The Signs of the Times, vol. 11
March 26, 1885
“Inheritance of the Saints. Promises to Abraham” The Signs of the Times, 11, 13.
E. J. Waggoner
THE SABBATH-SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST—APRIL 15
PROMISES TO ABRAHAM
1. When did the Lord first appear to Abraham? SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.1
“And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran.” Acts 7:2. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.2
2. What did he then say to him? SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.3
“And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee.” Acts 7:3. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.4
3. To what place did Abraham go from Mesopotamia? SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.5
“Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran; and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.” Acts 7:4. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.6
4. How long did Abraham stay in Charran (Haran)? Ib. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.7
5. After the death of his father, where did he go? Ib. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.8
6. Locate, as nearly as possible, all these places on the map. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.9
7. Where do you find the record of these events of which Stephen speaks? Genesis 12:1-5. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.10
8. How old was Abram when he went into the land of Canaan? SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.11
“So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.” Genesis 12:4. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.12
9. How old was he when his father died? SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.13
10. When the Lord told Abram to leave his native country, what promise did he make? SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.14
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing; and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:2, 3. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.15
11. What expression shows that this promise was not merely a local affair? SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.16
12. How extensive was it? SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.17
13. What will be the condition of the world when this promise meets its fulfillment? SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.18
14. Who are they who are blessed? SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.19
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:1, 2. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.20
15. Then what will all the world do when this promise is fulfilled? SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.21
16. And when God’s will is thus perfectly performed, what will be on this earth? SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.22
“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.” Matthew 6:10. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.23
The answer to question 9 will be readily seen by those who connect Genesis 12:4 with Acts 7:4. He went out of Charran [or Haran] into Canaan when his father was dead, says Stephen. Moses says that he was seventy-five years old when he went into Canaan. So he was seventy-five years old, and his father died. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.24
From a single expression in the promise contained in Genesis 12:2, 3, we know that it was not a local affair. That expression is this; “In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” It embraces all the inhabitants of the earth. But it is not fulfilled until all the inhabitants of the earth are blessed. That condition does not now exist, and has never yet existed. Now we learn in Psalm 1:1, 2 who are blessed,-those who love and obey the law of God. Of course; if the curse came because of sin, the blessing will come only when there is obedience. Therefore, when this promise is fulfilled, and every inhabitant of the earth will be delighting in the law of the Lord. In harmony with this are the words of Christ in his prayer (Matthew 6:10), showing that such a state exists only when the kingdom of God exists on earth. E. J. W. SITI March 26, 1885, page 198.25