The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-04-28
IMPROVED
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
CUNDAy1
:OOHOOL Lesson
IBy REV. p. B. FITzwATER, D. D., Mem.
Der of Faculty Moody Bible
: Institute Of Chicago)
&c. 1892. Western Newspaper Union.l
Lesson for May l
ISAAC AND HIS WELLS

GOLDEN TEXT-A soft answer
turneth away wrath: but grievouS
words stir up anger.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Isaac Follows His
Fathers Example.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Isaac Follows His
Fathers Example.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOP
1C-How to Stop Quarrels.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP.
IC-How World Peace Is to Be Estab.
lished.
Isaac was a child Of the covenant
and was given in the time Of the old
age Of Abraham and Sarah, in fulfill
ment Of Gods promise. His name
means laughter" AS to character,
he was gentle, meek, meditative and
peace-loving. He was a remarkable
contrast to his father Abraham. Two
things may have affected him to his
disadvantage:
l. The shadow Of an illustrious
father. Sons of great and rich men
commonly do not make much Of life.
The necessity of struggle is not forced
upon them.
2. He was brought up as the only
child Of his mother. The tendency in
such case would be to shield him
from the necessity Of self-effort, so
that he would be unable to meet life's
stern realities. Every child should be
compelled to think for himself and to
fight his own battles.
l. Isaac in Gerar wv. 12-1O.
I. The appearance of the Lord unto
him wv. 1-5). Because of famine In
the land, Isaac went into the country
of the Philistines. The distress upon
the land should have moved him to
call upon the Lord (James 5:13). It
were better to suffer in the land than
to go among the enemies of Gods
people. The Lord graciously ap-
peared to him there and directed him
not to go into Egypt, thus avoiding
the error of his father. He was per-
mitted to sojourn in this land because
it ultimately was to belong to his seed.
2. His lapse wv. IT'D. He yielded
to the same temptation as did Abra-
ham many years before (Gen. 20: 10,
49,. This proves that it is not a good
thing to dwell among the enemies of
Gods people. 1t was when Peter
warmed himself at the fire Of the
enemy that he was tempted to deny
his Lord.
8. His prosperity wv. 12-17). Isaac
did not intend to make Gerar his per-
manent place of abode. He intended
only to sojourn there. While there he
sowed and reaped beautifully. This
prosperity was no proof that God ap-
proved of his course. God sends his
rain upon the just and the unjust.
a., u. lsaac's Enemies wv. 1922.
He was not permitted long to en-
Joy this fruitful land. His prosperity
melted the envy Of the Philistines.
They could not stand to see his in
crease in flocks, herds, and servants.
Success in any calling Of life will pro-
woke envy. They demanded that Isaac
should leave them. Wherever envy
has begun its deadly work, there must
be separation. The Philistines took
as their method Of getting rid Of Isaac
the stopping up Of the wells. Isaac
did not contend for them but peace
ably withdrew to another place
where he proceeded again to dig the
wells of his father. He called them
by the same names as his father had
given them.
!. Essex, which means "strife" or
contention" Instead Of struggling
with them, he removed from them and
digged another well.
2. Sitnah, which means "enmity."
The Philistines strove for this well
also. The name given shows that
there was increased bitterness Of
feeling.
3. Rehoboth. Because Of the bitter
opposition, Isaac removed from them
and digged another well which he
called "Rehoboth," meaning "there is
room.' The third time he digged
wells there was no strife. The way
to have peace is to wear out our enc
mics with patience.
III. Isaac in Beer-sheba wv. 23-25).
Immediately following Isaac's going
up from among the Philistines, the
Lord appeared to him. Our fellow
ship and privileges as sons and
daughters of God are dependent upon
our separation from the world III Cor.
6:14-1S). Following this visitation,
Isaac built an altar and called upon
the name Of the Lord. AS soon as a
meeting place with Jehovah was es-
tablished, Isaac pitched his tent there
Following this Isaac's servants digged
a well. There is no use of going
among the Philistines to get water.
After Isaac was established in Beer
sheba, Abimelech came desiring to
make an alliance with him. This
shows that he gained influence by
peaceably withdrawing from the Phil
istines. His behavior proved to them
that he was the friend of God.