812. Rebekah loved Jacob, ver. 28.-We should always love and esteem children for their piety, modesty, and humility, rather than for their strength, their beauty, or their abilities. 813. Jacob sod pottage, ver. 29.-It is not only lawful, but proper, to attend to our temporal conveniences and comforts. 914. Esau had gone to the field, without making any provision for his return, ver. 29.-We should be prudent in foreseeing circumstances, and diligent, under the blessing of God, in providing for them. 815. Esau would be satisfied with no kind of food but Jacob's red pottage, ver. 30.-We should never pamper our appetites, or indulge in unreasonable longings for improper or unlawful things. 816. Esau's unreasonable longing for red pottage was the cause of his name being called Edom, ver. 30. -We should beware of every sin, however trivial or harmless it may at the time appear, Esau's self-indulgence, and want of self-command, was emblazoned on his country and descendants for many centuries afterwards. 817. Jacob refused to give the pottage, ver. 31.-We should never be unfeeling nor unkind to any, especially to brothers or friends. 818. Jacob took an undue advantage of Esau's longing and known self indulgence, ver. 31.-We should never take an undue advantage of the sins of others, and far less of their weakness, their embarrassments, or their distress. 819. Jacob longed for his birth-right, ver. 31.-We should earnestly desire spiritual blessings and privileges, but should never attempt to acquire them by improper or unlawful means. 820. Because Esau could not personally enjoy the temporal blessings of the birth-right, he saw no profit in its spiritual advantages, ver. 32.—We should never prefer temporal enjoyments to spiritual blessings and privileges. 821. Jacob made him swear, ver. 33.-We should anxiously secure the possession and advantages of all our spiritual blessings. 822. Esau sold his birth-right, ver. 33.—We should never prefer time to eternity, earth to heaven, or sin to holiness. 823. Jacob gave more than the price promised for the birth-right, ver 34.-We should be faithful and liberal in all our dealings and engagements. 824. Esau ate and drank, and went his way, ver. 34.-We should not be unconcerned for the commission of sins, but should confess, repent of, and forsake them. 825. Esau despised his birth-right, ver. 34.-We should never think lightly of, or willingly part with, those spiritual blessings with which we are favoured in providence. SECTION XLI. The sojourn of Isaac in Gerar. 1. And there was a (1) famine in the (2) land, besides the first (1) famine that was in the (3) days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech, king of the Philistines, unto Gerar. 1. Scarcity of food.-2. Country.-3. Time. 1. What was there in the land? Where was the famine? Besides what? When was the first famine? What had happened in the days of Abraham? Unto whom did Isaac go during this famine? Who wa Abimelech? Of whom was Abimelech king? Where did Abimelech dwell? Who went unto Gerar? What made Isaac go to Gerar? 2. And the Lord (1) appeared unto (2) him, and said, (3) Go not down into Egypt; (4) dwell in the (5) land which I shall tell thee of. 1. Showed himself.-2. Isaac.-3. Do not go,-4. But remain.-5. Country. Unto whom did the Lord say to Isaac? Who was not to go Isaac to dwell? Who 2. Who appeared unto Isaac? Lord appear? What did the Whither was Isaac not to go? down into Egypt? Where was was to tell Isaac of the land? What was Isaac to do in the land which God was to tell him of? 3. (1) Sojourn in this land, and I will be (2) with thee, and will (3) bless thee: for unto thee, and unto thy (4) seed, I will give all these countries; and I will (5) perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 1. Remain as a stranger.-2. At all times beside thee to protect thee and to do thee good.-3. Make thee prosperous and happy.-4. Children's children.-5. Do what I promised by. 3. Where was Isaac to sojourn? Who was to so-, journ in that land? What was the Lord to do to Isaac ? Who was to be with Isaac? What was God to do to Isaac? What was God to give? To whom was God to give all these countries? To whose seed? What was God to give to Isaac and his seed? What was God to perform? What oath? Unto whom had God sworn? Whose father? What had God done to Abraham his father? 4. And I will make thy (1) seed to (2) multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy (1) seed all these countries; and (3) in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be (4) blessed; 1. Children.-2. Increase in number.-3. By means of the Messiah, who shall be of thy posterity.-4. Benefited, and made happy. 4. What was to multiply? Whose seed was to multiply? Who was to make Isaac's seed to multiply? As what was God to make Isaac's seed to multiply? What stars? What was to multiply as the stars of heaven? What was God to give to Isaac's seed? To whom was God to give all these countries? What was to happen to all nations? What nations were to be blessed? In what were all the nations of the earth to be blessed? 5. Because that Abraham (1) obeyed my voice, and (2) kept my charge, (3) my commandments, my (4) statutes, and my laws. 1. Did what I said.-2. Performed that which I charged him to do.3. Because he kept my commandments.-4. Decrees which I instituted., 5. Why were all nations to be blessed in Isaac's seed? What did Abraham do? Whose voice did Abraham obey? What did Abraham keep? Who kept God's charge, commandments, ordinances, and laws? 6. And Isaac (1) dwelt in Gerar. 1. Lived. 6. Where did Isaac dwell? Who dwelt in Gerar? 7. And the men of the place asked him (1) of his wife; and he said, She is my sister; for he (2) feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah, because she was (3) fair to look upon. 1. About.-2. Was afraid.-3. A beautiful woman. 7. What did the men of the place do? Whom did they ask? Who asked Isaac of his wife? What did Isaac say when they asked him of his wife? Whom did Isaac say Rebekah was? Why did Isaac say that Rebekah was his sister? What did he fear to say Why did he fear to say that Rebekah was his wife? Who would kill him? Kill whom? For whom would they kill him? Why did Isaac think they would kill him for Rebekah? Who was fair to look upon? 8. And it (1) came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines, looked out at a window, and (2) saw, and, (3) behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. 1. Happened.-2. Looked.-3. He saw that. 8. What came to pass? Who looked out at a window? Who was Abimelech? What did Abimelech do? What did Abimelech see when he looked out at a window? With whom was Isaac sporting? Who was Rebekah? 9. And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold (1) of a surety she is thy wife; and (2) how saidst thou, She is my sister, And Isaac said unto him, because I said, Lest I (3) die for her. 1. I am sure that.-2. Why.-3. Should be killed. 9. Who called Isaac? What did Abimelech say when he called Isaac? Whom did the king say Rebekah was? Whose wife? What did Abimelech ask at Isaac? What had Isaac said? What did Isaac say for himself? Lest who should die? Die for whom? Who was afraid he should die for Rebekah? 10. And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? One of the people might (1) lightly have lain with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought (2) guiltiness upon us. 1. Thoughtlessly.-2. A crime, 10. What did Abimelech ask at Isaac? Who asked this? At whom did Abimelech ask this? With whom might one of the people have lain? With whose wife? What would Isaac have brought down upon them? Upon whom would guiltiness have been brought down? 11. And Abimelech (1) charged all his (2) people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall (3) surely be put to death. 1. Gave strict orders to.-2. Subjects that were under him.-3. Without hope of escape. 11. What did Abimelech do to his people? How many of his people did Abimelech charge? What charge did Abimelech give to his people? Whom were they not to touch? What was to be done to those who touched Isaac or his wife? Who were to be put to death? LESSONS. 326. There was a famine in Isaac's days, as well as in Abraham's, ver. 1.-Good men, like others, are exposed to the ordinary calamities of life. 827. Isaac, to avoid the effects of the famine, went to Gerar, ver. 1.-We should use all lawful means to remedy the natural or providential evils of life. 828. The Lord appeared to Isaac at the time of the famine, ver. 2.-God will be present with his people in every time of difficulty and trial. 829. God directed Isaac what he was to do, ver. 2. -We should, wherever we have an opportunity, guide and direct others in the path of their duty. 830. Isaac was not to go to Egypt, but was to remain in the promised land, ver. 2.-We should choose those places and situations where God is most likely to be found and enjoyed. 831. God promised to bless and to be with Isaac ver. 3. We should daily seek the blessing and presence of God, |