IN THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BIBLE LESSON May 31, 2010 Issue

CAUSE FOR GREAT JOY

BETH CAREY

GOD'S PERFECT, SPIRITUAL CREATION is discerned and described over and over in this week's Christian Science Bible Lesson, titled "God the Only Cause and Creator."

The Biblical account of creation in the first chapter of Genesis shows that God was satisfied with all that He had made and that "it was very good" (Gen. 1:31, citation 1). This is cause for great rejoicing. In the Responsive Reading even Mount Hermon and Mount Tabor, two special mountains found in Israel, "rejoice in thy name" (Ps. 89:12).

Science and Health explains, "This creation consists of the unfolding of spiritual ideas and their identities, which are embraced in the infinite Mind and forever reflected" (pp. 502–503, cit. 1). In Section II (Gen. 26, cit. 4), a story involving Isaac illustrates this concept of the unfoldment of good. The need for an adequate supply of water had always been a problem in Israel. Living a semi-nomadic life, Isaac needed to dig wells to ensure water for his flocks. Even when two wells were taken from him, he was patient and persevered, trusting in God's constant care. He had a third well dug, and no one took that one. Finally he was able to call the area Rehoboth, "signifying enough room for all" (The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, R–Z, p. 31). The reward for a man of this temperament is peace and prosperity. Science and Health explains, "When we realize that there is one Mind, the divine law of loving our neighbor as ourselves is unfolded;..." (p. 205, cit. 7). Isaac's trust in complete good is a model for all of us.

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About the author

Christian Science practitioner Beth Carey has a PhD in New Testament studies and has taught and given public lectures on the subject. She splits her time between Elsah, Illinois, and Interlochen, Michigan.

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