had　cherished　no　unkind　memory　of　Lot's　ingratitude。　All　his
affection　for　him　was　awakened；　and　he　determined　that　he　should　be　rescued。
Seeking；　first　of　all；　divine　counsel；　Abraham　prepared　for　war。　From　his
own　encampment　he　summoned　three　hundred　and　eighteen　trained　servants；　men
trained　in　the　fear　of　God；　in　the　service　of　their　master；　and　in　the
practice　of　arms。　His　confederates；　Mamre；　Eschol；　and　Aner；　joined　him　with
their　bands；　and　together　they　started　in　pursuit　of　the　invaders。　The
Elamites　and　their　allies　had　encamped　at　Dan；　on　the　northern　border　of
Canaan。　Flushed　with　victory；　and　having　no　fear　of　an　assault　from　their
vanquished　foes；　they　had　given　themselves　up　to　revealing。　The　patriarch
divided　his　force　so　as　to　approach　from　different。　directions；　and　came
upon　the　encampment　by　night。　His　attack；　so　vigorous　and　unexpected；
resulted　in　speedy　victory。　The　king　of　Elam　was　slain　and　his
panic…stricken　forces　were　utterly　routed。　Lot　and　his　family；　with　all　the
prisoners　and　their　goods；　were　recovered；　and　a　rich　booty　fell　into　the
hands　of　the　victors。　To　Abraham；　under　God；　the　triumph　was　due。　The
worshiper　of　Jehovah　had　not　only　rendered　a　great　service　to　the　country；
but　had　proved　himself　a　man　of　valor。　It　was　seen　that　righteousness　is　not
cowardice；　and　that　Abraham's　religion　made　him　courageous　in　maintaining
the　right　and　defending　the　oppressed。　His　heroic　act　gave　him　a　widespread
influence　among　the　surrounding　tribes。　On　his　return；　the　king　of　Sodom
came　out　with　his　retinue　to　honor　the　conqueror