Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-02-20
INTERNATIONAL
SUNMSQlO0L
!. LESSON
(By Z. o. SELLERS. Director of Eve
ming Department The Moody Bible In
stitute Of Chicago.)
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY %
ADRIAN AND LOT.

LESSON TExT-Gen. 13:1-la. ~
GOLDEN TExT-"The blessing Of Je
hovah. II maketh rich: and He addict n
sorrows therewth."--Proy. 1o:22. -.l
During the time that interviewed be
tween this and last weeks lesson W,
read of Abrams journey down int
Egypt" a story that is rich with sug
gestive typical lessons. Abrams de
ceit is discovered by Pharaoh and h,
Is driven from Egypt. Fear is the
root Of unbelief, and when we fall We
are sure to carry some one with US
But a mans sin is sure to be discov
cred, so 1t was that Pharaoh com
handed his men, and they sent him
away, and his wife, and all that he
had" Egypt, a type of the world
turned Abram out (12:20) when he
tried the good Lord good devil" mode
OF life. Compromise and separation
are not compatible.
Lessons Picture.
I. "Up Out Of Egypt" Wv. Is. Again
we have presented the lesson OF sepa.
ration. This portion Is a great pic
ture of repentance. Abram carried
with him not only his own possessions
but also those of his nephew Lot. No.
tice, Abrams wealth did not make
him acceptable in Egypt. The world
desires not alone the wealth of a man,
but also the man back Of the wealth.
Again Abram turns from conflict I'M
to Bethel, the house of God that place
OF confession, Of CONSERVATION. and Of
encouragement.
These returning pilgrims were not
ordinary men, no more is the man who
is in Christ. and God was already
given evidence Of the blessing prom
Used to Abram C12:2) and of that ma
terial blessing SO definitely promised
to the descendants of Jacob. We
read ". 81 their substance was
great" But there is far greater dan
ger however in material prosperity
than in adversely. This was a greater
danger to these pilgrims than that of
the Canaanites who dwelt in the land.
II. "And There Was Strife" w. 5,9.
The evidence of this, danger manifest
ed itself when 1t was found that the
land could not support both Abram and
Lot ". g.. Paul calls Timothy's at
tention to this same danger II Tim.
500, and We are constantly seeing It
Illustrated all about US.
Lots History.
Lot was Journeying with Abram
than with Jehovah (12:3),
doubtless in a great measure he was
governed by cupidity and selfshness
when he beheld Abrams prosperity.
Millions in America profit by the Sc
and the prosperity OF this which
80 nearly approaches a Christian ma
ton and yet in scorn or in neglect re-
fuse to believe in or to serve the God
who sends the blessing. The whole
of Lot Is one Of seiashness.
later resulted In sorrow and
sadness and in his being. shorn Of all
of his selfishly acquired prosperity.
Lot had no particular claim upon
Abram nor have we In our own right,
because OF our own merit, upon
be causeof our own merit, upon God.
There is so little that divides most of
Is and so much that We hold in COM
non that 1t is but little short. of Grim.
nal to waste u energy upon that
which Is ephemeral or of, slight i'm
'ortance. What a difference in the
ahoice of Lot and that of Abram. One
uttered into TIE path OF the wicked,
Prov. Ala, Is. while the other into
he path that "shineth more and more
into the perfect day." Prov. AIS. II
iii. "And Lot 80. Beheld All the
lain Of Jordan" w. 1913. Lacking
he counsel and guidance Of Jehovah
.ot followed the choice that which
'as pleasing to the eyes and made q
orry mess Of 1t, for in the end he was
great loser. Already the land was
oomed ". 10) and so today the man I
chooses the world in preference
. Christ makes a bad bargain Il John
I'D and the greater condemnation 10
is for he snakes his choice in the blaz-
,g light Of nearly twenty centuries Of
Gospel. Lot made q willing com.
romise, a superficial choice and came
ear losing his own soul. Matt, 1926.
:SS. He deliberately entered into
anger when he pitched his tent to-
ards Sodom." The believers peril il
orldliness. Lots Journey ". liz led
last to Sodom v. IL. ytsf34
Abram aspired to know God, Lot
I'D an ambition to possess the things
time and sense. Abram coveted
ghteousness Matt 6)s Lot soyeted
Iccess in this life only. Well has
oethe exclaimed, Choose well; your
Ioice Is brief and yet It Is endless"
alone will reveal the results
our choice Of surroundings, upon
rselves. upon our families and upon
r friends. 8tgs., fstf,3oet !
w. "Lit Up Thine Eyes," Wv. 1918.
ter separation comes fellowship ana
God invited Abram to
.se and to inspect his promised pos.
ssions. So may we contemplate the
st possessions God has promised
in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8.17. 2 Cor. !.
Is. After our separation and our /.