Gen. 12:8.

The seven lives of Genesis present to us in a very beautiful way the development of the Christ-image in the child of God. We find in Abram the foundation principle of the spiritual life, that of faith. We see how at the very commencement it gives the pilgrim character, and how also trials accompany the way, that the faith possessed may be found to praise and glory and honor.

The exercise of faith is easily recognized in Abram's obedience to the call of God, and we see it in further exercise in the dwelling-place that he takes. It is this which we have before us in this passage. He removes from Haran "unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west and Ai on the east." This is the dwelling-place faith takes up when entering in upon the possession of the promised inheritance.

It should be full of meaning for us, since we are called with the same purpose, that of possessing ourselves of the spiritual inheritance of which Canaan is' the type. We have a wide field to cover with our operations, in order that the full blessedness of what we have been called to may be possessed by us. Therefore it is of great importance that we should take up the proper position from which to direct out activities in taking possession.

First of all, we notice that it is to a mountain Abram goes to find his dwelling-place. Faith, when in activity, always rises to the source from whence it flows. As the gift of God, it finds its rise and flow in Him. It ever takes the highest altitude. But it is more particularly what is mentioned as to the location of this mountain, where faith as typified in Abram takes up its abode, that I had before me. We are carefully called to note that the mountain on which Abram pitches his tent is located between Bethel and Ai; and, furthermore, the specific directions of their relative positions to his abode is particularly stated. We can, thank God, seek fullest meaning in every uttered word of His, for " man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

The first point that we have is, '' Bethel to the west." We find that the four winds, and the four directions from which they come as characterized by them, speak of the conflict and unrest of this fallen creation. The west is literally "toward the sea." And the sea always in Scripture speaks to us of the ceaseless trouble and restlessness of this evil scene. Away from the one Source of rest and blessing-God Himself-only the opposite can, of necessity, ensue- a scene characterized by the conflicts of man's evil will! Nevertheless, from the west come the winds laden with the moisture that revives and refreshes the earth, clearly speaking of those influences of delight and pleasure that men find, coming even though they do from a fallen and ruined creation. Men still seek the temporary refreshment they give-a season of passing enjoyment. And it is these influences which play with the greatest power and best success upon the child of God. How easily (can we not all give our assent to it ?) are we lured from the narrow path by present advantages and opportunities which will yield some passing joy and pleasure, or make the path easier and less rough for our feet to tread! Those things that gladden the heart of the natural man-can we not say they often appeal to us in our wilderness pathway ? Ah yes ! how often can we witness to it, can we not, beloved ? And how often, too, have we been drawn away, if not in deed, dare we say not in thought ?

What is it, then, that we have over against the west and its alluring influences ? It is Bethel. How sweet that is, "the house of God"! And what does that speak to us of ? It tells of His presence, and of our abiding in the sanctuary. Is it not just this that we need if we are to overcome those subtle devices of the enemy which he presents to us in the way of which the west speaks. It is the abiding in His presence, making the sanctuary our dwelling-place, that enables us to see the utter emptiness of all this world at its very best. We can, as it were, look down from our place in fellowship with the Father and the Son, the mountain height where faith abides, and in this way gain the victory over it. What is all that the world can give, with its glory and power, compared with what is ours, blessed in Christ with all spiritual blessings ? Shall we not count all else but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord ? Surely, when the infinite treasuries of the wealth of God are open to us, we have all, and abound. We glory only in the cross of Christ, through which our every blessing comes, and it has annulled the world, so that the victory which now overcomes it is our faith-the faith we have in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the second place, we have "Ai to the east." The east would seem to bring before us the thought of opposition, of the enemy's work in the way of enmity and hatred. The original form of the word really means, "what is toward you," in a hostile manner. So that it would signify the opposition of the world, and of Satan through it. It speaks to us of what so often brings the cry of discouragement to the lips, and makes the heart sick-the bitter and hostile assault of the enemy by the many agencies at his command in this world. His darts are ever ready to bring us down, if we do not continually seek the grace that is alone sufficient for the path we tread.

But what is the reckoning of faith, and the position it takes, which gains the victory over this side of things ? Is it not what Ai speaks of, "ruins" ? The counting of this world as condemned and judged- yea, in the very ruins of its judgment! Surely this is what gives us power to stand against all the influences of hostility and hatred which the world has for those who will follow their rejected Master. The reckoning by faith of God's estimate of this scene gives power over it. The east wind is the dry and arid desert wind which withers and parches the earth; and how apt an illustration of the effect and result upon the spiritual life of these contrary influences of which the east speaks, unless they are met in the spirit of which Ai reminds us-the world seen in the ruins of its condemnation and judgment under His hand who is leading us to our home in His glory!

How blessed a position is presented to us in the dwelling Abram takes up, and how sweet to see that after his failure in going down to Egypt he comes back '' unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai"! Faith must ever revert to its stronghold. Notice, too, that it is when dwelling here that Abram is the worshiper. At the very first he builds his altar and calls on the name of Jehovah, but during his wanderings in the south country we do not hear of him doing this; not until he comes back to his former position do we read of him worshiping at the altar again. Surely, as we take in the complete emptiness of this world, and the ruin it is in, and then turn from it to the '' house of God," with all its infinite fulness of joy and blessing, our hearts well up with gratitude to our God. The sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving rise up to Him in the fragrance of the name of Christ.

Finally, what a view Abram is called to take in from this position of his. After Lot's separation from him, he is bidden to, "look from the place in which thou art (this very mountain), northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; for all the land on which thou art looking, to thee will I give it, and to thy Seed (Christ was linked with His people) forever-typical of the sight which faith gets of those blessings Christ has made our own in the spiritual Canaan. The whole realm of the unsearchable riches of Christ is spread out before us, for faith to enter into.

May God iii His grace lead us to fully take up our abode in this position between Bethel and Ai, and from it, like Abram, to take in a full view of the inheritance we have been given, that, realizing it thus by faith, we may be able to arise and walk through it, in its length and breadth; for, says He, "I will give it unto thee." J. B. Jr.