HOMILETICS. Vers. 13-16.-The kinsman deliverer, or .Abram's military expeclitum. I. ABRAlI's ELEVATED PIETY. 1. Self-forgetful magnanimity. Had the patriarch possessed a le11s noble soul, the tidings of his nephew's capture would almost certainly have kindled in his breast a secret feeling of complacency. But not only in his behaviour on the occasion was there the complete absence of any such revengeful dispositiGn as gloats with satisfaction over the punishment of a wrong-doer, there was something like a manifest unconsciouaness of having ever suffered injury at Lot's hands at all. 2. Brotlierly compassion. If he did sometimes admit to himself that his nephew had scarcely acted .handsomely towards him, any feeling of resentment with which that reflection may have been associated was completely swallowed up by the sorrow which he felt for that nephew's fate. After all Lot was his dead brother's son, and was a child of God as well, and he could not choose but be affected by the melan- choly news. Besides being self-forgetful, the piety of Abram was sympathetic. 3. Active benevolence. Meekly patient of injuries when inflicted on himself, the patriarch was ever ready to redress the wrongs of others, even of the undeserving. Nor was his philanthropy of that weakly benevolent sort which is always going to do some act of kindness to others, but never does it, or is so unaccountably slow in doing it that it comes to be practically of littlo use, or that would willingly extend a helping hand to the unfortunate if it could only be done without much trouble; on the contrary, it was prompt, decisive, energetic, and carried through with much lo.hour, and at considerable risk to his own person11l safety. II. ABRAM'S MILITARY GENIUS. 1. Unexpectedly evoked. The last thing which ordinary minds would o.nticipe.to as an element in the character of one so good, pious, benevolent, and magnanimous as Abram the Hebrew, there is yet no essential incon- g·ruity between the talents of a soldier and the graces of a Christian ; while as for the patriarch suddenly discovering all the qualities of II great commander, it is perhaps sufficient to reply that hitherto the crisis had not 11nived to call them forth. The annuls of warfare, both ancient and modern, attest that true military genius has not always been confined to professors of the soldier's 11rt, but has oftentimes been discovered, of the mrest kind, in persons who, till summoned forth by Providence, have been engaged in peaceful callings. 2. Brilliantly displayed. In the gallant exploit of the patriarch are exhibited the tactics that from time immemorial have been adopted by all great generals-by Miltiades and Themistocles of Greece, by Julius Creaar, by Belise.rius, the general of J ustinie.n, by Oliver Cromwell, by Napoleon, by Stonewall Jackson and Sherman of America, and again by Von Moltke of Prussia- celerity of movement, suddenness of attack, skilful division of forces, outflanking and THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [en. XII', 13-16.
ontmnrC'hing o[ the enemy (ef. Limge, p. 405). 3. Completely successful. The foo WRS defeated, the prisoners and spoil were recRptured, nnd it does not appear that Abrnm or his allies lost II man. That generalship is the best which accomplishes Its object at the least expense of soldiers' blood and subjects' treasure. III. ADllAM's WONDER-WORKING FAITH. It afforded-!. A snj}lcient ground on "·hic-h to go to "·ar. The question as to Abram's right to mingle in this contest in thr Sodom valley is fairly nnswered by replying that Abram hau. the right (1) of ~atural affection_ to attempt _the rescue of his relative, (2) of II sacred humanity to liberate the captive and punish the oppressor, and (3) of faith. Already God had gi,·e!J him th_e _Ian~, and we ai:e fully warranted in regarding him as ncting in this heroic expedition m the c11pamty of (under God) lord-paramount of the soil. 2. Tiu 11Rcessttry power with which to prosecute the war. Possessed of military g·enius though the patriarch was, it is not supposable that he entered upon this campaign against the tmined armies of the conquering kings, pursuing them along a difficult and dnngerons track, without first casting himself on the Almighty arm as his ~trength. And if that Almighty arm;·ln order to auccour him, took the way of <leYe]oping- the capabilities for warfare which hnd hitherto been lying dormant in his 8oul, it was none the less true that the help which he received was Divine. • 3. The ~:plendid victory which resulted from the war. \Vhether the writer to the Hebrews ( c-h. xi. 34) thought of Abram when he spoke of faith's heroes subduing kingdoms and ,rnxing nlinnt in the fight, it is apparent that Isaiah (eh. xli. 2, 3) ascribed the triumph of the son of Terah to the grace of God, which thus rewarded the faith which, in obedience to a Divine impulse, sprang to the relief of Lot. IV. ABRAM'S TYPICAL CHARACTER. The symbolic foreshadowing of the great kinsman Deliverer is too obvious to be overlooked. 1. In his person the Lord Jesus Christ, like Abram, was the kinsman of those whom he delivered, 2. The work he undertook, like that of Abram, was the emancipation of his brethren. 3. As in the case of Abram, that work consisted in despoiling the principalities and powers of evil. 4. The motive by which he was impelled on this arduous warfare was, like that which inspired the patriarch, love for his kinsmen. 5. The promptitude of Christ in coming to the aid of men was typified by Abram's celerity in hastening to the rescue of Lot. 6. As the campaign of Abram, so the warfa,re of Christ was carried through at great expense of toil and suffering to himself.· 7. In the faith of Abram ·was shadowed forth the calm reliance of the Saviour that all he did was in obedience to his Father's will. 8. The success with which the patriarch was rewarded was emblematic of the bigher -victory of Christ. Learn-I. To imitate the piety of Abram. 2. To admire in him, if we cannot in onrseh-es, the possession of superior abilities. 3. To covet earnestly the_ wondor- worl..ing faith which he displayed. 4. To trust in the great kinsman Dehyerer of which he was the type.