Chapter 50—The Servants of God
God selected Abraham as His messenger through whom to com-
municate light to the world. The word of God came to him, not with
the presentation of flattering prospects in this life of large salary, of
great appreciation and worldly honor. “Get thee out of thy country,
and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I
will show thee,” was the divine message to Abraham. The patriarch
obeyed, and “went out, not knowing whither he went,” as God’s light
bearer, to keep His name alive in the earth. He forsook his country, his
home, his relatives, and all pleasant associations connected with his
early life, to become a pilgrim and a stranger.
It is frequently more essential than many realize, that early asso-
ciations should be broken up in order that those who are to speak “in
Christ’s stead” may stand in a position where God can educate and
qualify them for His great work. Kindred and friends often have an
influence which God sees will greatly interfere with the instructions
He designs to give His servants. Suggestions will be made by those
who are not in close connection with heaven that will, if heeded, turn
aside from their holy work those who should be light bearers to the
world.
Before God can use him, Abraham must be separated from his
former associations, that he may not be controlled by human influence
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or rely upon human aid. Now that he has become connected with God,
this man must henceforth dwell among strangers. His character must
be peculiar, differing from all the world. He could not even explain his
course of action so as to be understood by his friends, for they were
idolaters. Spiritual things must be spiritually discerned; therefore his
motives and his actions were beyond the comprehension of his kindred
and friends.
Abraham’s unquestioning obedience was one of the most striking
instances of faith and reliance upon God to be found in the Sacred
Record. With only the naked promise that his descendants should
possess Canaan, without the least outward evidence, he followed on
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