August, 1942
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17:29). And our Lord knew what He was talking Ejbout, ' for He was the God who destroyed Sodom—Jehovah. 4. “For theia vine is of the vine of Sodom" (Deut.. 32:32). The application 'of verses 32 and 33 to merely the evil of drinking alcohol, as Indicated by the Committee’s lesson title, is cer tainly a glaring example of how not to interpret Scripture. Israel here is referred to under the f i g u r e of a "vine,” and figures s h o u l d not be turned into literality. The point of the passage is that Israel, which should bé a true vine bringing forth the. gen uine fruit of the grape, has become à worthless vine bringing forth gall and venom. See Isaiah 5:1-7 and Hoseà 10:1 for the same figure applied to the nation of Israel. Instead óf bring ing forth proper fruit unto God, Israel had produced evil fruit. Certainly, thè drinking of alcohol to excess was doubtless a part of the evil fruit. But it included the totality of religion and life. And modernistic religion might teach the strictest kind of temperance regarding alcohol, and yet be a “vine of Sodom” bearing "grapes of gall.” Alcohol is bad, but is not the worst thing in God’s sight Golden Text Illustration P salm 1:6 God once warned Noah of the com ing Flood, and told him to build an ark of refuge, which he did. When thè Flood came, God shut him in; and Noah, being unable to open what God had shut, could not admit any one into the ark after the deluge began. Many people were drowned quite close to the ark. What comfort would it have been to them as they drowned if Noah had called out, “Be not distressed; you are not far from the ark”? Only those Inside got any benefit; those near and far who were outside were destroyed.—The Christian Herald. M E M O R Y VERSE: “He t h a t Is greedy of gain troubleth h is ow n house” (Prov. 15:27). APPROACH: Mother divided an ap ple between Jane and Jerry. •Jerry had his eye on the slightly larger piece and reached out to take it be fore his sister could. Jane looked a little disappointed, but she said noth Because Lot Was Greedy G enesis 13:13; 19:17-26
their luxurious living would be re moved from them. And such will be the certain end of all intemperate liv ing and forgetfulness of God the Creator. iBl " ■ t _ _ _ _ _ Points and Problems 1. "Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt In the cities of the plain" (Gen. 13:12). As Chris tians, we reject the untenable modern theory held by certain men, namely, that what men become is wholly the product of their environment. On the other hand, it would be greatly wrong to suppose that environment has no effect on men. Historically, it can be demonstrated that the finest character has been produced in the country rattier than in the cities; and further more, that the best character appears* among the people who have lived in' countries where living has been a struggle, rather than lands or areas where living is easy to win. 2. “Pitched his tent toward Sodom" (v. 12). The American Revision trans lates this as follows: "Moved his tent as far as Sodom.” In this brief sen tence we have th’e summary of a life time of compromise. First, we have his choice recorded in verse 11, "Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan.” This initial wrong choice having been made, the inevitable process began.
B LA C K B O A R D LESSON
His tent kept coming closer and closer to Sodom, until at last, we find him sitting “in the gate of Sodom” (19:1), which means that Lot not only lives there, but also has become one of the elders or judges of that wicked and dissolute city. 3. “And be overthrew those cities" (Gen, 19:25). This Is the end of all civilizations that forget God. Nothing like Sodom can ever endure. It is merely a part of the doomed “kosmos" which is continually passing away (1 John 2:17), and will at last come to a full end. Critics have often scof fed at the story of this judgment upon Sodom. But One who is wiser than all the critics once said, "The same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone f r om heaven, and destroyed them all” (Lk.
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ing, until Jerry bit into his l a r g e r piece and found a worm hole! Then sh e l a u g h e d , "Greedys a l w a y s get t he worst of it!” iane was right. It doesn’t pay to be greedy. Let me tell you about a man
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