The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-02-09
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.


Ne counted II to him for Righteousness. Gen,
i5d
Tnr SECTION or HISTORY extends over
rhaps 1917 the main incidents Of which VIC
.bould bring into the lesson
TINE The separation OF Abraham and Lot
ms about 49, &. 1914 Tho military expedition
10 rescue Lot about five years later. .9.3 The
covenant OF circumcision Ia 1897. when Abra
ham was ninety nine years old. twcnty-four
years after he left Haran Ia 1921,
PLACE. Abraham and Lot lived near Bethel,
Twelve mies north OF Jerusalem. when Lot
separated aud went into the plain near the
mouth OF the Jordan. After that Abraham
made his home at Hebron. twenty miles south
Of jerusalem
INTRODUCTION the close OF our last les
son Abraham had gone DOWN into Egypt to cs.
cape famine In Canaan. and fell into aim
culics greater than famine In the British
museum IL IN Egyptian papyrus, one OF the
Oldest writings in existence. containing the
story OF .'Ihc Two brothers," IN when the
Pharaoh OF the time Is represented as fetching,
hy means OF military force. beautiful woman
10 his court and numbering her husband, as
Abraham feared 10 be murdered on account OF
sarah Abram soon returned 10 Canaan, and
gradually lourncyed norihward TO h. old altar
between Bethel and Hat There IS a period OF
twentyfOur years between the entrance into
Canaan ana tie convcnant OF circumcision
LESSON NOTES.
The Separation of Abraham end
Lot.-Chap. 10. Abraham and Lot
had both been greatly prospcrcd. and
were very rich. Dean Stanley describes
"A Bedouin chief of the present day as
very like. except in character. these
chiefs of four thousand years ago.
4 quarrel among their hcrdsmcn,
originating. doubtless. in the increas-
ing scarcity Of hcrbagc for the sub
sistence of their nocls, and in their
eagerness for the possession of the
wells, or fountains of water. which in
that rocky, arid region have "A value
unknown TO the inhabitants of coun-
try like ours, made a separation ncccs-
sary for peace.
Abraham's Brothcrly Lovc.-U) 1t
was most unsclfish act, rcnouncing
his own interests in favor Of his
friend. (a) II was a giving up Of his
rights. Abraham had the first right to
the land. 1t was promised To him and
not to Lot. Then he was the elder
and the richer of the two. Lot had
accompanied him, Lot he Lot. (3) II
was an act Of faith; for it seemed to be
HAN4IH UP 10 Ot4itTS. LOT TIC Sake Oh
peace, the land promised to himself
Lots Unwisc Choice. Lot chose
the most beautiful and fertile tract of
land. in the valley near the mouth of
the Jordan at the head of the Dead sea.
in spite of the fact that it was under
the influence of the city of sodom, the
most famed in the world for its wick
edness. He immediately pitched his
tent toward Sodom." He did not go
there all at once. but ere long CHAP.
Is we find him dwelling in the city.
a. Lots choice was selfish. lie should
have been generous toward his uncle,
instead Of grecdily taking the best for
himself. CD The choice was made in
the wrong spirit; for worldly advan-
tage without regard To spiritual things. |
go BY this choice he left the company
OF Gods people. lost the influence of |
their daily lives. the atmosphere of
love and piety. (4) He went into the |
company of sinners. He chose it vol !
unfairly. One is safe with wicked men |
70 long rs he is endcavoring to make |
them good. but is never safe when he |
chooses their company. Compare DAN
lei in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. Jo-
seph in the court of Pharaoh. mission
aries in any heather land.
An Act of Hcroism. a. One
of the results of Lots folly was that
by being in bad company he was cap
furcd together with the Sodomites and
carried away captive by horde of
soldiers from the regions beyond the
Euphratcs- As soon as Abraham
learned Of this fact he armed 3is of
his retaincrs, and with three confcdsr-
ate friends went in pursuit. lie over
took the army in the vicinity of Damas-
Gus. and 10y stratagem and night at
tack he gained a victory over the much
larger host, and rescued not only the
family and possessions of Lot but also
those Of Sodom, which had been
taken with him.
Vision of Encouragement. Chap.
- The fact that Immediately after
this battle there came another vision
from God leads us to think that prob
ally the father II the faithful may have
fallen into a state of encouragement.
W There was the natural reaction
after brave and exciting deed. which
mad wrought his soul up To high and
noble enthusiasm. To almost all there
'oIncs such reaction. an intensified
.lon ~ what ministers call their blue
Monday" 90 The long. rapid. unwontcd
Journey produced physical and nervous
'Nhaustion. which acted upon his feel
hRs like blue glass, seen through
winch even the most charming pros
'ect and the most radiant sunlight
eem dark and gloomy. CD lie. as the
head Of small clan, had incurred the
'hiniiy Of several Of the great and
isihg powers Of the east. who had
art-e armies at their command How
~ ne know that the defeated kings
uiRht not soon return in ovcrpowcr-
M force, and bring swift destruction
= nm and all his. az Disappointed
.upeS- The promise. three times
Nen had not yet been fulfilled.
n"ugh more than dozen years had
'psed since the first call lie had
= enid. and yet he had been
:, ''ihised descendants as the dust of ,
~ earth for multitude. 90 As kitto
4! s. Lot whose nlicn,trd heart bo ,