The human race had fallen away from God and had sunk into idolatry. The religion of the true God seemed to be lost; but God called Abram to be the father of the chosen family of God. This family would perpetuate the religion of Jehovah and prepare the world for Christ.

I. THE CALL OF ABRAM (Gen. 12:1-4; Acts 7:2-4). Abram, the son of Terah, lived in Ur of the Chaldees in the midst of the idolaters of that time. God called him to leave and with his father, Terah, and his nephew Lot, he moved to Haran. After his father's death Abram received a second call to leave his country and his kindred and go to a land which God would show him.

II. THE FAITH OF ABRAM. Abram put his trust in the Lord and followed his leading across the great Syrian Desert until he came to Shechem. Here he built the first altar in the Land of Promise. He soon moved to Bethel, where he erected the second altar.

III. THE PROMISES OF GOD.

1. Inheritance (Gen. 12:7; 15:18-21).

2. Father of Many Nations (Gen. 17:1-27).

3. Blessing to Others (Gen. 12:2, 3).

IV. THE TESTS OF HIS CHARACTER.

1. His Departure from Home.— When Abram left Chaldea he resisted the temptation of wealth, influence and home ties and obeyed the voice of God. When God called him from Haran he withstood the second temptation of kindred ties.

2. The Famine in Canaan (Gen. 12:10-20).— Abram had followed the leading of God, and when famine and death threatened boththeir cattle and themselves in the Promised Land it proved to be a severe test of his faith. Abram's faith failed him, and he went into Egypt to find food. In Egypt he yielded to another temptation and deceived Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. The king rebuked him and sent him away a sorrier but wiser man.

3. The Trouble with Lot. (Gen. 13:1-18). — Abram had bestowed many favors upon his nephew, Lot, yet, when strife arose between their herdsmen, and separation became necessary, Lot chose the best pastures. Not very long afterward Abram had the opportunity to return good for evil. The kings of the East took Lot captive to Dan, and Abram and his servants rescued him (Gen. 14:1-24). When the Lord revealed to Abram his purpose to destroy Sodom, the city of Lot, Abram put away all resentment and pleaded earnestly for the salvation of the cities (Gen. 18:1-19:38).

4. The Temptation of Money.— When Abram returned from pursuing the captors of Lot; the king of Sodom met him near Jerusalem, and offered to pay him for his service, but Abram refused the money. Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem, who stands as a type of Christ, came out to bless him, and Abram paid him tithes.

5. The Sacrifice of his Son.— The supreme test of Abram's character came when God asked him to offer as a sacrifice his only son, Isaac, in whom was vested the hope of the chosen family. Ishmael had been sent away and the only hope of the promise rested upon Isaac. But the faith of Abraham triumphed and he became the father of the faithful (Gen. 22:1-19).

V. THE SON OF PROMISE.

1. His Marriage.— Abraham provided a wife for Isaac, of their relatives in Haran, and sent his servant to bring her to Canaan, so that Isaac would not need to leave the Promised Land (Gen. 24:

1-67).

2. His Trials.— Another famine came upon Canaan and Isaac started to Egypt, but God warned him not to leave the Land of Promise; so Isaac sought refuge in the Philistine country. There he deceived Abimelech, the king, and was sent away. In this region the men of Gerar strove with him over wells, but finally at Beersheba the Philistines made a covenant of peace with him (Gen. 26:1-33)

QUESTIONS.

• What was the religious condition when Abram was called?

• Why was Abram called?

• Who called Abram?

• Who went with him from Ur?

• How long did they remain at Haran?

• Why did his father go with him?

• What shows Abram's faith when he was called?

• Name the promises of God.

• What are the tests of his character?

• Where were the first altars built?

• Did God tell Abram to go to Egypt?

• What trouble had he with Lot?

• Who tempted him with money?

• Who was the son of promise?

• Where did Abram secure a wife for him?

• What trials did Isaac meet with?

• What was the severest test of Abram's faith?

REVIEW.

I. The Call of Abram.

II. The Faith of Abram.

III. The Promises of God.

1. Inheritance.

2. Father of many Nations.

3. Blessing to Others.

IV. The Tests of his Character.

1. His Departure from Home.

2. The Famine in Canaan.

3. The Trouble with Lot.

4. The Temptation of Money.

5. The Sacrifice of his Son.

V. The Son of Promise.

1. His Marriage.

2. His Trials.