Chapter 11—Abraham
The Lord selected Abraham to carry out his will. He was directed
to leave his idolatrous nation, and separate from his kindred. The
Lord had revealed himself to Abraham in his youth, and gave him
understanding, and preserved him from idolatry. He designed to make
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him an example of faith, and true devotion, for his people who should
afterward live upon the earth. His character was marked for integrity,
generosity and hospitality. He commanded respect as a mighty prince
among the people. His reverence and love for God, and his strict obedi-
ence in performing his will, gained for him the respect of his servants
and neighbors. His godly example, and righteous course, united with
his faithful instructions to his servants, and all his household, led them
to fear, love, and reverence the God of Abraham. The Lord appeared
to Abraham and promised him that his seed should be like the stars of
heaven for number. He also made known to him, through the figure of
the horror of great darkness which came upon him, the long servile
bondage of his descendants in Egypt.
In the beginning, God gave to Adam one wife, thus showing his
order. He never designed that man should have a plurality of wives.
Lamech was the first who departed in this respect from God’s wise
arrangement. He had two wives, which created discord in his family.
The envy and jealousy of both made Lamech unhappy. When men
began to multiply upon the face of the earth, and daughters were born
unto them, they took them wives of all which they chose. This was
one of the great sins of the inhabitants of the old world, which brought
the wrath of God upon them. This custom was practiced after the
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flood, and became so common that even righteous men fell into the
practice, and had a plurality of wives. Yet it was no less sin because
they became corrupted, and departed in this thing from God’s order.
The Lord said of Noah and his family who were saved in the ark,
“For thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” Noah
had but one wife, and their united family discipline was blessed of
God. Because Noah’s sons were righteous, they were preserved in the
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