Ver. 6.-Tlie first wanderer and the second, or Cain ancl Abram compared and contra.sted. I. COMPARED. Each wandered-I. From the place of bis nativity- Cain from Eden, Abram from Ur. 2. Accompanied by his wife, who in each instance was his sister. 3. In obedience to the word of Jehovah. He who called .Abram had previously banished Cain. 4. Beneath the protection of Heaven-Cain defended by his scarred brow, Abram shielded by the arm of God. 5. To the close of life; neither finding a permanent habitation on the earth. II. CONTRASTED. While both wandered-I. The one, Cain, trnvelled from God ; the other, Abram, journeyed with God.. 2. The one roamed across the face of earth; the other wallrnd within the borders of the promised land. 3. The one fled beneath the curse of Heaven; thJ other was o'ercanopied by Heaven's favour. 4. The one wue t1n emblem of the sinner seeking rest and finding none ; the other was a picture of the saint, who must travel through the world to his home. 186 THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [cH, XII,,6-9
Lessons :-1. There are wanderings and wanderings among men upon the earth. 2. He who would not become a fugitive like Cain must, liko Abram become, a pilg·rim. 3. They who choose the lot of Abram need never fear the doom of Cain.-W. Vers. 6-20.-The strength and weakness o.f_ Abmin. I. A 1'HREEFOLD SOURCE or BTRE!\'GTH. 1. His enjoyment of gracious visits from God. 2. His exercise of faith in God. 3. Ilis cultivation of communion with God. II. A THREEFOLD SOURCE OF WEAKNESS. 1. An unwarrantable fflar of man. 2. A heedless reliance on worldly policy and craft. 3. A sinful preference of self• interest to the happiness and welfare of others.-W.
Ver. 7.-Abrali,am worsliipping. "And there he builded an altar unto the Lord who appenred unto him." Abraham is at length Divinely informed that he is in the land hereafter to be his. He was at the spot where the great temple, to be set up by his descendants, would stand. Here he builds an altar. It was doubtless a very plain altar of rough stones, but large enough for the sacrifices to be offered. It would have little attraction in the eyes of many, but it would be approved of by God. I. IT WAS REARED ENTIRELY IN THE HONOUR OF Goo. There was no self-glori- fying in it. It was erected as a spontaneous act of gratitude. The m_en of Babel by the tower-building sought to get themselves a name; Abraham by his altar- building seeks to honour God's name. His act was a prot~st against the prevalent and surrounding idolatry. This was the first altar reared in Canaan to the great I AM. II. IT WAS AN EXPRESSION OF ABRAHAM'S DESIRE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIVINE GUIDANCE Th' HIS PAST LIFE. He found it a joy to be under the leadership of God. "Wherever Abraham had his tent God he.d his altar," In how many families is the altar in need of repair I In many it has not even been set up. Ill. IT EXPilESSED ABRAHAM'S DEPENDENCE ON THE MERCY REVEALED THROUGH A rnoPITIATORY SACRIFICE. He evidently believed in an atonement. He offered an heifer, goat, ram, turtle-dove, and pigeon. After the rude manner of that day he offered sacrifices for his own sins and for those of his household. He found that God wns brought nearer through the sacrifice, even as we discover that fact through the Christ of Calvary. • ' IV. IT EXPRESSED ALSO Al!RAHAY's READINESS TO CONSECRATE HrnSELF ENTIRELY TO Goo. An altar that failed to express this would have been a mockery. God is not flattered by an outward show of reverence. He must have inner and absolute con- secration if we are to know the heights of spiritual power. V. lT EXPRESSED THE PATRIARCH'S FAITH IN THE FULFILMENT OF THE DIVINE PRO· MISES. Abraham was already in the land of promise, nnd could leave the future to his God. He v,as, by rearing that altar, taking possession of. the land for himself, and of the world for God, even as Columbus, with befitting pomp, planted in the newly- discovered continer.t a cross, and named the land San Salvador, thus consecrating it to the holy Saviour.-H. Ver. 8.-.Abraham's altar. "And there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord." There is a solemn word (Matt. x. 32, 33). Tim distinction is not between Christians and heathen ; it is within the visible Church. To confess Christ is more than professing Christianity. It must be in the life, not merely in religious services. No doubt these have their use; without them spiritual life would wither and die, like a light und~r a ve_ssel. They _are as food; but "the life is more than meat." The world ncqmesces m surr serv1cE}s as respectable and proper. B~t it is a poor ~hristianitr that raises no opposition. _A ChriRtian life may constram respect, but 1t must differ from worldly (1) .as to its objcc!r-jirst the kingdom of God; (2) as to its means-God's promises and help trusL&d to as real. Mark Abraham's example: dwelt among Canaanites on sufferance; they idolaters. Prudence would suggest keeping his religion secret. Many try to keep their faith secret• afraid to confess it, but unwilling to give it up. In vain; fuith ashamed of brings no comfort or strength. Abram did not hide his faith. Wherever he sojourned he built an altar; confessed whom he trusted. We are told on. xrr. 10-20.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS. IR1