The Sabbath School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 19, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 32.

The Sabbath School

International Series.

LESSON X.—SABBATH, SEPTEMBER 4, 1897.

THE TIME OF THE PROMISE.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 7:1-21, R. V.

1, 2 “And the high priest said, Are these things so? And he said, “Brethren and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy land, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Haran; and from thence, when his father was dead, God removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell; 4 and he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; and he promised that he would give it to him in possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. 5 And God spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land, and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil, four hundred years. 6 And the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. 7 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs. 8 And the patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt; and God was with him, 9 and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 10 Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction; and our fathers found no sustenance. 11 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent forth our fathers the first time. 12 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s race became manifest unto Pharaoh. 13 And Joseph sent, and called to him Jacob his father, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. 14 And Jacob went down into Egypt; and he died, himself, and our fathers; and they were carried over unto Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver of the sons of Hamor in Shechem. 15 But as the time of the promise drew nigh, which God vouchsafed unto Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 16 till there arose another king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 17 The same dealt subtilly with our race, and evil entreated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live. 18 At which season Moses was born, and was exceeding fair; and he was nourished three months in his father’s house; 19 and when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.”

QUESTIONS.

1. Tell the substance of the sixth chapter of Acts.

2. For what were seven men set apart?

3. Describe the character and work of Stephen.

4. Tell the means by which he was brought before the council.

5. What was the charge against him?

6. What question did the high priest ask him?

7. Did Stephen deny the charge? Did he proceed to defend himself?

8. With what words did he begin? To what event did he at once direct their attention?

9. Where do we find the record of the event here referred to?

10. What did God say to Abraham when he was yet in Mesopotamia?

11. From what must Abraham be separated before he could come into the land God would give him?

12. What did Abraham do, and to what place did he at last come?

13. How much inheritance did God give Abraham in the land of Canaan? Yet what had God promised?

14. As Abraham died without receiving it, what must necessarily follow in order to have the promise fulfilled? Ans.—Abraham must have a resurrection?

15. Did Abraham understand that the promised inheritance was not to be received until after the resurrection? Gen. 15:13-16.

16. To whom besides Abraham himself was the land promised?

17. Yet what did God say of Abraham’s seed? How long were they to be in bondage?

18. When did he say they should come forth? When brought out of bondage what would they do?

19. What did God give Abraham as a pledge? Name the immediate descendants of Abraham.

20. What was done to Joseph? Who accompanied him?

21. What did God do for Joseph in Egypt?

22. What took place in Canaan at that time?

23. Tell how it came to pass that Jacob and all his family went to Egypt.

24. What happened to them there?

25. At what time was it that the people of Israel greatly increased in Egypt?

26. What then took place?

27. What did this new king do? What were the people compelled to do?

28. Who was born at this time?

29. What was done to him? For what position was he brought up?

Additional Questions and Suggestions.

What time was approaching when the Israelites were afflicted in Egypt? What was the only time mentioned to Abraham? Gen. 15:13, 16. Where do we find the record of the oath God swore to Abraham? Gen. 22:16-18. What did God swear that Abraham’s seed should possess? Gen. 22:17, last part. What is the greatest and last of all enemies? 1 Cor. 15:26. At what time is this enemy destroyed? 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Rev. 20:11-14. Then when God swore that Abraham’s seed should possess the gate of their enemies, what was he promising? And what, therefore, in the plan of God was near at the time Moses was born?