Eleven of the past quarter’s lessons were selections from the book of Genesis, the twelfth being an independent temperance lesson. The titles, Scripture selections, and Golden Texts were as follows:—
Lesson I.—God the Creator of All Things.Gen. 1:26 to 2:3. Golden Text: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”Ch. 1:1. This simple statement of God’s own Word on the subject, corroborated by many others equally plain, is a sufficient answer to the varied theories of so-called science which ignore the Scriptures of truth. See Ex. 20:11; Ps. 33:6-9; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16.
Lesson II.—Beginning of Sin and Redemption.Gen. 3:1-15. Golden Text: “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”Rom. 5:20. The beginning of sin was disobedience of God. The continuation of sin is disobedience of God. This is all there is of sin—“transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4; Rom. 4:15; 5:13. The earth with everything in it is suffering under a curse because of disobedience. The remedy is in the faith of Him who gave us an example of obedience even unto death—the obedience of faith. Phil. 2:5-13.
Lesson III.—Noah Saved in the Ark.Gen. 8:15-22. Golden Text: “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”Ch. 6:8. Because of the persistent transgression of God’s law, judgment came upon the world, but Noah was saved by the obedience of faith in the word of God. This judgment was a type of the final destruction of the wicked, and the ark was a type of Christ. The condition of the people before the flood is typical of the conditions when Christ shall come to judgment. Matt. 24:37-39.
Lesson IV.—God calls Abraham.Gen. 12:1-9. Golden Text: “I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.”Verse 2. Abraham was called because God knew him in advance. Ch. 18:17-19. His greatness consisted in his obedience by faith. Rom. 4:3; Heb. 11:8-10; James 2:21-23.
Lesson V.—Abraham and Lot.Gen. 13:7-18. Golden Text: “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”Matt. 7:12. God had wonderfully blessed Abraham, temporally and spiritually, but it did not exalt him in his own estimation, or make him selfish and avaricious. But Lot manifested a far different disposition, which in the end proved disastrous at least to his worldly ambition and the welfare of his family.
Lesson VI.—God’s Promise to Abraham.Gen. 15:5-18. Golden Text: “I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.”Verse 1. Abraham had not looked for reward in this world; hence his indifference to a choice of pasturage between him and Lot. His was a life of faith in the promise of God, and now the Lord repeats and enlarges upon the promise, for the further encouragement of His chosen pioneer.
Lesson VII.—Abraham’s Intercession.Gen. 18:23-32. Golden Text: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”James 5:16. Abraham suddenly found himself in familiar conversation with the Lord through his characteristic hospitality to strangers. And the Lord’s condescension emboldened him to ask a great favor, and it was granted. “Ask, and it shall be given you.” is our Saviour’s gracious invitation.
Lesson VIII.—Abraham and Isaac.Gen. 22:1-12. Golden Text: “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac.”Heb. 11:17. The offering of Isaac was the real crisis in Abraham’s life. The promise of a multitudinous seed, which had been a source of anxiety to him and his wife for nearly fifty years, was placed in the balance with his faith. Not only was Abraham’s faith tried, but also that of his young son, Isaac. The result was the victory of faith. “And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.
Lesson IX.—Isaac the Peacemaker.Gen. 26:16-25. Golden Text: “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.”Matt. 5:9. Isaac’s whole career was one of peace; at great inconvenience and apparent loss he yielded to his persecutors. And for his self-sacrifice in the interest of peace, the Lord greatly rewarded and encouraged him, and gave him peace with his enemies. See Prov. 16:7.
Lesson X.—Jacob at Bethel.Gen. 28:10-19. Golden Text: “Surely the Lord is in this place.”Verse 16. Through great sorrow, fatigue, loneliness, and penitence, Jacob found a present help in time of need. Just when he thought he was alone and forsaken of all friends, he was shown in a dream a way opened to the Source of all grace. Here he found strength for every emergency through which he was to pass. The way to the throne of grace is still open; come to it boldly, and find mercy. Heb. 4:16.
Lesson XI.—Jacob a Prince with God.Gen. 32:24-30. Golden Text: “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”Luke 18:1. Jacob was now returning to Canaan, not alone, but with a numerous family of wives, children, and servants; also immense herds and flocks. Like Abraham on Mount Moriah, he had here his supreme test of faith, and came off conqueror. He was no longer reckoned as a “supplanter” (Jacob), but was afterward known as a “prevailer with God” (Israel).
Lesson XII.—A Temperance Lesson.Prov. 23:29-35. Golden Text: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”Ch. 20:1. Temperance is one of the high characteristics to be attained in the Christian life. Gal. 5:22, 23; 2 Peter 1:6. We are not only to be temperate in eating and drinking, but “in all things.” 1 Cor. 9:25. “Drunkards” are in the list of those who “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Ch. 6:9, 10.
(See article entitled “The Book of Genesis,” on page 6 of this paper.)
