The Providence of God Prospering the Affairs of Abraham

    We often read that God blessed Abraham and Isaac in reference to the prosperity of their temporal affairs. Yet it was through industry and attention to business, as in the case of other men, that their wealth increased. From this let us learn two things. Let us look to God for every thing; and let us ascribe to him the smallest as well as the greatest of the things which we possess. Let us at the same time expect every blessing from God through the appointed means. There are on this subject two extremes, equally injurious. Some look not sufficiently to the necessity of the divine blessing on the labour and exertion employed to procure the necessaries and comforts of life. When they succeed, they are unthankful to God: when they fail, overlooking the true cause, they neglect the proper remedy. In temporal things, as well as in spiritual, we should seek all things from God, through the use of the means which he has appointed. We have as much need for God in the concerns of this world, as we have with respect to the world to come. In him we live, and move, and have our being. He is the author of every good and perfect gift.

    How shameful is it that many, called Christians, overlook that Providence that was so fully recognised by Abimelech, king of Gerar, in the land of the Philistines! He saw the uncommon prosperity of Abraham, and he ascribed it to the blessing of God on his labours. "And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol, the chief captain of his host, spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest." Our blind philosophers cannot see what was so clearly discovered by this king of the Philistines. Their indolent god rules only by general laws. God is excluded by them from all immediate concern in the affairs of men.