All the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever
The saints comfort in solitude
I.
THE DIVINE VOICE IS MORE DISTINCTLY HEARD.
1. We need this consolation to confirm our faith.
2. We require a renewed sense of the Divine approval.
3. We require comfort for the evils we have suffered on account of religion.
II. THE DIVINE PROMISES ARE MORE CLEARLY APPREHENDED.
1. We are more free to survey the greatness of our inheritance.
2. We have an enhanced idea of the plentifulness of the Divine resources.
III. WE ARE LED ON TO PERCEIVE THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LIFE.
1. Our senses deceive us.
2. Our youthful hopes deceive us. Let us learn, then, that “there is nothing sure but heaven.”
IV. THE SPIRIT OF DEVOTION IS STRENGTHENED.
1. When God speaks to the soul, our sense of reverence is deepened.
2. When God speaks, our sense of duty is deepened. (T. H. Leale.)
I. GOD ALWAYS COMES NEAR TO HIS SEPARATED ONES.
God’s promise to Abraham
II. GOD WILL DO BETTER FOR THOSE WHO TRUST HIM, THAN THEY COULD DO FOR THEMSELVES.
III. GOD BIDS US APPROPRIATE HIS GIFTS (Gen_13:17). (F. B. Meyer, B. A.)
Abraham’s reward
1. Saints who hang loose, and are indifferent for the world, have the best appearance of God.
2. God is not forgetful to comfort His, who are willing to bear injuries from men for His sake.
3. God hath a speech to make His own to understand His mind. So God said to Abram.
4. When creature comforts leave God’s servants, usually He comes Himself to them.
5. God singles out souls to whom He speaks comfortably in His promises; a stranger intermeddleth not with their joy.
6. Sensible demonstrations God sometimes affords of future mercies unto His.
7. Large bounds God hath allowed for the typical inheritance of His Church here, which note larger in the heavenly Canaan.
8. God’s demonstration of mercies sometimes precedes His donation and infers it (Gen_13:14).
9. God is free and full in allotting the inheritance of His Church.
10. Jehovah hath what He giveth, therefore He giveth surely; He cannot deceive.
11. God’s promise to Abram is fulfilled to his seed, through many generations.
12. God hath His ever in making covenant with His people according to His will; which it concerneth God’s covenanted ones to know (Gen_13:15). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Earth taken with meekness
There is nothing lost by meekness and yielding. Abraham yields over his right of choice: Lot taketh it. And, behold, Lot is crossed in that which he chose, Abraham blessed in that which was left him. As heaven is taken by violence, so is earth with meekness. And God (the true Proprietary) loves no tenants better, nor grants larger leases to any, than the meek. (J. Trapp.)
The Christian’s wealth consists in God’s promises
Men use to reckon their wealth, not by what ready money they have only, but by the good bonds and leases they can produce. A great part of a Christian’s estate lies in bonds and bills of God’s hands. (J. Trapp.)
God’s promise unchangeable
In commercial crises, manhood is at a greater discount than funds are. Suppose a man had said to me last spring, “If there comes a pinch in your affairs, draw on me for ten thousand dollars.” The man said so last spring, but I should not dare to draw on him this autumn. I should say, “Times have changed; he would not abide by it.” But God’s promises are from everlasting to everlasting; and He always stands up to them. There never was a run on heaven which was not promptly met. No creature in all the world, or in lying, audacious hell, shall ever say that he drew a draft on heaven and that God dishonoured it. (H. W.Beecher.)
I will make thy seed as the dust
God’s word of promise to Abram
1. Promise to promise, seed to land, God adds to His covenanted friend Abram, for his good.
2. God’s word of promise calleth things that are not, as if they were that is, puts into being what is not.
3. God’s word of promise putting into being is irreversible. He speaketh and doth it.
4. Innumerable issues, as the dust, sand, and stars, can God raise out of dead bodies (Heb_11:22).
5. Children are God’s gift, when and to whom He pleaseth (Psa_127:1-5).
6. Man’s reach of understanding is too shallow to compass the works of God’s promise (Gen_13:16). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Walk through the land
Lessons
1. Double demonstrations of mercies, and double promises, will God give for the support of the faith of His servants.
2. God enjoins experience sometimes for the help of faith in His promises.
3. God would have His saints reach the utmost dimensions of His promises Eph_3:19).
4. God showeth good things to His people which He purposeth to bestow on their succeeding generations.
5. God’s promise to the head is performed in the seed.
6. Free promise should provoke souls to get experience of the good things to come. (G. Hughes, B. D.)
