July, I93S
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
278
The Five Senses in Genesis 27 B y W endell P. L oveless Genesis 27 contains the narrative of Ja cob’s theft o f Esau’s blessing at the hand of Isaac. In verses 1, 22f 25, and 27, the five senses are mentioned, and in such manner as to present some vital truths concerning the believer’s responsibility in the walk of faith. 1. Sight: “He could not see” (v. 1). This detail is mentioned negatively, and indicates that it was necessary for Isaac to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5 :7). Isaac could not see his sons, Jacob and Esau, and therefore must depend upon other means of identification. Let us see what happened. 2. Hearing: “The voice is Jacob’s voice, b u t . . ." (v. 22). If Isaac had trusted his hearing, he would have been correct, but he chose to trust his other senses, and thus was deceived. Note that it was not that “the voice sounded like Jacob’s voice,” but Isaac stated the fact, “The voice is Jacob’s voice.” Knowing it to be Jacob’s voice, he rejected the fact and allowed his other senses to govern his conclusion. 3. Touch': “ He felt him, and said . . . the hands of Esau” (v. 22). Isaac was guilty o f that of which many are guilty to day—trusting feeling instead of fact. And, o f course, under these circumstances, his conclusion was wrong. “ S o . then faith cometh by hearing [report], and hearing by the word o f God” (Rom. 10:17). “But without faith it is impossible to please him” (Heb. 11:6). 4. Taste: “He did e a t. . . and he drank” (v. 25). 5. Smell: “ He smelled thé smell o f his raiment, and blessed him” (v. 27). Poor Isaac I He was trusting everything but the voice, the word. Ofi, how many dear chil dren of Giod look everywhere for assur ance and peace concerning their salvation, except in the only place where it can be found—God’s Word ! How it must grieve the heart of the Father when His children turn from His blessed Word and seek as surance and guidance in feelings, in the experiences of themselves and others, and in their own poor, faulty j udgment. It is God’s voice, through His own Word, which is our guide, and the ground o f our faith and assurance. Pardon Before Friendship It is related o f Herschel, the celebrated astronomer, that, after discovering several planets and manufacturing the largest tel escope then known, he was called to the palace to tell his king, George III., of all he had observed among the wonders o f the sky. Before the appointed hour for the interview, the king looked up the astron omer’s past record. Who was he? Where did he come from? To his amazement, it was found that Herschel, when a young man, had been a soldier in the Royal army, and had deserted. There was a death sen tence awaiting him should he ever be found: When he appeared for his appoint ment, the king bade him await a little legal formality. He then wrote an unconditional pardon for William Herschel, a deserter from the king’s army, and handed it to him, saying, “Now we will talk about the stars.” Ultimately, he conferred a knighthood on him. So, until God has forgiven us in Christ, there can be no terms o f familiarity between Him and us.-—W . J. H. You need not be weak because you are meek. Moses was meek, but he was a king among menJ^J. R,. H owden . _
Our LITERATURE T ab les W H A T T O P U R C H A S E A T B I O L A B O O K R O O M
The Coming of Christ B y I. M.' H aldeman
name of the Trait of Character, a verse of Scripture relating to that Trait, and its Bi ble location. The verse of Scripture is di vided into four parts. On. each of the four cards in the set is printed one of these parts so that the entire verse can be read from the four cards when they are ar ranged in correct order. The object o f the game is to form complete Traits or verses by calling for cards from other players ac cording to the rules of the game. Good- enough & Woglom Co., New York, N. Y. Price 60 cents, postpaid. His Unchanging Word B y W illiam E vans In this new work by one of the world’s foremost Bible teachers, there is to be found a condensed and yet broad study of the Word of God, from the standpoint of its authenticity and o f how to study the Bible. The book was originally prepared for use in the Christian Education courses of the American Sunday-School Union, as a textbook in the correspondence courses and as advanced courses in Daily Vacation Bible Schools. However, the book has not been planned solely for classroom or cor respondence use. Individual students will find the contents suggestive and illuminat ing. The book is divided into two parts, with ten lessons in each section. The subject of Part One is “ A Survey of the Bible,” and the theme of Part Two is “How to Master the Bible.” Review questions are to be found at the end of each lesson. 128 pages. American Sunday-School Union, Philadel phia, Pa. Cloth. Price 50 cents. After He Had Risen B y H ugh T homson K err • Dr. Kerr deals with the neglected area of the life o f the Lord Jesus between Easter and Pentecost, and stresses the fact of the activity o f the living Christ. He be lieves that there is a great spiritual relaxa tion immediately after Easter, and that, af ter the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, Christians are in danger of laying the liv ing Christ in the tomb again. The author deals with Christ and the so cial gospel, and also with Easter and the missionary message. The book is needed for all-year contemplation, and a careful reading o f it at any time will bring spirit ual uplift. 95 pages. Revell Co. Cloth. Price $1.00. The Basis of Christian Faith B y F loyd E. H amilton With a background of successful teach ing and also with clear knowledge o f what is needed by students in this age of doubt, the author came to the task o f preparing this volume in which he touches problems that arise in the realm o f psychology, phil osophy, and Biblical criticism, and brings the honest thinker to the conviction that all naturalistic and mechanistic theories must be abandoned. In his own college days, the writer o f the book lost his faith in divine verities. He came back to Chris tian certitude by a chain of logical reason-
The publication of this posthumous vol ume adds one more scholarly work to the number o f Dr. Haldeman’s books which have clarified the thinking o f many Chris tians on such subjects as Modernism, Bible Dispensations, and the Modern Use of the Bible. Early in the present volume, the author has stated his position in regard to the Word of G od: “ I have a reverent faith in the unity, harmony, and clearness of this Book.” And this faith in the Book has led to the employment of remarkably convincing logic in the marshaling of facts relating to the second coming of Christ. . First, the issue is defined; the beliefs of the postmillenarian as well as of the pre- millenarian are set forth with fairness. There follow two chapters on the Parable of the Sower. Then, in addition to Christ’s own testimony concerning the “ Course of the Professing Church,” such witnesses as Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and John are called to give their evidence. By similar treatment, the “ Course o f this World” is scrutinize)!. Chapters on the “Introduction o f the Kingdom,” “ Imminency and Atti tude,” and the “Twofold Coming” round out the teaching and make practical that which might appear to be only didactic. 325 pages. Service and Supplies for Chris tian Work, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. Cloth. Price $1.75. More Six-Minute Stories for Children B y J ohn E dward C harlton The success o f the author’s previous book o f short stories for children bespeaks a wide sale for this second volume.. As in the first volume, the author in his- unique manner draws upon the imagination o f the child, using familiar objects, such as birds and animals, to bring out worth-while les sons. The device o f making these objects talk in a conversational manner holds the attention o f the child, and at the same time drives home the desired point. 154 pages. Revell Co, Cloth. Price $1.50. Two Bible Games “The Game of Bible Lotto” consists of 120 small cards (1^4 x 2 inches) on which are printed simple questions of interest about Bible facts, incidents, persons, and places, which are to be read by the leader. Also there are fifteen larger cards (4^2 x 7 inches) for the players, each having eight o f the answers to the leader’s ques tions. Each question card has the key to the answer printed on it, making dispute impossible. This game is enjoyable and profitable for week-day classes, Daily Vacation Bible Schools, or other children’s groups. Goodenough & Woglom Co., New York, N. Y. Price 60 cents, postpaid. “The Game o f Traits” is a popular and successful method of imparting B i b l e knowledge to groups o f boys and girls, youths, and men and women, or mixed groups of all ages. The game comprises fifteen sets, or Traits, of four cards each (sixty in all), each set consisting of the
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs