Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/100



FTER these  things  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  Abram in a vision,  saying:  “Fear  not,  I am  thy  protector ,  and thy reward  exceeding  great.”  On  a certain  night,  Abram  was called by  a voice  from  heaven  which  said: “Look  up  to  the heaven and  number  the  stars,  if  thou  canst. So shall  thy  seed be.” Abram  believed,  and  his  faith  justified  him  before  God. Again, in  the  99th  year  of  his  age,  the  Lord  appeared  to  Abram and said  to  him:  “I  am  the  Almighty  God. Walk before  Me and  be  perfect. Neither shall  thy  name  be  called  any  more Abram [a  high  father],  but  Abraham  [father  of  a multitude],  because I have made  thee  a father  of  many  nations. I will establish  my covenant  between  thee  and  Me. And this  is  my  covenant  which you shall  observe  between  me  and  you  and  thy  seed  after  thee: All the  male  kind  of  you  shall  be  circumcised. Sarai [my princess], thy  wife,  shall  be  called  Sara  [princess],  and  she  shall bear thee  a son  whose  name  thou  shalt  call  Isaac.”

Again when  Abraham  was  one  day,  about  noon,  sitting  at  the door of  his  tent  in  the  vale  of  Mambre,  he  saw  three  men  ap-