The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-20
Sunday School
Lesson
for
July Fl.
Noah Saved in the Ark.

CONTEXT-The briof outline Of sntediluyiAn
times si,en in Genesis was intended to show
the consequences Of sim Expelled from Eden
Adam beheld for a thousand years his iniquity
Is 1t appeared in his postefity. Exodus, IA, %
Abel, one OF his sons, who worshpped God
with an acceptable saCrihuc, was slain by his
brother, who fed into another land and raised
up children Of corrupt lives. As the centuries
passed this evil race filled tho earth with vio-
lencc and blood until the mercy and patience
Of God was exhausted tGcncsis, vi, 81 And
yet the world was not wholly given 10 wicked.
ness. seth, born after Ahcls death, became the
father Of a righteous people, called the sons ot
God Genesis, vi, -, whose successive genera.
tions preserved the primitive faith and covenant.
The Almighty at last resolved upon extreme
measures-to destroy the wicked and TO re.
people the earth by one man and his sons, who
found favor with Him. Noah built an ark by
divine direction, gathered into it his household.
with one pair Of every living thing The rest
OF the world pcrishcd. Tho subsistence OF the
waters and Noahs return to land form our les.
son today.
ASSUAGED. .-verscs I, ., 3).-whcthcr the
food was general or local, point about which
there has been much conjecture is immatcrial-
It certainly covered the inhabited portion Of the
globe, which might then have been small area
in Western Asia. The ark that foatcd on the
deep had a precious cargo, all that had been
saved out Of the general ruin. God docs not
forget His covenant Exodus, Al, 2i), and lie
will fulfill His promise made TO this patriarch
in whom ccntcrs the hope ot the future. Genes
is, vi, ls) Natural means employed to
reduce the wide sweep Of waters to their ac-
customcd bounds-a wind was made to pass
over them. 1t is well known that 10y changes in
temperature atmospheric currents arc produced,
and under their influence moisture is taken up
which had been procipitatcd. Exodus, xiv, 2l.)
The rain ceased The clouds carried their con-
tents away to distant parts. simultaneously the
earth fountains that had poured forth their con-
tents were stopped. The waters we're assuascd
RESTED-For six months and ten DAYS Noah
| had been in the aik. For forty days tho rain
had descended, gradually bearing the great ycs.
| sci from its mOorinGs. For one hundred and
fifty days it had been on the watcry cNpansc,
| no other object visible TO human eyes. Sufficient
| time had elapsed for one OF our modern steam
| ships 10 make twenty trips across the Atlantic.
| All this time eight souls were at the mercy Of
| the elements, in a craft that would not now
| he regarded scaworthy, managed by men who
knew nothing OF navigation. There must have
| been some misgiyings in the mind Of the man
| of faith. Weary with his confinement he may
| have wondered what his fate would he But
| every such trial must have thrown him back
| upon the promises which had induced him 10
make the voyage from the old world to the new.
| At length the ark rested on peak OF Ararat,
| one Of the mountains Of Armenia.
| OPENED -(NerSc 6 to 9)-The situation was
| still one OF extreme peril. Fear may well have
| filled the stoutcst heart. There is no evidence,
| however. that any supernatural measure was
| employed TO relieve the suspense Of the i'm
prsoned family. They needed to learn lessons
| in the school Of faith, in which the time Gle
| mcnt was important. Gam. ill., 2j) Fort,
| DAYS more Of waiting passed. How shall Noah
! inform himself OF conditions in the outside
| world? lie had no glass by which the eve
might reach the distant places TO discover land
lie might not himself 20 forth TO explore. !,
place had been prepared in the roof by Divine
| direction Genesis, vi 16), probably TO admit
air and light, and possibly to take observations
of the heavens, furnishing an upward and not
| sidewise or earthward view. This opened
and a dove. the most gentle of all the birds
| Uuke, iii. 22D. was thrust into the outer air
to 60 forth and bring word again. But the
beautiful messenger found no place to rest anC
soon returned.
| PLUCKED. .-Nerscs 10, II, 12.)-Noah wa
still left to his own judgment and resources tC