The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-03-20
THE SUNDAY OIL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR MARCH 10 BY
THE REV.. w. HENDERSON.

Subject: Isaac a Lover of Peace,
Gen. 26:12.25-Golden Text,
Matt. 5:9-Memory Verses, 49,
documentary.
Our attention shifts now from
Abraham to Isaac the child Of the old
age of Abraham and Sarai, to Isaac
the man Of peace. With the circum-
Rebekah, we are all familiar. The les
son finds him in Gerar, in close, and
oftentimes unpleasant, relations with
Abimelech, king Of the Philistines,
and his tribesmen. After a severe al
tercation over Rebekah Isaac is per-
mitted by Abimelech to SOW in the
land. His seeding Is blessed of the
Lord with an unusual harvest. His
wealth increases from year to year
until he is the envy of the Philistines..
Matters wax so warm that after a
season Isaac is asked by Abimelech
to leave Gerar. So Isaac goes into
the valley Of Gerar. In that region
he gets into trouble with the herds
men of Gerar. Whenever, after the
fashion Of the country and the exam
pie Of his father, Isaac digs a we'll for
the satisfaction of. the wants of his
focks and retairers, these herdsmen,
jealousy, engage the servants of
Isaac in open conflict. Twice the
herdsmen that are of the company of
Isaac dig wells only to be compelled
for the sake Of peaceto abandon them
to their foes. At last, however, Isaac
Is able to finish a well over which
there is no d%issension. This well he
calls Rehoboth (Room) for saith he,
Jehovah hath made room for US and
we shall be fruitful"
From the well Rehoboth Isaac
journeys to Beersheba.- Here God
appears to him. He erectes an altar,
pitches his tent and digs a well. -
The lesson shows us that the bless
ing of Jehovah extends to the tenn
poral concerns Of those who fear
Him; that 1t is hard for some people
to regard the prosperity OF their
neighbors without jealous thoughts
arising in their minds; that nothing
Is lost by refusing to fight over mat
tiers that may, very easily, be made
subjects for contention; that the
blessings of a righteous father fall
upon a good son; that Abraham over
shadows Isaac to such an extent that
Isaac seems merely to bask in the
greatness of his father.
The first three verses of our lesson
show US that God is intimately con-
cerned with the material prosperity
Of His children. Isaac fears God and
the Lord grants him material pros
perity as we'll as spiritual happiness.
And this Is simply the logical out
working Of the laws of the kingdom
Of God. If goodness is at the basis
of all prosperity then the good man
and the good nation should prosper.
And when society is godly there is
material riches for all. The godlier
the land. the better off it's inhab-.
itants.
The last six words of verse IA point
the second lesson for US. And when
any man or any people becomes sat-
urated with the evil venom Of jeal-
ousy then trouble comes quickly.
Verse 22 indicates that Isaac
proved the truth that nothing is to
be lost and that much is to be gained
by not engaging in conflict over dis
puted matters. 1t is hard to fight
with a man who will not defend him
self.
The assurances of God given to
Isaac in the twenty-third verse are
an evidence that the Divine favor
that is bestowed upon a godly father
will descend in no unreal fashion
upon a godly son. Abraham loved
God and to follow His commands.
Isaac did likewise. And for that rea-
son the promise made unto Abraham
was given to Isaac also.
The last lesson that we may con-
slider here is. that Of the overshadow-
ing of Isaac by the memory Of Abra-
ham. Isaac Is a man of peace, he Is
a man of immepse power in his "
land. But it does seem as though
in many instances he was but a mere
slavish imitator of his mighty father.
In fact, stories that are told of Isaac
have their parallels in the stories
that are related concerning Abraham.
For Abraham's sake God blesses him.
After the manner Of his father he
tills and tolls and grows rich. Like
Abraham he digs wells, builds affairs,
calls upon the name Of Jehovah. To
be sure, imitation Of his father in
these things was not evil. Abraham
was as good q man as he was great
in his day and generation. But it
does seem as though with the exam
pie of his mighty ancestor before
him, the favor of God upon him, his
own capacity for righteousness, Isaac
might have done something more
distinctive. He Is overshadowed by
the magnitude of the character of his
father.
These few notes are offered:
VS.. IL. "Sowed." This is the first
mention of sowing. Before this we
have seed. seed-time and harvest.
VS.. 10. "Springing." Better, "NV-
ing"
VS.. 20. Seek" Heb. for Con
tention." .
vs.. 81. "Sitnah." Heb. "enmity."
VS.. %. "RehoDoth." Heb. broad
places"
Tho CbiJdrcnis Safeguard.