The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-03-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR MARCH 10 BY
THE REV i. w. HENDERSON.
Subject: Isaac Lover of Peacey-
{ Gen. 6:12-25-Golden Text,
Matt. 5:9-Memory Verses, To-


Gen. 2e:12-25-Golden Text,
Matt. 5:9-Memory Verses, 16.-
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
Abfnnelech, king of the Philistiness
and his tribesmen. After 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 q well for
the satisfaction of the wants of his
flocks and retainers, these herdsmen,
jealously, 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 we'll over which
there is no dissension. 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 we'll.
The lesson shows us that the bless
ing of Jehovah extends to the tenn
Aoral concerns of those who fear
Him; that it 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 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 well 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 godliers
the land, the better off its 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 % 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 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 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 man of peace, he is
a man of immense power in his own
land. But it does seem as though
! in many instances he was but mere
I'LL. I. ~
| 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 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.. ~. Slowed" This is the first
mention of sowing. Before this we
have seed, seed-time and harvest.
VS.. 10. "Springing." Better, ''liv-
ing"
VS.. 20. Seek" Heb. for "con-
tention"
vs.21 "Sitnah" Heb "enmity,"
VS.. %. "Rehoboth." Heb. broad
| places"
The Children's Safeguard.