Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-06-25
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSC[IOOL
LESSON
CBy y. o. SELLERS, Director OF Evening
Department. The Moody Bible Institute,
GhlpnROD
LESSON FOR JUNE 20
THE VICTORIES OF FAITH.

A'AAAiAf "Na'A 49,
The reading lessons for today are
New Testament commentary upon the
past quarters work The first lesson
Is taken from that marvellous defense
of Stephen the first martyr AS he
traces the history Of the people OF
Israel, he shows Gods continued &C.
tiyities and purposes from the hour he
called Abraham until the holy one OF
Israel came to al to their fulness all
Of these same activities and purposes
Stephen also shows us that alongside
Gods activities was the equally per-
sistent disobedience Of the people
which eliminated IN the betrayal and
murder Of that holy one. In the por.
ton selected he sets before us how
Joseph is sold into Egypt yet Ged was
with him and delivered him; how the
famine came and Jacob is thereby
brought into Egypt only later to be
carried back into the land OF promise
Teach Faith.
The second lesson is taken from
that great catalogue Of heroes as re-
corded in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Here we have set before us the fact
that Gods eternal purpose with man
is ever that of faith. Isaac, Jacob
and Joseph are here mentioned and
the faith of each set before US.
Thus we see that the main value Of
the past quarters work is to teach
faith, its divine revelation and per-
sistence, and alongside Of that we see
mans continued failure and peryer-
sity.
Leaving odt the Easter lesson We
have covered a period of about so
years, eight lessons dealing with Jo-
seph, and four with Jacob
Attention has been called to Jo-
seph as one of the most remarkable
types of Christ to lie found in the Old
Testament (see comments on lesson
of April ~. AS we have also sug,
gested Jacob is not so grand a char.
acter as Abraham yet is much more
like the average man.
1t is interesting to 60 over these
lessons and follow Gods purposes and
to observe how like Christ Joseph was
In LESSON l. we behold Jacob at the
instigation of his mother decelving his
poor old father and being compelled
to fly that he might save his life. Re-
bekah thought she could execute Gods
purposes; but it is never right to do
evil that good may result. Gods word
standeth sure and in his own way and
time he would have given Jacob the
blessing without the aid of his deceit.
In LESSON II. Jehovah appeared be-
| fore this conscience smit.en refugee
and again promised that the blessing,
yes, his own divine purpose, would
be worked out in Jacobs life. This is
a lesson on the grace of God
LESSON Ill sets Jacob before us
after twenty-one years service and
separation from his brother Esau.
This is a great lesson on Gods desire
and transforming power. He trans.
forms Jacob to Israel prince" and
softened the heart of Esau. Faith
overcame and is strengthened and
confirmed.
In LESSON ". we firs2 behold 10.
seph particularly loved and favored
and as bitterly hated; he was thrown
into a pit to die but is taken up
typical of the resurrecuon) and sold
into slavery. The development Of en-
Wy and the persistent, delivering pur
pose of God are here presented in
strong contrast
LESSON V. shows Josephs enter
ing that dark maze beyond which God
was to highly exalt him. By faith he
overCame that fierce temptation and
his treatment of his fellow prisoner
was Gods useful agency though il
seemed accidental and insignificant
Gods Continued Purpose.
LESSON VI is the completion OF
Lesson V. and in it we see JOSEPH
seated in the place of power, able t.
save the country and also his breth
rem
LESSON VII. shows us Gods con
tinued purpose and the beginning O.
the fulfllment of his word that the
descendants of Abraham were t.
dwell in captivity Gen. 1913.
LESSON VIII is a continuation O
Joseph's dealings with his brothers il
which their guilty consciences arr
still further pricked and God reveals
to us his immutable purpose
LESSON TX. is a tender one of thu
meeting of Joseph and Benjamin while
at the same time it suggests to us thu
certainty Of the fact that we may "bt
sure your sin will find you out" Tn
less covered by his forgiving blood GU
sin is mercilessly upon our track.
In LESSON X. we behold JOSEPH
made known to his brethren and thos,
in fear are urged to draw near. Jo
seph's faith in God saved him from al
rogance and retaliation and inclinet
his heart to tenderness and love in hi
dealings with his brothers. Even a
Joseph revealed himself to his broth
ers so will Christ reveal himself t
his brethren of Israel and they shall
behold him whom they pierced"
Jeseph's provision for his father
and his brethren, LESSON XII, is
rich suggestion Of our fathers bount
and care for all who are I'm Chris
Jesus" By faith Joseph who had be
come great In a strange land, ident
fed with all Of it's power and splendo
! makes provision that when GoGs pul
i, pose shall be executed and the son
of Israel shall be delivered fror
, Egypt, his bones shall be carried int