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Divine Love — never failing
For the Lesson titled "Love" from January 28 - February 3, 2013
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.
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January 28, 2013 issue
View Issue-
Letters
Douglas Mull, Joni Overton-Jung, JSH-Online comments
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A path to a fresh start
Caryl Emra Farkas
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When a friend was healed
Jennifer Glaser
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The healing from my perspective
Rosemary Anne Gwyther
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Chutes and ladders
Blake Windal
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Spiritual unity and auto repair
Nancy Robison
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Growing in grace
Jan Libengood
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"And the work of righteousness..."
Photograph by Kim Shippey
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Divine Love — never failing
Michael Hamilton
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A life-launching experience
Eric Horner
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Make the right call: Reject anger
Brittany Duke
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Safe on the freeway
Barbara Esslinger
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A message 'made for me'
Pam Gasteen
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Depression destroyed
Malcolm Joynes
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Our cat was healed
Sharon Sinclair
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Not obsessed
The Editors