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came out with his retinue to honor the conqueror。 He bade him take the
goods； begging only that the prisoners should be restored。 By the usage of
war； the spoils belonged to the conquerors； but Abraham had undertaken this
expedition with no purpose of gain； and he refused to take advantage of the
unfortunate； only stipulating that his confederates should receive the
portion to which they entitled。
Few； if subjected to such a test； would have shown themselves as noble as
did Abraham。 Few would have resisted the temptation
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to secure so rich a booty。 His example is a rebuke to self…seeking；
mercenary spirits。 Abraham regarded the claims of justice and humanity。 His
conduct illustrates the inspired maxim； 〃Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself。〃 Leviticus 19：18； 〃I have lifted up my hand；〃 he said； 〃unto the
Lord； the most high God； the possessor of heaven and earth； that I will not
take from a thread even to a shoe latchet； and that I will not take anything
that is thine； lest thou shouldest say； I have made Abram rich。〃 He would
give them no occasion to think that he had engaged in warfare for the sake
of gain； or to attribute his prosperity to their gifts or favor。 God had
promised to bless Abraham； and to Him the glory should be ascribed。
Another who came out to welcome the victorious patriarch was Melchizedek；
king of Salem； who brought forth bread and wine for the refreshment of his
army。 As 〃priest of the most high God；〃 he pronounced a blessing upon
Abraham； and gave thanks to the Lord； who had wrought so great a deliverance
by his servant。 And Abraham 〃gave him tithes of all。〃
Abraham gladly returned to his tents and his flocks； but his mind was
disturbed by harassing thoughts。 He had been a man of peace； so far as
possible shunning enmity and strife； and with horror he recalled the scene
of carnage he had witnessed。 But the nations whose forces he had defeated
would doubtless renew the invasion of Canaan； and make him the special
object of their vengeance。 Becoming thus involved in national quarrels； the
peaceful quiet of his life would be broken。 Furthermore； he had not entered
upon the possession of Canaan； nor could he now hope for an heir； to whom
the promise might be fulfilled。
In a vision of the night the divine Voice was again heard。 〃Fear not；
Abram；〃 were the words of the Prince of princes； 〃I am thy shield； and thy
exceeding great reward。〃 But his mind was so oppressed by forebodings that
he could not now grasp the promise with unquestioning confidence as
heretofore。 He prayed for some tangible evidence that it would be fulfilled。
And how was the covenant promise to be realized； while the gift of a son was
withheld？ 〃What wilt thou give me；〃 he said； 〃seeing I go childless？〃 〃And；
lo； one born in my house is mine heir。〃 He proposed to make his trusty
servant Eliezer his son by adoption； and the inheritor of his possessions。
But he was assured that a
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child of his own was to be his heir。 Then he was led outside his tent； and
told to look up to the unnumbered stars glittering in the heavens； and as he
did so； the words were spoken； 〃So shall thy seed be。〃 〃Abraham believed
God； and it was counted unto him for righteousness。 〃Romans 4：3。
Still the patriarch begged for some visible token as a confirmation of his
faith and as an evidence to after…generations that God's gracious purposes
toward them would be accomplished。 The Lord condescended to enter into a
covenant with His servant； employing such forms as were customary among men
for the ratification of a solemn engagement。 By divine direction； Abraham
sacrificed a heifer； a she…goat； and a ram； each three years old； dividing
the bodies and laying the pieces a little distance apart。 To these he added
a turtledove and a young pigeon； which； however； were not divided。 This
being done； he reverently passed between the parts of the sacrifice； making
a solemn vow to God of perpetual obedience。 Watchful and steadfast； he
remained beside the carcasses till the going down of the sun； to guard them
from being defiled or devoured by birds of prey。 About sunset he sank into a
deep sleep； and； 〃lo； a horror of great darkness fell upon him。〃 And the
voice of God was heard； bidding him not to expect immediate possession of
the Promised Land； and pointing forward to the sufferings of his posterity
before their establishment in Canaan。 The plan of redemption was here opened
to him； in the death of Christ； the great sacrifice； and His coming in
glory。 Abraham saw also the earth restored to its Eden beauty； to be given
him for an everlasting possession； as the final and complete fulfillment of
the promise。
As a pledge of this covenant of God with men； a smoking furnace and a
burning lamp； symbols of the divine presence； passed between the severed
victims； totally consuming them。 And again a voice was heard by Abraham；
confirming the gift of the land of Canaan to his descendants； 〃from the
river of Egypt unto the great river； the river Euphrates。〃
When Abraham had been nearly twenty…five years in Canaan； the Lord appeared
unto him； and said； 〃I am the Almighty God； walk before Me； and be thou
perfect。〃 In awe； the patriarch fell upon his face； and the message
continued： 〃Behold； My covenant is with thee； and thou shalt be a father of
many nations。〃 In
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token of the fulfillment of this covenant； his name； heretofore called
Abram； was changed to Abraham； which signifies； 〃father of a great
multitude。〃 Sarai's name became Sarah〃princess；〃 for； said the divine
Voice； 〃she shall be a mother of nations； kings of people shall be of her。〃
At this time the rite of circumcision was given to Abraham as 〃a seal of the
righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised。〃 Romans
4：11。 It was to be observed by the patriarch and his descendants as a token
that they were devoted to the service of God and thus separated from
idolaters； and that God accepted them as His peculiar treasure。 By this rite
they were pledged to fulfill； on their part； the conditions of the covenant
made with Abraham。 They were not to contact marriages with the heathen； for
by so doing they would lose their reverence for God and His holy law； they
would be tempted to engage in the sinful practices of other nations； and
would be seduced into idolatry。
God conferred great honor upon Abraham。 Angels of heaven walked and talked
with him as friend with friend。 When judgments were about to be visited upon
Sodom； the fact was not hidden from him； and he became an intercessor with
God for sinners。 His interview with the angels presents also a beautiful
example of hospitality。
In the hot summer noontide the patriarch was sitting in his tent door；
looking out over the quiet landscape； when he saw in the distance three
travelers approaching。 Before reaching his tent； the strangers halted； as if
consulting as to their course。 Without waiting for them to solicit favors；
Abraham rose quickly； and as they were apparently turning in another
direction； he hastened after them； and with the utmost courtesy urged them
to