The Coolidge examiner., 1937-05-13
SN~~ONNOp~N~N
Imbropea SUNDAY
Uniform c~-o~r
-:-LESSON = =
BY REV. HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST.
Dean of the Moody Bible Institute
of Chicago
g Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for May 16
THE FORBEARANCE OF ISAAC

LESSON TEXT-Genesis 25:12-25.
GOLDEN TEXT-Blessed are the
peacemakers: for they shall be called
the children of God. Matthew SO.
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Man Who
Wouldn't Quarrel.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Was Isaac a Hero?
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-How to Prevent Quarrels.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Promoting Peace.
In world largely dominated by
the philosophy that might is right,
and in which men are urged to as
sert themselves and demand their
rights, exacting them even by law
less and violent methods, it is in
creasingly difficult to proclaim the
truth that meekness is not weakness
and that the Christian virtues of pa
tience and long-suffering are not
simply outmoded theories which do
not fit our modern world. Men will
marvel at the laundering waters of
Niagara and will forget that in the
noiseless solitude of the forest the
trees are raising water, not lower
ing it, in far greater quantity and
for an infinitely more useful pur-
pose. The clustering north wind
has far less power than the gentle
spring sun.
The story of Isaac, the second of
the patriarchs, is instructive from
beginning to end. The five chap
tiers preceding our lesson merit
careful reading. Isaac had come
through many blessed experiences
and had also sadly tasted the de-
feat of unbelief and sin before we
reach the time of our lesson. Fear
ing famine, and evidently not be-
ing certain that God would care for
him, he had gone down from the
promised land, and was dwelling
in the land of the Philistines. But
God had not forsaken him, and even
there he blessed him.
1. Peace, Prosperity, and Envy
(vv. 12-1O.
Isaac was at peace although he
was in the enemy's territory. God
had given him great prosperity with
the result that the Philistines hated
him. Times have changed, but men
are the same. Many are they who
will not have the Lord Jesus Christ
to rule over them, but who cast en-
vious glances toward those who be-
cause they have honored God have
been honored by him with peace OF
heart and have been prospered in
whatever they do. (Read Psalm ID
Note that Isaac's testimony is
strengthened by his willingness to
yield even what was his right,
rather than cause contention. Un-
doubtedly there are times when one
must defend his name and his pos
sessions, but all too often those who
"stand up for their rights have
wrecked homes, churches, and ma
tions, and have gained nothing but
an empty victory.
III. Peace in the World Is Tempo
rary wv. 18-2D.
Isaac moved on and digged more
wells, and for time he was again
at peace, but not for long. He was
still in the land of the Philistlnes.
We are in the world. We long for
peace, we would throw all ON inf1u-
ence on the side of peace. But let
us not be misled, for as long as sin
is in the world there will be strife
and war. James asks, whence
come wars and fghtings among
you?" He rightly replies that the
"lusts," the sins of men, bring them
about.
Many noble Christian men and
women have permitted their God
given hatred of war and killing to
mislead them into support of un-
scriptural and impossible peace pro-
grams, often to the loss of their in
tereSt in the preaching of the gospel
and the winning of souls to Jesus
Christ.
But is there then never to be
peace on earth?
Ill. Perfect Peace in the Pres
ence of God (vv. 22-25).
When Isaac came up into Canaan,
the land which God had promised
him, he found permanent peace and
renewed fellowship with God. Even
so, the Christian man and woman
who will step out of a spiritually
destroying fellowship with the world
and will come wholly over into the
spiritual Canaan will find true peace
and delightful intimate communion
with God.
A broader application of the same
truth brings before us the teaching
of Scripture that when the One who
has right to reign, the Lord Jesus
Christ, returns to take his throne,
then and not before, will peace
cover the earth. In the meantime
those who bear the beautiful name
Christian, who are true followers Of
the Prince of Peace, will give them
selves to such patient, loving, and