The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-03
Sun day School
Lesson
for
August 4.

| CoNTENT-Because Of famine IN Canaan,
| Abram went down into Egypt, them and for
centuries before and after, the greatest grain
producing country in the world. II has been
suegested that this journey indicated lack Of
| faith, that God was able To supply him with
| 1000 even as lie fed the prophet Il Kings xvi:D.
| "hile admitting the power OF God, we are not
assuming that there any Divine promise
| OF such care. and in the absence Of a promise
Ahram had no right TO presume miracle would
| be wrought for him. The stay in Egypt was
profitable TO the patriarch. and consequently
| instructive to all after generations, for II gave
| opportunity for the display Of some inhrmities
| which otherwise might have been concealed
! CGen. Nii:lO20J. II is always desirable TO know
| the true character Of prominent actor in
| hnstory. Ahram feared his wiie's beauty might
| involve him In trouble, TO avert which he pre-.
varicatcd with most serious results to his rcpu.
| tation and standing at the court OF Pharaoh.
RETu RN Verscs !, 9. 3, ". Abram was eject.
! cd from Egypt for his duplcity. The king de.
| termined not to tolerate one in his domnions
| who by false pretcnscs had brought trouble
| upon the royal household. Rich in silver, gold
| and cattle, accompanied by his nephew, anil
| bringing the households OF both. the patriarch
| returned from the south to Bethel, his last
| place Of soiourn in Canaan (Gen. xi:s). lie
| had no" become a prince surrounded by a
|
| thousand souls tGcn. Niv:lD The moral oh.
| liquty mentioned above had not ohscured
| Abrams faith which was still firmly fixed in
| God IL often occurs now, and it was more
| common in that day, that under stress Of cir
| cumstances men breaK down the side Of
| their lives which is turned tCward their fellow
| men, while they maintain urshakcn allegiance
| TO the Almighty. Hence, on arriving at Bethel
| Ahram found the old altar which he had erected
and there called on God Psalm cxvil0.
STRIFE VERSES ;. g, 'O.--The preparation Of
| Abram for his mission, rs shown last week, was
| by policy of separation tGen. xii:D. He had
withdrawn from his kindred in Ur, tarried in
ISran until his father died tGen. xii:34O, and
had come to Canaan, with hgh horcs based On
promises which could not te fulfilled until II.
should be relieved of soma other in 'umhranccs.
Lot, his nephew. still attached to his tribe.
was really untitled to promote and share the
glory OF his career, and he must he removed.
But how? At last occasion was offered in very
simple way. There was room for tho hoCkS
of Abram atnd Lot, IL they remained together,
| and their hcrdmen had many disputes and strifes
| in consequence. In general controversies among
kindred are dcplorcd, and yet they frequently
work out good results II was 80 with Paul
aud Barnahas, who could not agree concerning
Mark (Acts xv:3O. AnI it proved III tne
| case Of Abram and ,.lt.
PROPOSAL (vcrses and 9).--Fortunatcly the
contention was limited to the herdmon. IL
! never reached their masters, because Ao an h1d
the good seense to step forward promptly with
a measure tor the adjustment of The dinicultjcS.
His act va, highly Common laidc IN the interest
! ri peace (Matt. v:o). The two might have hoen
involved in such trouble rs would nave made
them long and bitter enemies, resulting in open
hoStlities among their descendants. For less
proyoCation nations have gene to war, The iro-
posll was generous in the extreme. Abrdm, after
expressing his earnest desire tor ;iicndy ICla.
tions with his nephew, allowed MIN 10 decide
what part Of the country hc would take, agree.
ing to accept what was left In tbs Sly ;he
two men would hr nut ili agreement ard e. cd
will 20 apart and thereafter form 'No separate
and distinct households. This proposition rested
on the wise maxim Of the ancicnts, I'll two can.
not agree let them separate (Amos ii:;D.
CHOICE VCrS1s 10 and 1D.-The offer Of
Ahrlm should have been rejected Lot should
have given his uncle tho choice of the land
This was due on the score Of age, and in East
ern countries from time immomoria that con.
sderation outwcighcd almost every other, and
found cN!rcssion at least in the Mosaic code
U.cv. XiN:32). Besides, the land belonged by
Divine grant TO the post,rity of Ahrdm Oon
Xii:0. and any others who might reside there
should have respected this title But the young