Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-27

During the quarter We nave peell
studying the personalities of the re-
markable men and women OF the Ole
Testament. While we have not taken
UP all those who were worthy of con-
sideration, We probably have considered
the characters whose lives nodded the
heroic figures of the New Testament
that we are to study during the coming
three months. They represented in then
lives epochs of Hebrew history, that
like annals of modern days Is written
around the greatness of a few outstand-
ing persons. While we were covering
the field Of the Hebrew race and de-
velopment of the Jewish religion, we
recognized the existence OF the same
elements in the lives of those leaders
of long ago that We detect in the move
ments Of modern currents OF civiliza-
ton.
When we started our studies with
Gods call. to Abraham to leave the
idolatrous Or of the Chaldees and emf
CRATE into an unknown land, we learned
how Jehovah assured His friend that 1t
was Gods purpose to make the patri-
arch a blessing to all mankind. In our
closing lesson, we observed how the
Lord made clear to the narrow nation
alist Jonah that 1t was Jehovah's pur-
pose to make Of His prophet Jonah a
missionary to pagan and idolatrous
city. He called the great soul, whose
heroic life has cast such a shadow
through the ages, that today, in full
flllment of the divine promise, more
than a majority of the human race
recognize him as their spiritual father,
because he responded to Gods summon
to leave an idolatrous community 80
that Jehovah could make him great
and blessing to all mankind. Jonah
was called from his religious fellow
ship and spiritual service among his
own countrymen to preach to the
heather city Of Nineveh message that
would result In their repentance and
salvation.
In connection with the lives Of all
these heroic personalities, we have seen
that back of their achievements and
accomplishments has been the trans
forming power of Gods love for men
of every race and nation. These by
their lives Of obedience to Gods call
became the channels through which
"the grace OF God" or His loving kind
ness has been revealed, bringing saliva
ton for all. While some may have re-
sponded reluctantly, it was the power
Of Gods passion and love that moved
them to do His will. There is con-
siderable encouragement for us in the
fact that each one of there individuals
had defects in their character. because
God Is using today men and women
who have failed 'tto corifound the
mighty" Their lives demonstrate that
"the fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom" and the foundation of true
greatness Their faith in Jehovah was
far ahead of their times and it enabled
them to cast aside all sorts of fear and
enter His service.
GOdgisen Missions.
Each one of the characters whose
lives have moved across the field of our
quarters study had a Godgiven mission
Every Soul born into the world has a
divine mission. Abraham is the recog-
nized outstanding man of faith today
after more than 5000 years have passed
by. since God called him to leave the
and productive section where
he had, from q materialistic: point of
view, everything that man could desire
IN that age which knew nothing of the
scientific marvels and electrical develop
ment that are commonplace to us. Com
f1dent that God was calling him and
would protect him and his, the great
patriarch obeyed Jehovah. When the
end came his soul passed on to be with
God, leaving behind him only burial
place for his body. The greatness of bis
faith has impressed men throughout the
ages until the, vast majority Of the
world today bows down to worship the
God whom Abraham loved and who
ordered him to leave Or.
Although Abraham was apparently
free from any spirit Of jealousy, as seen
in his attitude toward Lot, yet we found
in the family of the first generation of
his descendants who were born in Pales-
tine the evidence of jealousy, envy and
deceit. Jacob was Handicapped by a
crooked personality, but he reaped
what he sowed. He felt the power or
love Transforming his character before
the urge to return home moved him to
This selfish man was completely
for, as result OF his
wrestling with God, his personality was
changed so that he made peace with his
brother and started the tithers' league
by agreeing to give 10 per cent unto the
Lord. He prospered, and every man
since who for Gods glory has given his
tenth has prospered.
Moses, 40 years after he had tried to
start a revolution in Egypt to- free his
from the burden Of slavery,
had a vision of Gods presence, purpose
and power that made him the courage
Gus leader of his countrymen. AS
Iiberator. he secured for them their
freedom. AS a lawgiver, he gave them
the principles of justice, law and reli-
gion that are the foundation of our
jurisprudence and religion today.
Four women were enrolled among the
figures of the Old Tesla
ment dispensation that we considered.
Deborah appeared upon the scene dur
ing the disorganized period Of the
judges, when Israel was In state OF
anarchy. She was the first woman in
the Bible, if not in the history of the
world to take the place Of leadership.
This fearless soul stirred up the nation
by her unwavering, untarnished and I'M
fnifln N that thew were