Divine Love — never failing

Isaac, perhaps the least-known of the Old Testament patriarchs, will become a better-known friend to students of this week’s Bible Lesson titled “Love.” Two extended narratives from Genesis are at its center (see Section 2 and 3, Genesis 24, citation 7, and Genesis 26, cit. 10). 

God is Love, and unerringly leads Abraham’s servant when he is sent out to find a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham, his servant, Rebekah, and Isaac in turn take steps that lead to the fulfillment of divine Love in their lives. Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 454 , cit. 6). Isaac’s character, both patient and active, is revealed when we read that he “went out to meditate in the field at the eventide” (Genesis 24:63 , cit. 7), and, of his relationship with Rebekah, that “he loved her” (verse 67 ).

We next meet a prosperous Isaac (see Genesis 26, cit. 10) searching for water for his nomadic camp. His servants dig for, and find, water, but their first two wells are claimed by the local people. These life-sustaining wells have names: the first, “Esek,” because, as the Amplified Bible renders it, “they quarreled with him” (Genesis 26:20 ). The second well is called “Sitnah,” or “strife.” However, quarreling and strife don’t have the final say. Were Isaac, Rebekah, and their workers persistently praying? Isaac attributes the peaceful solution to God: “And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land” (v. 22 ). Interestingly, Rehoboth means “wide places or streets,” implying a settled habitation. Love quenched quarrels.

Christ Jesus embodied this healing power of Love, and Section 4 twice mentions his “compassion” (Mark 6:34 and Mark 1:41 , cits. 14 and 15). According to Strong’s Greek Lexicon, “The bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity,” and the Greek verb splagchnizomai, translated here as “moved by compassion,” refers to this deep feeling. Jesus’ inner conviction of divine Love led to the external restoration of the leper who came to him for healing. The Contemporary English Version offers a startling alternative rendering of the Greek word as “was angry with.” Was Jesus indignant with the man’s condition, compassionately reaching out to immediately remedy it? Science and Health refers to “the benign thought of Jesus” and then asks, “… but if the unselfish affections be lacking, and common sense and common humanity are disregarded, what mental quality remains, with which to evoke healing from the outstretched arm of righteousness?” (p. 365 , cit. 20). 

Divine Love inspired both the patriarch Isaac and the Master, Christ Jesus, everywhere it led them. Science and Health states, “Through spiritual sense only, man comprehends and loves Deity” (p. 481 , cit. 25). This same Love also marks and lights our way. “Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof” (Joshua 23:14 , cit. 20). In fact, “Love never fails” (I Corinthians 13:8 , Golden Text).