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Chapter 10—Abraham and the Promised Seed
This chapter is based on
Genesis 12:1-5
;
13
;
15
;
16
;
17
;
21
and
22:1-19
.
The Lord selected Abraham to carry out His will. He was di-
rected to leave his idolatrous nation and separate from his kindred.
The Lord had revealed Himself to Abraham in his youth and given
him understanding and preserved him from idolatry. He designed
to make 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 obedience 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
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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 Flood, and became so common that even righteous men
fell into the practice and had a plurality of wives. Yet it was no less
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