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2. "The damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin" (v. 16). As the servant looked upon this, y o u n g woman, doubtless she appeared to him as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her attractiveness had never been equalled. Even so, when the Spirit of God looks upon the bride of Christ, He sees her as “all fair” (Song of Sol. 4:7). Through the blood of redemption He sees her as “ not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Eph. 5:27). Her loyalty,- and love, and service are all for her Be loved. 3. "My master's wife bare a son to my master" (v. 36). The “son” was the theme of the servant’s conversa tion. His own name does not even appear in this story. Isaac is the one upon whom attention is centered. He so impressed Rebekah with Isaac’s worth that, though she had never seen him, when he asked for her hand for his master, she said, “I will.” This is the way in which the Holy Spirit works. He does not exalt Himself; He is only interested in presenting the attractions of Christ so that men will desire Him. See John 15:26; 16:13-15. 4. "And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man" (v. 61). Having given her h e a r t to Isaac, Rebekah then began the long journey under the guidance of the servant until at last.-she met him face to face. So by faith Christ is received as Saviour by the believer. Then there follows the earthly pilgrimage of wit ness and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit until that day when the Bridegroom’s glorious face is seen and the marriage supper of the Lamb is a reality. For the Children R ebekah ' s K indness to a S tranger G enesis 24:1,0, 15-20 MEMORY VERSE: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers” (Heb. 13:2). AIM: To teach that we may show our love for the Lord Jesus by enter taining strangers. APPROACH: If you have had guests from another town visiting in your home, you will remember how Mother has hurried about her work, doing many special things to make them happy and comfortable. If our friends are made h a p p y by our kindness, some stranger would be even happier if we showed the same love for him. God’s Word tells us about a beauti ful young woman who remembered to entertain strangers. LESSON STORY: Eliezer, Abraham’s oldest servant, traveled many miles on an important errand for his master. He must have been very warm and tired when at last- he came to the land to which Abraham had sent him. Just before he entered the city
of Nahor one evening, Eliezer made the ten camels which he had brought with him kneel'by a well of water. The W'omen of the city always came tb the well just at this time of the day. The servant a s k e d God to cause one of the women to be willing to draw water for both him and his camels, Soon he saw a young woman walking toward him. As she came to the well, Rebekah, for that was her name, saw the stranger. She had much work to do, but instead of being selfish and thinking of her own needs, she spoke to the s t r a n g e r and offered to draw water from.the well for both him and his ten camels. Such kindness made Eliezer happy and thankful to God who had answered his prayer. Is there a new boy or girl in your neighborhood, or in your room at school, or in your Sunday School class? If you were to invite him to join you in your games, and to come to your Sunday School class, he would feel less strange, and you would'be obeying God’s command to “ entertain strangers.” r ----------------------------•----------------------- i j A clergyman. walking along i the road, observe:d a poc>r man I breaking stones, and kneeling 1 in order to do it more effee- 1 tively. As he passed hiim, he i remarked: i "Ah, John, 1 wish 1 could ! break the stony hearts of my j hearers as easil-y as yc>u are i breaking those rocks.” 1 i "Perhaps,” was the reply, f "you do not work on your j y i knees. LESSON FOR AUGUST 12 Isaac’s Testimony to God LESSON MATERIAL: Genesis 26:19-33. GOLDEN T E X T : “ Blessed be the Lo>d God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things” (Psa. 72:18). Outline and Exposition I. A voiding V iolence (G en . 26:19-22) A S A CHILD, Isaac had watched his father, A b r a h a m , pass through exactly the same cir cumstances that now confronted him (vs. 20, 21). Isaac had learned it was better to trust the providence of God rather than to engage in fighting for his own rights, as his natural reaction to injustice would prompt him to do. He had digged a well and when the herdmen of Gerar “strove” for it, he had every reason to struggle to retain his own. But he just named the well "Esek,” (contention), and moved on. They might contend with him; he would not fight back. He
preferred to leave his case in God’s hands for future settlement. Isaac began another well and the herdmen "strove” for that also. Isaac called this one “Sitnah,” (enmity), which indicated that he was well aware of the real reason for the rob bery of his wells: they hated him. God’s people are always objects of contention in this world. When they do not retaliate, the world’s inner hatred breaks out into open enmity. Proceeding farther, Isaac digged an other well "and for that they strove not.” The name of this well was “Rehoboth,” (broad places), “because,” said Isaac, “the Lord hath made room for us.” The “room” the . Lord ar ranges for His own is always superior to anything acquired by strife. It is a splendid testimony to God when His people are willing to rely upon Him to furnish what they require -rather than their attempting to secure it themselves by entering into conflict with others. II. . ■ R eceiving the P romise - (vs. 23-25) When at last Isaac ,came to Beer- sheba, “the Lord appeared unto him the same night.” The Lord was there all the time waiting for Isaac to come to receive the renewal of the promise given to Abraham (cf. Gen. 15:1-5). The promise of the multiplied seed was given “for my servant Abraham’s sake.” Whatever their failures, Abra ham’s descendents here were assured that, because of A b r a h a m , God’s blessing would rest upon them, and that, to the degree that Abraham’s faith was found in them, they would experience Abraham’s blessing. In acknowledgment of the promise, Isaac “ builded an altar,” called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there. The altar, was his testi mony to the Lord’s authority; the calling upon His name was his ad mission of his reliance upon God; and the pitching of the tent was a witness of his readiness to moye as the Lord directed. III. P reserving the P eace - (vs. 26-33) - The similarity of this story to that of Abraham suggests that Isaac was remembering his boyhood experiences. The example of his believing father was influencing his conduct. Abraham had met Abimelech under the same circumstances, with the same results (cf. Gen. 21:22-33), The pagan king Abimelech recog nized that the living God, superior to all gods, was with Isaac tool For this reason he wanted to make a treaty with him. 'Isaac hestitated. He asked Abimelech why he had come to him “seeing,” he said, “ye hate me.”
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