Editorial January 27, 1917 Issue

Guidance

Annie M. Knott

There is a very beautiful passage in the twenty-fourth chapter of Genesis which tells how Abraham sent away from the land of Canaan a trusted servant to find a wife for his beloved son Isaac. When the servant expressed a doubt as to the outcome of his quest, Abraham responded: "The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way." These words take on a wonderful meaning in the light of Christian Science, where we are taught to look constantly for divine guidance and to know that angels, God's thoughts, are as truly with us today as they were with the ancient worthies. Here it should be said that Abraham's chief desire was to find a companion for his son who knew something about the God he himself worshiped,—the one Mind of whose guidance he was more and more certain as he advanced in spiritual understanding. It is also deeply interesting to see that the various members of his large household were all taught to look for this guidance in the least things as well as in the greatest, and that they expected a response to the uplifted desires which went out to divine Love and wisdom.

While from the human standpoint this whole story might be called a beautiful idyll, the spiritual lesson it conveys may well be deeply pondered by all students of Christian Science. Strange to say, they are often censured for doing the very thing that Abraham taught his servant to do, namely, to seek divine guidance and reverently acknowledge this before all who are willing to listen. Popular belief shows that humanity has to a large extent arrogated to itself the power to work out its own destiny, and would say that if certain things are done, certain results will necessarily follow, and that one need not call upon God for guidance when human reason may be trusted to do all that is required.

It is to offset this materialistic tendency that Christian Science calls upon humanity to turn again to God, not only with the faith of the old patriarchs but with the added understanding gained from the spiritual sense of our Master's teachings. Of old the wise man said: "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths;" but how many are there today who do this thing,—who seek divine guidance not only when they fail to find help elsewhere, but at all times and under all circumstances?

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