004. A Prayer Of Abram.

APrayer Of Abram. The Prayer as recorded.—Genesis 15:1-3. The Answer.—Genesis 15:4-7. The Prayer continued—Genesis 15:8. The answer continued.—Genesis 15:9; Genesis 15:13-16. The life of “the father of the faithful” was chequered and eventful; although he is not introduced to our notice till his seventy-fifth year, yet we meet him as the friend of God, and are able to follow him through many sad and bitter trials. At times an exile and wanderer, homeless and houseless, we find him, everywhere and under every circumstance, rearing an altar to God, and calling upon him for strength and support. When the following prayer was made by Abram, he was rich and respected, a conqueror over his enemies, a blessing to his friends; his life’s work seemed almost over, and he felt death was not very far distant. He contemplated his present position, and as his mind rested upon his wealth, there was no regret in his heart that he must leave it behind him. Oh, no, his treasure in heaven was far greater to his eye of faith. Still there was a sorrow in his bosom that not one of his own name might inherit his worldly possessions, but they must descend to the steward of his household. In the language of the prayer, and from what we learn of the character of Abram, we are satisfied his desire was not the merely natural one, for he rejoiced in the coming Savior, and was ready at the command of God to sacrifice the son for whom he had prayed, and was one who at the call of duty had ever been ready to give up home and friends, firmly relying on the promises of the Almighty. Nothing seemed for any length of time to disturb the steady faith of his soul; but now and then in his eventful life, we see the slight temptation prevailing when the greater were overcome; in the firmest believer we sometimes see the weakest man.

God in his answer to this prayer does not cheek the ardor or seeming impatience of Abram, but promises a speedy fulfillment of all his wishes, even a son, the progenitor after the flesh of the blessed Savior. “The sincere Bible reader is always gratified when he remembers, that here is the model of every religious rite that has existed in any age. Many described by profane writers derived their pattern from those mentioned in the writings of Moses.” It would be useless to inquire into the nature of the vision that appeared to Abraham. Every true believer feels the presence of God in his heart, and as long as he loves, and serves Him, he is visible to his spiritual eye, and “his ear hears the voice of the Lord.” The holy friendship existing between Abraham and his heavenly Father, may be ours; he lived like a pilgrim—his whole life proved he was tarrying but a night. All that was earthly of Abram lies now in the dust of yonder cave; his spirit is in heaven—his prayers stored there, and for us preserved on the sacred page. The descendants of Abram indeed became strangers in the land of Canaan, and were there oppressed and down-trodden; “a prophecy fore-uttered through the tongues of time, ages of ages.”