The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-08-29


pectatlons of more riches from their
gold mines. the British have been nc.
cused Of picking a quarrel and raising
a prctext ON which to overthrow the
Transvaalers.
But seeing we live IN the Twentieth
Christian century while Isaac and
Abimeloch lived eighteen hundred
years before Christ was born, 1t may
be loft to an impartial judgment to
decide where the noblost manhood has
been manifested IN London or Ia
Gerar And with these two cases in
point it should DO a deal toward show
ing an nominally Christian nations.
peoples and persons the shame Of the
strong conquering. crowding ana
crushing the weaker
Yields, Although Migntier.
Not so did Isaac. He was the
mightier the wealthier ana could
have easily answered Abimeleoh OF
Gerar: NO. thank you. do not
choose to migrate II anyone is to
leave it LAST be you Phillstines
can drive you out and l viii Think
you. Abimolech, that | will quietly en-
dure a dead loss Uesson verse 15l on
all the outlay and improvements
have made in Gerar? / have dug wells
and deepenod others which We're dig
gel in the days of Abraham am
the stronger as you admit, and in
tend TO stay end enjoy my riches and
rights"
But this man Isaac was OF quite
different disposition; for 0esson 10
without a mumurlng word he depart
ed thence and pitched his tent in the
valley of Gerar and dwelt there"
Exactly what the distance was be
tween the former dwelling place and
this valley land to which he moved
we capnot learn The first Gerar was
city, and this next mentioned a
country place We speak Of New York,
and may mean New York city or New
York state Isaac moved peaceably,
thus indicating his disposition as a
peacemaker into The rural region cal
led Gerar. and went on with his rural
pursuits.
But when this quietly disposed and
non combatant head Of the house Of
Israel Qesson v. 1920 took to busi-
ness and the betterment of the land
in Gerar. a new test of his tranquility
befell him. Just as soon as his work
began to yield the needed watcr in
that dry country, up rose the indolent
Philistines to dispute Isaacs right
There are lazy, worthless people ev-
, erywhere and always to be found
who will not work themselves, but
stand ready to insist that others-the
( world--owes them a living, as they
say.
Calls the Monument "Esek"
With such It is not easy to be for
1 bearing. But Isaac was. Possibly he
/ inherted temper OF patience for
such a time from his father Abraham,
who treated Lot Genesis, kill so
generously Hence he says TO the
herdman of Gerar: Let me erect a
monument 10 keep present events In
memory aud ] will move on" And
the monument he named "Esek",
meaning strife. because they ". 2O)
stroye with him."
Now we are studying Isaac as a
peacemaker and so must observe that
it is common TO hear people say
There IS a point where pntieuce
ceases TO be a virtue" If that were
so in lseac's age. one might suppose
he reached that point after being
ousted from the city and again ousted
from the country and O third time
0esson " 2D attacked when trying
to make a nome for himself and his
people Nevertheless he calmly re-
Trained from using force when he
might have readily fought his way to
conquest; and again (v 2g "he ge-
moved from thence and digged an.
other we'll"
There is suppositlon that he dug
,his time on the borders OF the land
beyond where those of Gerar woulS
consider themselves Justified by their
boundary rights in contendlng with
him. For we read (lesson v Z2)
"Now the Lord hath made room for
MS and we shall be fruitful in the land
Certainly his exceptional long suffer.
ing entities him TO the name Of peace
maker
Very patient was he under proyoca
tIoa. Meanwhile that he was full able
TO have beaten his antagonists For
It rs only as we are able 10 compel an