Avoid Them by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 6, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 17.

Avoid Them.

By Editor

NO MORE sensible instruction was ever given than that by Paul in his letter to Titus, namely, "Avoid foolish questions." Many have, evidently, never read this, or they have forgotten it, or they do not care for it. Sometimes such questions are even introduced into the Bible-class, and there become sources of contention, whereby the Spirit of God, given to be our guide into all truth, is grieved away, the object of the class is lost sight of, and a failure to receive any benefit is the result. We give examples.

No more fruitful theme for cavilers has ever been got up than this query, Where did Cain get his wife? Did he find her in the land of Nod? and if so, How did she come to be there? and finally, as the grand result, How, aye, how, can the Bible record of creation be true?

The editor of the Cincinnati Gazette, in answer to a correspondent, suggested that Cain took his wife with him when he journeyed to the East. Perhaps this answer will give rest to some troubled souls. Another position, believed to be truth by some, is this: The Hebrew word nod (long o, node) means a vagabond. The Lord told Cain he should be a fugitive and a vagabond; in the Hebrew it is, he should be a node. Some scholars insist that it should be thus rendered: "And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land, a vagabond," a nod.

But more suggestive, and better in fact, than all these solutions, is the answer given by a pious negro to a would-be wise caviler. "You believe the Bible," said the railer, "you ask the Lord for wisdom; I suppose you can tell me where Cain got his wife." Said the negro, "I neber asked de Lord dat question; I asked him what I should do to be saved." We commend this thought to the consideration of the multitude of restless ones who are submissively willing to throw away their Bibles, and to go down to destruction, because they cannot tell to a certainty, the pedigree of Mrs. Cain! If they cannot rest under the burden of this momentous question, perhaps they may find a pleasing diversion in the question, Where did Seth get his wife? or, Where did Lamech get his two wives? The folly of some people is almost beyond endurance.

Parallel to this (in practical importance!) is the query, If the Lord raised up Pharaoh for the purpose specified in the book of Exodus, was Pharaoh to blame for doing as he did? and, Could he do otherwise than he did? The only interest that can possibly attach to this question, as we see it, is to make it bring this result, namely, If the Lord determined that Pharaoh should do as he did, is it not also in his determination that I shall do as I do? If Pharaoh was compelled so to act, and therefore was not to be blamed, am I not likewise compelled to act as I do, and therefore not worthy of blame? This conclusion is easy to arrive at, and very gratifying to selfishness and carnality. We recommend to the notice of such querists, another conclusion, thus: If Pharaoh was destroyed for his rebellion against God, will I not also be destroyed for my sins? This may be found a far more profitable theme for meditation than the other.

If some persons searched the Scriptures as diligently to learn their meaning, and to read duty there, as they search them to find a way of self-justification, they would learn that the rising up, or standing up, of a king, means his reigning. See Daniel, chapters 11 and 12. To raise up a king, is to bring him to the throne. Egypt was to be punished for its wickedness, and because this Pharaoh was a stubborn, selfish, willful person, the Lord raised him up; that is, he brought him to the throne—caused him to reign—that the ruin might be under his hand. If this Pharaoh had been a man of a kind, gentle spirit, the Lord would have so ordered in his providence that he should not reign at that time. Another would have been raised up—caused to reign in his stead.

An illustration of this truth is found in the case of Ahab. The Lord threatened to cut off his house entirely, but because Ahab greatly humbled himself, the Lord said he would not bring the evil in his day, but in the day of his son, who did evil even as Ahab had done, but did not manifest the same contrition for his sin.

This is a most profitable Scripture text—"Avoid foolish questions."