patriarchs and prophets-第33章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a solemn vow to God of perpetual obedience。 Watchful and steadfast； he
remained beside the carcasses till the going down of the sun； to guard them
from being defiled or devoured by birds of prey。 About sunset he sank into a
deep sleep； and； 〃lo； a horror of great darkness fell upon him。〃 And the
voice of God was heard； bidding him not to expect immediate possession of
the Promised Land； and pointing forward to the sufferings of his posterity
before their establishment in Canaan。 The plan of redemption was here opened
to him； in the death of Christ； the great sacrifice； and His coming in
glory。 Abraham saw also the earth restored to its Eden beauty； to be given
him for an everlasting possession； as the final and complete fulfillment of
the promise。
As a pledge of this covenant of God with men； a smoking furnace and a
burning lamp； symbols of the divine presence； passed between the severed
victims； totally consuming them。 And again a voice was heard by Abraham；
confirming the gift of the land of Canaan to his descendants； 〃from the
river of Egypt unto the great river； the river Euphrates。〃
When Abraham had been nearly twenty…five years in Canaan； the Lord appeared
unto him； and said； 〃I am the Almighty God； walk before Me； and be thou
perfect。〃 In awe； the patriarch fell upon his face； and the message
continued： 〃Behold； My covenant is with thee； and thou shalt be a father of
many nations。〃 In
138
token of the fulfillment of this covenant； his name； heretofore called
Abram； was changed to Abraham； which signifies； 〃father of a great
multitude。〃 Sarai's name became Sarah〃princess；〃 for； said the divine
Voice； 〃she shall be a mother of nations； kings of people shall be of her。〃
At this time the rite of circumcision was given to Abraham as 〃a seal of the
righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised。〃 Romans
4：11。 It was to be observed by the patriarch and his descendants as a token
that they were devoted to the service of God and thus separated from
idolaters； and that God accepted them as His peculiar treasure。 By this rite
they were pledged to fulfill； on their part； the conditions of the covenant
made with Abraham。 They were not to contact marriages with the heathen； for
by so doing they would lose their reverence for God and His holy law； they
would be tempted to engage in the sinful practices of other nations； and
would be seduced into idolatry。
God conferred great honor upon Abraham。 Angels of heaven walked and talked
with him as friend with friend。 When judgments were about to be visited upon
Sodom； the fact was not hidden from him； and he became an intercessor with
God for sinners。 His interview with the angels presents also a beautiful
example of hospitality。
In the hot summer noontide the patriarch was sitting in his tent door；
looking out over the quiet landscape； when he saw in the distance three
travelers approaching。 Before reaching his tent； the strangers halted； as if
consulting as to their course。 Without waiting for them to solicit favors；
Abraham rose quickly； and as they were apparently turning in another
direction； he hastened after them； and with the utmost courtesy urged them
to honor him by tarrying for refreshment。 With his own hands he brought
water that they might wash the dust of travel from their feet。 He himself
selected their food； and while they were at rest under the cooling shade； an
entertainment was made ready； and he stood respectfully beside them while
they partook of his hospitality。 This act of courtesy God regarded of
sufficient importance to record in His word； and a thousand years later it
was referred to by an inspired apostle： 〃Be not forgetful to entertain
strangers： for thereby some have entertained angels unawares。〃 Hebrews 13：2。
Abraham had seen in his guests only three tired wayfarers；
139
little thinking that among them was One whom he might worship without sin。
But the true character of the heavenly messengers was now revealed。 Though
they were on their way as ministers of wrath； yet to Abraham； the man of
faith； they spoke first of blessings。 Though God is strict to mark iniquity
and to punish transgression； He takes no delight in vengeance。 The work of
destruction is a 〃strange work〃 to Him who is infinite in love。
〃The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him。〃 Psalm 25：14。 Abraham
had honored God； and the Lord honored him； taking him into His counsels； and
revealing to him His purposes。 〃Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I
do？〃 said the Lord。 〃The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great； and because
their sin is very grievous； I will go down now； and see whether they have
done altogether according to the cry of it； which is come unto me； and if
not； I will know。〃 God knew well the measure of Sodom's guilt； but He
expressed Himself after the manner of men； that the justice of His dealings
might be understood。 Before bringing judgment upon the transgressors He
would go Himself； to institute an examination of their course； if they had
not passed the limits of divine mercy； He would still grant them space for
repentance。
Two of the heavenly messengers departed； leaving Abraham alone with Him whom
he now knew to be the Son of God。 And the man of faith pleaded for the
inhabitants of Sodom。 Once he had saved them by his sword； now he endeavored
to save them by prayer。 Lot and his household were still dwellers there； and
the unselfish love that prompted Abraham to their rescue from the Elamites；
now sought to save them； if it were God's will； from the storm of divine
judgment。
With deep reverence and humility he urged his plea： 〃I have taken upon me to
speak unto the Lord； which am but dust and ashes。〃 There was no
self…confidence； no boasting of his own righteousness。 He did not claim
favor on the ground of his obedience； or of the sacrifices he had made in
doing God's will。 Himself a sinner； he pleaded in the sinner's behalf。 Such
a spirit all who approach God should possess。 Yet Abraham manifested the
confidence of a child pleading with a loved father。 He came close to the
heavenly Messenger； and fervently urged his petition。 Though Lot had become
a dweller in Sodom； he did not partake in the iniquity of its inhabitants。
Abraham thought that in that populous city there must be other worshipers of
the true God。
140
And in view of this he pleaded； 〃That be far from Thee； to do after this
manner； to slay the righteous with the wicked： 。 。 。 that be far from Thee：
Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right？〃 Abraham asked not once
merely； but many times。 Waxing bolder as his requests were granted； he
continued until he gained the assurance that if even ten righteous persons
could be found in it； the city would be spared。
Love for perishing souls inspired Abraham's prayer。 While he loathed the
sins of that corrupt city； he desired that the sinners might be saved。 His
deep interest for Sodom shows the anxiety that we should feel for the
impenitent。 We should cherish hatred of sin； but pity and love for the
sinner。 All around us are souls going down to ruin as hopeless； as terrible；
as that which befell Sodom。 Every day the probation of some is closing。
Every hour some are passing beyond the reach of mercy。 And where are the
voices of warning and entreaty to bid the sinner flee from this fearful
doom？ Where are the hands stretched out to draw him back from death？ Where
are those who with humility and persevering faith are pleading with God for
him？
The spirit of Abraham was the spirit of Christ。 The Son of God is Himself
the great Intercessor in the sinner's behalf。 He who has paid the price for
its redemption knows the worth of the human soul。 With an antagonism to evil
such as can exist only in a nature spotlessly pure； Christ manifested toward
the sinner a love which infinite goodness alone could conceive。 In the
agonies of the crucifixion； Himself burdened with the awful weight of the
sins of the whole world； He prayed for His revilers and murderers； 〃Father；
forgive them； for they know not what they do。〃 Luke 23：34。
Of Abraham it is written
