LESSON 11Abraham Entertaining Angels
Teaching Material.—Genesis 15:1-6; 17:1-8, 15, 16; 18:1-16; Hebrews 13:16.
Pupil’s Reading.—Genesis 17:1-5, 15, 16; 18:1-8; Hebrews 13:16.
Memory Text.—Forget not to show love unto strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2.
Numbers 22:22-27; Judges 13; 1 Kings 19:5-8; Luke 1:11-22, 28-33; Matthew 2:13.
(Genesis 15:1-7.) Abram felt that he had made the mightiest earthly powers his enemies, and probably feared that the next campaigning season would bring down on his encampment an irresistible host; so the word of encouragement comes, “Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield.” Besides, he saw that he was exhibited to his followers as a man who had the enjoyment neither of this world’s winnings nor of the promise of God, for the sake of which he sacrificed the booty offered him by Sodom. The soreness he felt on this account was removed by the assurance, “I am thy exceeding great reward.”—Commentary on Genesis,Marcus Dods.
To further deepen the impression made by the last two lessons, helping the children to see the beauty of kindness, and so stimulate within them the desire to practice kindness and helpfulness in their own lives.
These lessons give to us as teachers an opportunity for a leisurely study of the book of Genesis of which every teacher should take advantage. Of course all that intervenes between lessons at any point should be read for one’s own information, but no more should be given to the scholars than is indicated by the limits of the teaching material. It is interesting to note in the study of chapter 17 that “the rite of circumcision is not, as is sometimes thought, a rite peculiar to the Jews. It was and still is widely practiced in different parts of the world”; but while with other races the underlying principle seems to be initiation into manhood, with full civil and religiousrights, its meaning among the Jews was and is the same as that which underlies our sacrament of christening, namely, dedication to God.
The opportunity to lead children in the study of these early stories is a privilege which every teacher should appreciate to the utmost. Dr. Eiselen calls attention to the value of these stories in this way: “Missionaries say—and experiences at home confirm the claim—that the patriarchal narratives are of inestimable value to impress lessons of the reality and providence of God, and to encourage the exercise of faith and confidence in him. There is nothing that can be substituted for them in religious instruction.”[4]He also quotes from Prof. W. W. White twenty-one Christian virtues that are illustrated and enforced in the life of Abraham: “He was steadfast, resolute, prudent, tactful, candid, kind, self-controlled, obliging, self-denying, condescending, unselfish, peaceable, hospitable, courteous, humble, thankful, reverent, prayerful, worshipful, faithful, obedient.”
This lesson is a fitting climax to the three which show particularly Abraham’s unselfishness and kindness and self-forgetful thoughtfulness. In the other two he was acting for some one whom he knew and loved as a father might love a son. In this incident he extends the most complete and joyous hospitality to men whom he believed to be ordinary travelers.
I wonder if Abram was not a little discouraged when he came back after rescuing Lot and the other people of Sodom from the four kings of the East? It would not be strange if he was both sad and discouraged, for the nephew whom he loved had gone back among the wicked people of Sodom, where his life was in danger all the time, and Abram might easily have felt that he had not done very much for Lot, and had made enemies for himself of the powerful kings whose soldiers he had attacked.
But if he was discouraged and half afraid, his heavenly Father and Friend knew it, and he appeared to Abram in a vision saying, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Then Abramsaid: “O Lord, how will you give this land to my children as you have promised, when I have no child at all?” The Lord took Abram out into the night and bade him look at the stars in the sky, saying, “Can you count them? Your children’s children shall be as many as the stars for number.” And Abram believed God’s promise and was comforted. Again God appeared to him and repeated his promise, and said, “Your name shall not be Abram any more but Abraham, which means father of a multitude, and your wife’s name shall no longer be Sarai but Sarah, or princess, for she shall be the mother of kings.” Yet Abraham and Sarah had no children.
One noon time as Abraham stood in the tent door he saw three men coming near. They were strangers to him, but he hastened to meet them and said, “I pray you go no further in the heat of the day. Come and rest here under the shade of the tree, and I will have water brought that your feet may be bathed, and I will have something prepared for you to eat, and after you are rested and refreshed you may go on your way.” The strangers accepted the invitation, and Sarah and the servants soon had a dinner prepared for the guests, and they ate while Abraham stood by to wait upon them and show them every honor. It was not long before he found that his guests were messengers from God. The promise that a child should come to their home was given to Abraham again, but now one of the messengers told Abraham just when Sarah’s son would be born. He said, “At this time next year.” And Sarah heard what was said as she stood in the tent door near by. Can you think how happy Abraham and Sarah must have been that day? What a joy it was to them that they had provided the very best they had for people who they thought were mere strangers. See what our memory text says. (Hebrews 13:2.) Here is a command from that same chapter (verse 16). To “communicate” means to share the good things that you have with others.
At the Christmas time when the birthday of Jesus is near, I am sure we all wish that we could share the good things that we have with him. Have you ever thought what you would have done if you had been in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born? This is what some one has said:
If I had been a sleeping guestLodged at the inn that Christmas night,When the wee Lord was laid to restIn the cold stall in humble plight,I know I would have waked, instead,And given him my warm, soft bed.
If I had been a sleeping guestLodged at the inn that Christmas night,When the wee Lord was laid to restIn the cold stall in humble plight,I know I would have waked, instead,And given him my warm, soft bed.
If I had been a sleeping guestLodged at the inn that Christmas night,When the wee Lord was laid to restIn the cold stall in humble plight,I know I would have waked, instead,And given him my warm, soft bed.
If I had been a sleeping guest
Lodged at the inn that Christmas night,
When the wee Lord was laid to rest
In the cold stall in humble plight,
I know I would have waked, instead,
And given him my warm, soft bed.
How glad any of us would be to do that. Is there anything we can do? This is what the rest of the poem says:
But I was not a lodger there—It was so long ago, indeed.Yet all around me, everywhere,Are little children still in need,And when I love and cherish themI serve the Babe of Bethlehem.—Nancy Byrd Turner.
But I was not a lodger there—It was so long ago, indeed.Yet all around me, everywhere,Are little children still in need,And when I love and cherish themI serve the Babe of Bethlehem.—Nancy Byrd Turner.
But I was not a lodger there—It was so long ago, indeed.Yet all around me, everywhere,Are little children still in need,And when I love and cherish themI serve the Babe of Bethlehem.
But I was not a lodger there—
It was so long ago, indeed.
Yet all around me, everywhere,
Are little children still in need,
And when I love and cherish them
I serve the Babe of Bethlehem.
—Nancy Byrd Turner.
—Nancy Byrd Turner.
Used by permission of the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society.