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The Commentary

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 30, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 13.

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The Commentary.

LESSON 15.—SABBATH, APRIL 14.
1. How old was Isaac when he was married?
"And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian." Gen. 25: 20.
2. How old was he when his two sons were born?
"And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel, and his name was called Jacob; and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them." Verse 26.
3. What were their names?
4. What difference was there between them?
"And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents." Verse 27.
5. How did the parents regard them?
"And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison; but Rebekah loved Jacob." Verse 28.
6. What did Jacob have as Esau came in one day from a hunting trip?
"And Jacob sod pottage; and Esau came from the field, and he was faint." Verse 29.
7. What did Esau say to Jacob?
"And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint; therefore was his name called Edom." Verse 30.
8. What did Jacob reply?
"And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright." Verse 31.
9. How did Esau reason concerning his birthright?
"And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die; and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" Verse 32.
10. What transaction was thus made by the two brothers?
"And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him; and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." Verses 33, 34.
11. What was the birthright, and what was its importance to anyone?
12. How did Esau regard his birthright?
"Thus Esau despised his birthright." Verse 34, last clause.
13. How highly did he value it?—He considered it worth no more than a meal of victuals, to satisfy present necessity.
14. What language is used concerning Esau for this proceeding?"Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." Heb. 12: 16.
15. How did he afterward feel concerning the blessings of his birthright?
"For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." Verse 17.
16. Relate, in brief, the circumstances. Gen. 27: 1-40.
17. Was he able to get back the birthright? Heb. 12: 17.
18. Why not?—Because he had deliberately sold it, and could not alter the trade.
19. What is the exhortation given to us in this connection?
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord; looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." Verses 14-17.
20. If we are children of Abraham, what is our birthright?
"For the promise, that he should be heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." Rom. 4: 13.
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." Col. 1: 12.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3: 1, 2.
21. Through what are we made heirs of this inheritance?
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son; in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." Col. 1: 13, 14.
22. What does the Spirit through Paul say of one who despises his heavenly birthright?
"He that despised Moses's law died without mercy under two or three witnesses; of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" Heb. 10: 28, 29.
23. How may we do this?
"For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica." 2 Tim. 4: 10.
24. What can you say of the condition of one who deliberately barters his interest in the blood of Christ, and his hope of eternal life, for a little present enjoyment?
"Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Heb. 10: 29-31.