The Expositor's Bible: The Book of GenesisDods, Marcus
Religion
The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Genesis
Dods, Marcus
Bible. Genesis -- Commentaries
One is naturally curious to see how Abram will conduct himself in
circumstances so unaccustomed. From leading a quiet pastoral life he
suddenly becomes the most important man in the country, a man who can
make himself felt from the Nile to the Tigris. From a herd he becomes a
hero. But, notoriously, power tries a man, and, as one has often seen
persons make very glaring mistakes in such altered circumstances and
alter their characters and beliefs to suit and take advantage of the new
material and opportunities presented to them, we are interested in
seeing how a man whose one rule of action has hitherto been faith in a
promise given him by God, will pass through such a trial. Can a
spiritual quality like faith be of much service in rough campaigning and
when the man of faith is mixed up with persons of doubtful character and
unscrupulous conduct, and brought into contact with considerable
political powers? Can we trace to Abram's faith any part of his action
at this time? No sooner is the question put than we see that his faith
in God's promise was precisely that which gave him balance and dignity,
courage and generosity in dealing with the three prominent persons in
the narrative. He could afford to be forgiving and generous to his grand
competitor Lot, precisely because he felt sure God would deal generously
with himself. He could afford to acknowledge Melchizedek and any other
authority that might appear, as his superior, and he would not take
advantage, even when at the head of his men eager for more fighting, of
the peaceful king who came out to propitiate him, because he knew that
God would give him his land without wronging other people. And he
scorned the wages of the king of Sodom, holding himself to be no
mercenary captain, nor indebted to any one but God. In a word, you see
faith producing all that is of importance in his conduct at this time.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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