Abraham: Studies in His Life

Read Genesis 11:31-32.

These verses introduce us to Abraham—the friend of God—the father of the faithful.

Abraham was a very important man—the Holy Spirit gives him great prominence in a moment.

The first 2000 years of human history are all covered in the first eleven chapters.

Twenty generations—twenty centuries of history.

The second section begins with a record of Abraham, and please note that chapters 12-50 cover only a period of about 400 years, and is entirely devoted to the history of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Abraham’s great grandson Joseph.

The other 38 books of the Old Testament deals with the history of the nation of Israel which sprang from Abraham.

The rest of the Bible is occupied with and centers in Abraham’s greater Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible is a book of Redemption, it is the unveiling of God’s plan of redemption.

First it was Abraham, then Isaac, then Jacob, his children.

From them came the Christ—they refused Him—and he turned to the Gentiles and became not only the Messiah but the Savior of the world.

Salvation is of the Jews—John 4:22; Romans 1:16.

The Bible being a progressive revelation of the character and plan of God. (Hebrews 1). Little time is spent in past history. Eleven short chapters covers 2000 years.

God wastes no time in the past.

For instance: In Genesis 1:1 God tells us all we need to know where the world came from. (10 words). As to our origin the Bible is very brief (27 words). “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”—Genesis 2:7.

God in His word is more concerned with the future of the world, and as to where we are going to spend eternity.

Genesis is the Book of Beginnings—the Seed Plot of the Bible.

1. The beginning of the human race in Adam.

2. The beginning of the post deluvian earth in Noah.

3. The beginning of the chosen nation in Abraham.

Abraham is venerated by Jew, Christian, Mohammedan.

Let us now consider these four men Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph and see if God’s plan is not taking form in their lives and relationship with Him.

In the plan of salvation there are four important steps.

Paul writing to the Romans unveiled these for us.

8:30—“Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified them he also glorified.”

Notice now the four words which Paul uses to describe God’s full salvation.

Predestination—Calling—Justification—Glorification.

Let us now link these four steps of faith in salvation with the four men in Genesis.

Abraham is the great example of divine, sovereign predestination.

Isaac is the great example of divine calling. Abraham chose Ishmael—God said “In Isaac”, etc.

Jacob is the great example of divine justification. Jacob had nothing to commend him to God. He was justified by divine grace alone, “Jacob have I loved”, etc.

Joseph is the great example of glorification. Sold by his brothers and left for dead, he becomes ruler in Egypt at the right hand of the king.

Let us now look at this a little closer:

1. Abraham is the example of divine predestination. He was not a Jew when God called him, he was a pagan and an idolator. Yet God passed by the whole nation of Chaldeans and chose Abraham and said to him, “I will make of thee a great nation.” This is nothing else than sovereign grace. God did not see a thing in him that would make him worthy to be called rather than others. But in sovereign grace he chose Abraham. Apply this as the Spirit leads.

2. Isaac is the example of divine calling. The second step in the plan of salvation is “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called.” Abraham could not wait for God’s time, but took matters into his own hands—Ishmael. He loved this boy, but God said, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” This was contrary to human reasoning, but he called Isaac.

3. Jacob is the example of divine justification. Jacob—the crook, rascal, cheat, liar, thief, conniver. Why did God choose Jacob? It was Jacob who stole Esau’s birthright, cheated his father, connived with his mother and ran away to his uncle Laban and almost ruined him. But God justified him and loved him. Oh the marvel of God’s grace. Apply this.

4. Joseph is the example of divine glorification. The last step of salvation reads like this, “Whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Joseph was despised by his brothers, cast into a pit, sold for twenty pieces of silver to a heathen band, again resold in Egypt, falsely accused, put in prison, then exalted to the right hand of the king. His brothers despised and rejected him, others falsely accused him. But God raised him up to sit with the king.

Faith’s Demands

Genesis 12:1-9

Hebrews 11:8-10

God finds the sinner.

Notice where God found him (Abraham).

In Ur of the Chaldees—far from the promised land.

“Ur” means flame—“Chaldee” means destruction.

God found Abraham in the place of a flame and in the land of destruction.

This is where God finds every sinner.

In Adam we are alienated from God, we come under His judgment, and live on an earth destined to destruction.

Ephesians 2:12—“That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.”

Abraham was a sinner—He was an idolator, he came from a pagan country, from a pagan home, He and his family worshiped other Gods.

Yet, this was the man that God chose by his sovereign grace. God purposed to save him through His grace and because of his faith.

Romans 4:3—Abraham believed God and it brought him into right relationship with God.

If we are going to get right with God, we must believe as Abraham did.

God not only chose him but because of his faith He justified him.

How can a man be justified before God?

How can a person be brought to stand in God’s sight without a trace of sin?

1. By sovereign grace—Romans 3:24. “Being justified freely by his grace.”

2. By precious blood—Romans 5:9. “Being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

3. By faith—Romans 5:1. “Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

O joy of the justified, joy of the free

I’m washed in that crimson tide opened for me

In Christ my Redeemer rejoicing I stand

And point to the print of the nails in his hand.

Oh Jesus the crucified, Jesus is mine;

Tho’ once a lost sinner, yet now I am Thine;

In conscious salvation I sing of His grace.

Who lifts now upon me the smile of his face.

Does God see you as He saw Abraham? Yes, He does, says someone. What shall I do? Jesus Christ is mighty to save, able to save to the uttermost, able to save you. You have to believe this and trust him unreservedly. And you will be saved.

Incomplete Obedience

God not only saved Abraham, but he called him to leave his old life, and to walk by faith, trusting God.

Abraham obeyed, and went out, not knowing where, but he trusted God for every step—Hebrews 11.

Abraham set out for the “Promised Land.” They had gone about half the distance when God stopped him at Haran.

Now “Haran” means dry, parched, fruitless, defeat; the opposite of “Canaan” which stands for fruitfulness, and victory.

Abraham dwelt there for six years—wasted years. He built no altar, he never prayed, there is no record of any communion with God—no victory, no progress, no spiritual growth.

Is this a picture of you?

Off on a burst of enthusiasm, but grinding to a stop halfway to God’s best for you. Instead of victory in Christ, God has to cleanse you.

What was the reason for the wasted years at Haran?

Abraham had believed God, and had gone out of Ur of the Chaldees. He had left the city of land and the land of destruction. So far so good.

But Abraham had not obeyed completely.

What were God’s instructions? See Genesis 12:1—“Now the Lord said unto Abraham, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee.”

11:31 shows us where Abraham failed. He took with him his father, Terah and his nephew, Lot.

God’s implicit instructions were:

1. Leave your country.

2. Leave your friends.

These would represent “the world” and “the flesh.”

These must be left behind. Lay aside every weight.

Abraham took his relatives with him and got bogged down in Haran, the dry, parched and fruitless county.

He had never learned the important truth of separation—from the world and the flesh.

One of the great needs of the believer today is to learn the lesson that separation from the world and the flesh is essential to spiritual growth and progress.

Terah, Abraham’s father, died in Haran. See 11:32.

Terah means “delay.”

For approximately six years Abraham had lived with Terah in Haran.

Now notice what happens after Terah’s death.

Read verses 4 and 5—Abraham is on the move. Before Abraham realized God’s perfect blessing in Canaan (the “Promised Land”) two things were necessary:

1. Renouncing the world

2. Renouncing the flesh

Paul says that “the scriptures that were written aforetime were written for our learning.”

Paul perhaps has this incident in Abraham’s life in mind when he writes in Ephesians 4:22, “Put off, crucify the ‘old man’, of nature which is corrupt. And put on the ‘new man’ which is created in God.”

This is not an easy thing to do, sometimes it is painful.

Abraham later on had to separate himself from Lot, then he had to sacrifice his own son Isaac, and finally Sara his wife had to be buried.

Many believers need this experience today. They need to be liberated from the chains of fleshly slavery, and emancipated into the perfect freedom in Christ.

God promised to bless Abraham—12:2-3.

The journey of Abraham from Haran to Canaan is recorded in verses 6 to 9.

First of all Abraham came to Sichem, the place of strength. Then he came to Moreh, the place of instruction. Then on to Bethel, the house of God, where he built an altar to the Lord, and called upon his name.

His obedience to God’s will has brought him back into full fellowship with God.

Abraham Under Trial

Genesis 12:10-20

Before we consider Abraham’s frailties as a man let us look for a moment at his greatness.

In God’s eyes Abraham was a great man.

Consider the prominence of the Biblical record given to Abraham.

The first 2000 years of human history are covered in the first eleven chapters of Genesis.

The second section of Genesis begins with the record of Abraham.

Chapters 12-50 cover a period of approximately 400 years. These chapters are devoted entirely to the history of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

The other 38 books of the OT deal with the history of the nation which sprang from Abraham—Israel.

The Bible is a book of redemption.

It was through the seed of Abraham that God gave us our Bible. God also gave us, through Abraham, our Lord and Savior.

Careful reading of the Word leads us to believe that God speaks very little about the past, but He speaks a great deal about the future.

In ten words He tells how the world began in 1:1. This is all God says about the origin of the earth. The rest of the Bible is occupied with the future of the world.

The record of man’s origin is also brief—2:7. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into His nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.”

In 27 simple words God told us all He wanted us to know about our origin, where we came from. The rest of the Bible is concerned about where we are going.

The natural man is intensely interested and concerned with the origin of the earth. He searches the heavens with his telescope. He digs with his spade. He burrows through the rock with his drill.

Astronomers, archaeologists, geologists, and chemists are all busily engaged in trying to find out how and when the world came into being.

Man has come up with a thousand foolish natures about evolution. Many of the theories are discarded before they are circulated.

At this time we are expected to believe that man began as a little cell; the cell became a plant; the plant became a fish; the fish began to fly; the bird then lost its feathers, grew hair and climbed a tree; the monkey then lost its tail and most of its hair; and the result was man.

How much easier it is to believe the Word of God, and to forget the past and prepare for the future.

Let us now look at the patriarch Abraham.

Abraham’s conversion was very real. He lived in “Ur of the Chaldees.” God found Abraham in the place of the flame (Ur), in the land of destruction (Chaldees).

This is where God finds every sinner. Children of wrath—Ephesians 2. Flee from the wrath to come—John 3:36.

Abraham’s call was a definite call. He was called to renounce the certainties of the past, to face the uncertainties of the future, to look for and follow the direction of God’s will.

As he obeyed, and in faith followed the will of God, Abraham’s life was changed. He was separated from the world—he was set apart to God. He was a new creation, the old things had passed away.

This is how God expects conversion and His call to affect very believer.

The testing of Abraham’s faith—12:10. “And there was a famine in the land; and Abraham went down into Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was grievous in the land.”

At this time Abraham was dwelling in border land. Border land is always a dry place—famine soon comes.

It is at this stage that Egypt tempts, and Abraham went down, etc.

Instead of trusting the Lord who put Him in the land, he resorted to fleshly expedients.

God could have met his needs.

This was the same God who in later years fed Elijah by the brook, rained manna down from heaven, filled the disciples’ nets with fish, fed a multitude from a few loaves and fishes.

This unchanging and all-sufficient God could have met his need, but Abraham took his own way, and payed the price.

We must not minimize Abraham’s trial.

He had a large family and many servants, and a considerable amount of animals. These could not survive a prolonged drought, humanly speaking.

So Abraham in his worldly wisdom went down into Egypt. He did not mean to stay there for long, just to sojourn. For this he ultimately had to pay the price.

The point here is that God had brought him to this place, and he had received no direction from God to leave it.

Egypt offered immediate relief from the pressure and he took that way. Egypt is a type of the world.

While in Egypt several things happened to him:

1. He lost his sense of peace and security.

2. He resorted to lying, and became so fearful that he is willing to give his wife to the king to save his own life.

3. While there he engaged an Egyptian maid, who later became the mother of Ishmael, through Abraham, who is the father of the Arab race.

The present world feels the impact of Abraham’s backsliding. The bitter conflict between the Arabs and the Jews. Both claim to be the descendants of Abraham.

Abraham was recovered from his backsliding. 13:1—Abraham went up out of Egypt.

Ashamed, rebuked, and repentant he returns to Bethel, where he built an altar.

It is a disastrous thing for a believer to flirt with the world.

Genesis 13:10—Lot lifted up his eyes—“the lust of the eyes.”

Genesis 13:12—He pitched his tent toward Sodom—“the lust of the flesh.”

Genesis 19:1—Lot sat in the gate of the city—“the pride of life.”

The result of this flirtation with the world was spiritual bankruptcy. So deeply entrenched in the city was Lot and his family that the angel had to drag him out before it was consumed in flames.

His wife, who left her heart behind, looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.

It is the same story in Ruth 1. Elimelech and his family left Bethlehem-Judah during a famine and went to Moab. While there disaster struck this family, and only Naomi was left. She eventually returned to Bethlehem-Judah.

She was so changed by her sojourn in Moab that her friends said, “Is this really Naomi?” She replied, “Call me not Naomi (which means pleasant), but call me Mara (bitter), the Almighty hath dealt bitterly with me.”

The case of Samson, and the history of the children of Israel, prove that it is disastrous for a child of God to compromise with the world.

Thank God there is a welcome for the backslider.

Abraham returned to Bethel—there he built an altar.

The prodigal returned to the Father—they began to be merry.

The Psalmist was extracted from the pit—there was a song in his heart.

Israel sang the Lord’s song after they crossed the Red Sea.

When we gravitate into the world for any reason there is always a price to pay.

Times of testing are designed by God to bring us into deeper spiritual experiences with Him.

God’s children should realize that it is better to starve in Canaan in God’s will than to live in luxury in the world. It is better to suffer with God than to be affluent with Satan. It is better to be poor with Christ, than to be rich without Him.

Some believers have prospered in the world, but they have sold their souls for a mess.

They have lot their joy and communion with God—they have lost an uncondemning conscience, a thankful and worshipful spirit, and vigorous testimony and effectual service.

The Test of Faith

There was a famine in the land—verse 10.

A famine in the land of plenty—a land flowing with milk and honey, the Land that the Lord had promised him.

Consider for a moment his experience thus far.

Chosen by God—obedient to His word—ties with the flesh and the world broken.

Strengthened at Sichem, instructed at Moreh, removed to Bethel (communion).

Picture Abraham here dwelling in the house of God, sacrificing, praying, fellowshipping with God.

Abraham was happy at Bethel.

We do not know how long he stayed in this blessed place, but there came a famine.

Had not God promised to bless him? Did not God ask him to dwell in this land? Was he not where God wanted him to be? Then why the famine?

God is about to test His servant. Abraham failed in this test. Instead of trusting God, he turned his back on Him. He took matters into his own hands and went down into Egypt (the world). If Abraham had stayed on amidst the famine, God certainly would have honored his faith. Abraham failed the crucial test.

Some of God’s servants failed in the day of testing. For instance, Elijah in 1 Kings 18 and 19. Think of the prophet on Mount Carmel—the tremendous victory over Baal. See him now on top of the mountain. Jezebel sends him a message which said, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them, by this time tomorrow.”—19:2. Elijah took to his heels and ran into the wilderness and sat down under a juniper tree and requested God to take his life. I am the only one left—everybody is against me. God said, “I have seven thousand in the nation who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”—verse 18.

Abraham disobeyed—Abraham lost his faith in God. He is almost in Egypt, and began to fear for his safety. He resorted to telling lies—12:12-13.

Was God disappointed in Abraham? YES!

But look now at verse 17—“And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues.” (Our God is a great God.)

God plagued Pharaoh, not Abraham. Pharaoh recognized the voice of God, and discovered the deceit of Abraham and asked him to take his wife and leave the country.

Chapter 13 opens with these words—“And Abraham went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife and all that he had.”

Abraham is on his way back, back to Bethel, the house of God.

1 John 1:9—If we confess our sin, etc.

Abraham’s actions up to this point of return could be described as “backsliding.”

Does this story fit your circumstances? Are you cold, unhappy, miserable? Description of a backslider.

There is only one answer to your problem: get back to Bethel, get back to God. Admit your backsliding, confess your sin, return to Him and His joy will flood your life.

Genesis 13:5-12

When Abraham miserably failed under testing he went down into Egypt, and Lot went with him.

While there Lot saw the world and tasted its pleasures, this was the first step in his spiritual ruin. Who was responsible for this? Abraham.

Unfortunately he was encouraged in this by an older brother. Lot became a source of grief to Abraham—see verse 7.

Poor Abraham’s past mistakes were catching up with him. First, six miserable, fruitless years in Haran, now strife with the family.

“Whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.”

Abraham backslid into Egypt, under adversity, he stooped low to save his own skin.

While there he chose a lovely Egyptian maiden to help Sarah, his wife. This action brought endless trouble into his life.

The repercussions of this action can be seen today in the Arab nations—the Mohammedan religion.

Now Abraham is having trouble within his family.

Lot, whom he should have left in Ur of the Chaldees, is the cause of it.

Those mistakes or sins left indelible impressions upon Abraham, and he lived under the constant shadow of these sins.

No believer can backslide or disobey God’s implicit commands and ever be the same afterwards.

He becomes what one would call a “crippled priest.”

His spiritual growth is limited. His life of faith is stunted. Spiritual power is absent.

Abraham had left Egypt, but Egypt had not left Abraham.

13:2—“And Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold.”

Abraham was probably a shepherd, but now he had acquired cattle in Egypt and had hired Egyptians to look after the cattle.

Now where did the strife originate? It was because of the cattle and the Egyptian cattlemen.

There was open contention, and there was in all probability open fighting among the herdsmen.

Abraham was worried sick.

But look at the end of verse 7—“The Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt in the land.”

The tragedy of strife in God’s house especially when unbelievers are looking on.

All this because of disobedience. This presents a grave warning which believers cannot afford to disregard.

However there was a blessing for Abraham in this trial.

At last he was separated from Lot who is a type of the world.

For Abraham to finally gain victory over the flesh and the world was not easy. Neither will it be easy for any of us.

Through the experiences of failure and success, defeat and victory, God was preparing his servant for spiritual maturity and for the distinction of being called the “father of the faithful” and “the friend of God.”

To say that Abraham profited by these experiences is an understatement.

Abraham never went down to Egypt again.

He did not rebel against God’s chastisement, but rather acknowledged his sin.

Look closely at Abraham now.

In the midst of the strife in his own family, he took a line of action which is absolutely magnificent.

Read verses 8 and 9 at this point.

Here Abraham is saying, Lot, I am willing to be the least, I am wiling to take the loss if necessary, I am willing to let you have the best; please take your choice.

This was just the opposite of what Abraham could have demanded of Lot.

For instance:

1. God called Abraham to Canaan, not Lot.

2. God had given the land to Abraham, not to his nephew.

3. God had made his covenant with Abraham, not Lot.

Abraham was the eldest of the two, and could have expected Lot to recognize this fact.

Yet Abraham humbly said, Take your choice, Lot.

What brought about this change?

Abraham was learning to trust God absolutely.

Abraham in effect was saying, no matter what Lot chooses God has promised me the land, and “I believe God.”

When Abraham had committed himself unreservedly into the hand of God, when he fully surrendered his will to God’s will, and completely abandoned himself, then and only then Jehovah revealed Himself to Abraham in a special way—see verses 14 to 18.

In 12:2-3 God made a covenant with Abraham. It was a promise.

Here in verses 14 to 18 we have God giving Abraham the land.

“I will give it to thee and to thy seed forever”—verse 15.

verse 18—Abraham removed his tent and lived in the plains of Mamre (“instruction”); which is in Hebron (“fellowship”). There he built an altar unto the Lord.

“He believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness—Romans 4:3.

Does it pay to trust the Lord?

Example: Job. His character—he was perfect and upright, he feared or worshipped God, he hated evil. He was prosperous.

Satan’s theory was that Job was good because God had made him prosperous. Satan said to God, “You have put a hedge around him and around his house and around his possessions. You have blessed the work of his hands, you have blessed his family and increased his lands. But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse you to your face.” And God said, “Behold all that he hath is in thy power.” Satan took from Job his family, possessions and lands. Job said, “The Lord gave the Lord hath taken away, blessed by the name of the Lord.” Satan said, “Let me touch him and he will curse thee.” Satan smote Job with boils. He sat down in misery and scraped himself with potsherd. His wife said to him, “Do you still trust God, curse him and die.” His three friends were no more successful. Job said to them, “Though he slay me yet will I trust him.”

God honored his servant. He blessed the latter end of Job more than the beginning.

The Lust of the Eye

Genesis 13:10-13

We would like to consider Lot, Abraham’s nephew.

We are told nothing of Lot from the time Abraham left Haran, until now. See 13:5—“And lot also, which went with Abraham, had flocks and herds and tents.”

These two men are brought together by the Spirit of God and contrasted for our spiritual help.

Abraham walked by faith.	Lot walked by sight.
Abraham was generous.	Lot was greedy and worldly.
Abraham looked for city whose builder and maker was God.	Lot make his home in the city built by man and finally destroyed by God.
Abraham was the father of all who believe and was made “heir of the world” (Romans 4:3)	Lot sank to the lowest degredation and when the curtain falls on him he is a pauper living in a cave, having lost his possessions in the destruction of Sodom.

The different outlook of the two men are sharply contrasted in this incident.

Abraham walking by faith, heard God’s word and believed it. Lot walking by sight chose the well watered plains of Jordan.

See verse 10 for the description of the plain.

Verse 11—Then Lot chose him, etc.

Lot’s downward career started when “He lifted up his eyes.”

The human race started to drift from God when “Eve lifted up her eyes and saw.”

Genesis 3:6—“When she saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof.”

Aachan’s Confession

“When I saw among he spoils a goodly Babylonish garment and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them and took them.”—Joshua 7:21.

I saw—I coveted—I took.

Lot lifted up his eyes, and because of what he saw he chose.

“It was as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt.”

The choice that Lot made, from the human standpoint seemed to be the right one.

There was a scarcity of pasture land for the animals.

So to the worldly eye of Lot the well watered plains seemed ideal.

What did God see there?

He saw two cities that were a cesspool of iniquity, full of wicked men and sinners. So, from God’s standpoint, it was the wrong choice.

See the results—“Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”—verse 12.

The various downward steps of Lot’s course are marked out plainly for us to see:

1. He lifted up his eyes and beheld—verse 10

2. He chose him all the plain of Jordan—verse 11

3. He separated himself from Abraham—verse 11

4. He dwelt in the cities of the plain—verse 12

5. He pitched his tent towards Sodom—verse 12

6. He dwelt in Sodom—14:12

7. He becomes a judge, seated in the gate—19:1

8. His daughters are married to wicked men of Sodom—19:14

Consider Peter in this same connection:

1. There was boasting self-confidence—“Though all shall offend thee, yet will not I”—Mark 14:29.

2. Then there was the sleeping in the garden when he should have been watching and praying—Mark 14:37.

3. Then there was following Christ “afar off”—Matthew 26:58.

4. Then there was seating himself at the fire among the Lord’s enemies—Matthew 26:69.

5. Finally came Peter’s denial—Matthew 26:69-75.

What did Lot gain by his choice? He was a loser—he lost everything. 13:5 tells us that Lot was a rich man. 19:30 shows Lot destitute dwelling in a cave.

Let us now apply what we have been discussing to ourselves.

What choice have you made?

Are you walking by faith—trusting Christ for eternal life and a place in that heavenly city? Or are you walking by sight, and choosing the world with its pleasure?

Abraham found the city and living there now. Lot lost all that he ever owned—he made the wrong choice.

Choice not chance, determines human destiny.

The people’s choice

“Whom will ye that I release unto you?”—Barabas

“What shall I do with Jesus called Christ?”—Crucify him

Joshua 24:15—“Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.”

The granddaughter of a man named Aaron Burr got saved. That same evening she asked her grandfather why he had not accepted Christ. He told her this sad story. When he was a young man he attended a particular meeting and was convicted but walked out without giving himself to Christ. Looking up at the starlit sky he said, “God, if you don’t bother me, I’ll never bother you.” “Honey,” he told his granddaughter, “God has kept his part of the bargain, He’s never bothered me, now it’s too late.”

“O sinner the savior is calling for thee,

Long, long has he called thee in vain;

He called thee when joy lent its crown to thy days,

He called thee in sorrow and pain.”

“O sinner the Spirit is striving with thee;

What if he should strive never more,

But leave thee alone in thy darkness to dwell,

In sight of the heavenly shore.”

“O turn, while the Savior in mercy is waiting,

And steer for the harbor light;

For how do you know but your soul may be drifting

Over the deadline tonight (today).”