marvelous story was dealing with the deepest experiences of human life.
His problem was to make clear and plain even to children the nature of
that inner struggle which we call temptation. He accomplishes his end
by the use of the simple story and dialogue. Attention and interest are
fixed from the first on the experiences of a certain man and woman. The
story has all the personal charm of those fascinating popular tales
which come from the ancient East. Its prologue, the primitive story of
creation, was old centuries before the days of Moses. In the first scene
the actors are the serpent, the woman, and the man. In the dialogue
between the serpent and the woman is brought out vividly the struggle
that raged in her own mind between her natural inclinations and her sense
of duty. In the second scene Jehovah appears. The acts and motives of
the man and woman and the terrible consequences of sin are portrayed so
concretely and dramatically that even the youngest and simplest reader
can fully appreciate them. The thoughtful reader, however, soon discovers
that the marvelous biblical narrative is far more than a mere record
of the experiences of a primitive man and woman. Like the inimitable
parables of Jesus, it is a chapter from the book of life.—_Heroes and
Crises of Early Hebrew History_, _Charles Foster Kent_.
Among the many religious teachings with which this marvelous story
abounds may be noted: (1) Innocence does not become virtue until it is
tested and proved by temptation. (2) If the testing is to be effective,
the temptation must be of a character to appeal to the individual tested.
(3) Sin is not God’s but man’s creation. (4) To sin is to act in accord
with the baser and more selfish rather than the nobler and diviner
motives. (5) An act of sin destroys a man’s peace of mind and purity
of thought. (6) Sin unconfessed is a sin constantly committed, and it
absolutely prevents even God himself from forgiving the unrepentant
sinner. (7) In keeping with the law of cause and effect, sin brings its
own inevitable punishment. (8) The worst effect of sin is the severing
of the normal, harmonious relations between God and the individual. (9)
Most of the pains and ills of life are the result of some one’s sin. (10)
Man must learn in the school of pain and toil the lesson of obedience.
(11) Even though guilty and unrepentant, man is still the object of God’s
unceasing love and care—_Ibid._
AIM
=To show through the story of the first disobedience the character and
consequences of all sin, and to point out the only way to escape from it.=
LESSON PREPARATION
The story that we have in this lesson must make an appeal to every child
because there is no child in our Junior Department who has not had the
experience of being disobedient, and also, doubtless, of trying to hide
both the sin and himself from the one disobeyed. Probably there can be no
more effectual way of beginning the preparation of this lesson than for
the teacher to think back to his own experience as a child, and recall
in what manner he made his way back through repentance and forgiveness
to a complete restoration of the feeling of loving freedom that should
exist between parent and child. The attitude of the one in authority is
always a very important factor, but even with the most wise and loving of
parents or guardians, the natural tendency of the one who transgresses
is to concealment. With the facts of the story clearly in mind and the
memory of one’s own experience as a guide, it should be easy to make the
children realize that disobedience always brings unhappiness in the end,
and a sense of separation from those who love us; that the worst thing
anyone can do is to try to hide a disobedient act, because the only way
to get back to the right road again is through the opposite course—brave
confession instead of cowardly hiding or denying, repentance and the
determination to forsake instead of clinging to the wrong.
Prayer is always the most essential part of our lesson preparation, and
in this lesson especially we need to pray that we may be given such
heavenly wisdom and so much of love in our own hearts that we can make
the children see the heavenly Father as a God of infinite love and
compassion, one who hates sin but loves the sinner. Many people who are
now teaching children have testified that in their own childhood, from
the way in which these Old Testament stories were presented, they saw in
God only an avenging Deity, eager to punish or destroy. We must always
remember that Jesus never presented his Father and ours in that way,
and that he whose life was given to provide a way of escape for sinning
humanity said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”
LESSON PRESENTATION
Introduction
(Describe the happy home life of a family of children, each having his
own work to do in the home, each taking a pride in doing his work in
the best way, and tell of the playtime following the work. Picture the
children going down the street to meet their father as he comes home from
work, and the joys of the evening time when all are together. Then tell
of a day when the playtime was not so happy because one of the boys did
not care to play. He said he was not sick, but he certainly was cross,
and took no pleasure in any of the things that he generally loved to do.
When the time came to go to meet father he would not go, but instead went
to his own room. Of course the father missed him and when he found his
boy was not ill he was anxious to know what the trouble could be.) Can
you guess what it was that made Walter wish to hide from his father that
night?
The Lesson Story
What a beautiful garden that was of which we heard last Sunday! And how
happy Adam and Eve were as they did the work God had given them to do,
and enjoyed the loveliness of the place which God had given them for a
home, looking forward each day to the time when he would come and walk
and talk with them there! But there came a sad day, when all that was
changed. The garden was just as beautiful, but Adam and Eve found no
pleasure in it. The work was there to be done, but they had no heart
for it. Open your Bibles to the second chapter of Genesis and read with
me verses 16 and 17. That does not mean that the moment they disobeyed
they would die, but that the sin would open the door for death to enter
the world, and that some day death would come to them as the result of
disobedience.
One day the tempter said to the woman, “Is it possible that God has said
that you must not eat of the fruit of all the trees of the garden?” Eve
answered (Genesis 3:2, 3). The serpent said: “That is not true. You will
not die. The real reason why God does not wish you to eat of the fruit
of that tree is that when you do so you will become as a god yourself,
for you will know good and evil.” It seems strange that Eve would listen
to anyone who said that what God had told her was not true, but she did.
She even began to look at the tree and its fruit and to long to have
it, until, finally, she took it and ate, and gave some to Adam, and he
ate. Then they did know good and evil, for they could remember the days
when they were obedient and the happiness that they had, and now through
shame and fear and the wretchedness of a guilty conscience they saw what
evil is, and that with their own hands they had opened the door to let
it into their lives. There was no longer any joy in the thought of the
heavenly Father’s coming to the garden, and they tried to hide themselves
from him. “Can any hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see
him? saith Jehovah.” How would you answer that question? Of course they
could not hide from God, and it would be the worst possible thing to do
if they could. God knew of the wrong they had done and the punishment
that the sin must bring to them, but his only wish was to help his sinful
children, for he loved them then as always. (Have the children read
verses 9 and 10 to themselves and then answer this question:) What reason
did Adam give for hiding himself? Was that the true reason why he was
afraid? No, for he had been naked before and had never been afraid. It
was his sin that made him afraid. (Read verses 11, 23, 24.)
You have guessed that the boy I told you about in the beginning of the
lesson had disobeyed his father, and that that was the reason why he
wished to hide. You knew because you have sometimes felt like hiding
yourself for the same reason. So you can see how this old, old story
tells what we know is true when it shows us that wrong doing separates us
from the one whom we have disobeyed and makes us miserable. What was it
that spoiled the happy home that Adam and Eve had in the Garden? What was
it that spoiled Walter’s good times? Yes, disobedience; and it is always
so. Those who break God’s law have to suffer for it in some way. But how
glad we are to know that God loves us so much that when we are sorry and
tell him so, he will forgive us and give us a chance to try again. Listen
while I read you something that the Bible says about this. (Psalm 86:5; 1
John 1:9.)
THE PUPIL’S BOOK FOR WORK AND STUDY
There probably will not be anything in the work outlined for this week
that the children cannot easily do. It would be well, however, to call
their attention to the memory text printed on page 8. Have them pronounce
the name of the book from which it is taken, and help them to find the
reference and read the words from the Bible. Ask them what the “a” after
the reference means, and if they do not know, have them read again the
paragraph explaining this on page 3. The easiest way for the children to
find the book of Jeremiah when unfamiliar with any of the books is to
open the Bible in the middle. The book opened to will be Psalms, which
you can explain is the hymn book of the Bible, and then they can turn the
leaves to the right until they reach the book of Jeremiah. Tell them that
the name is that of the man who wrote the book.
LESSON 4
THE CORRELATED LESSON
Get the facts of last Sunday’s story briefly from the children, leaving
most of the time for the answers to Wednesday’s question in the pupil’s
work book concerning what they think Eve should have done when she was
tempted to disobey God. Another question which it will be helpful for
the children to think through and find an answer to is, After Adam and
Eve had disobeyed the heavenly Father, what should they have done right
away when they realized the wrong and felt the shame? If each pupil can
be brought to see, through thinking it out for himself, that the only
possible help for one who has done wrong comes from God, and that Adam
and Eve should have gone to God to confess their sin and ask forgiveness
instead of trying to hide from him, the conclusion will point its own
moral and each child will make his own application.
See how many know the memory text and the name of the book in which it
is found. If there is time, read to the children Psalm 139:7-12, letting
them follow you with the Bible open before them. Ask all to read softly
with you, each making it his own prayer, verses 23 and 24.
LESSON 4
Cain and Abel
=Teaching Material.=—Genesis 4:3-15.
=Pupil’s Reading.=—Genesis 4:3-15.
=Memory Text.=—Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not. 1
Corinthians 13:4a.
LIGHT FROM OTHER BIBLE PASSAGES
Job 11:14,15; Romans 6:12,16; Colossians 3:12-14; James 3:14; 5:9.
FROM THE COMMENTATORS
The narrative ... impressively shows how sin, having once appeared,
became hereditary in the human race, and speedily developed into its
most revolting form. Its details enable us to see how jealousy, when
indulged, leads to hatred and murder, and violates not only the ties of
humanity but those of family affection; how the sinner casts off all
regard for the truth and for his natural obligations; how progress in
sin adds to the misery of man’s lot; and “conscience doth make cowards
of us all.” The truths taught are, that God looks on the hearts of his
worshipers, seeks to restrain the sinner ere he yields to passion, marks
the death of the innocent, and graciously mitigates his punishment when
his mercy is sought.—_The One Volume Commentary_, _James R. Dummelow_.
Those who do not serve God hate him who does because they cannot help
wishing that they were like him, yet they have no intention of imitating
him, and this makes them jealous and envious. Instead of being angry with
themselves, they are angry with him.—_Sermons_, _Thomas P. Newman_.
The reason of the rejection of Cain’s offering was that he had not been
“doing well.” (“It would be strange if the gods looked to gifts and
sacrifices and not to the soul.”—Plato.) Notice that the offering is
secondary: _Abel and his offering, Cain and his offering_; the man and
his state of spirit are the important elements.—_Commentary on Genesis_,
_Marcus Dods_.
AIM
=To help the child to feel the beauty and strength of the love that
envieth not, and to awaken within him a desire to possess it.=
LESSON PREPARATION
Envy is defined as “selfish ill-will toward another because of his
superior success, endowments, or possessions.” It is a feeling which
is apt to be displayed by children comparatively early because of
the greater success of their classmates in school, or of the larger
possessions of those whose parents have either more money or less wisdom
in spending it than their own. It is so ugly a trait and so insidious
in its attacks that it is well to have a lesson like this which shows
the sin in its most hideous form. The story of Joseph’s brethren, who
hated him because he was more worthy than they, and of Saul, who viewed
with murderous jealousy the popularity of the young David, are other
instances of the direction in which envy inevitably carries those who
yield to it. In preparing the lesson imagine how the two boys probably
differed in their boyhood, for “great crimes are committed only by men
whose characters have been gradually debased by lesser sins.” Kent points
out nine vital truths illustrated by the story of which the preceding
quotation is one. Another which Juniors would be able to understand is
that God patiently points out to the offender the right way and endeavors
to influence him to follow it. Another is guilt unconfessed cuts a person
off from his fellows.
LESSON PRESENTATION
Introduction
I am thinking of a strange picture in which a flaming sword that turns in
every direction closes the way into a garden. Back in the distance I can
see a place over which the sun is shining with warmth and beauty. Trees
and plants and birds and flowers are all glad in the sunshine, and the
animals are running and playing for very joy; but there are no people
there. What garden is it that I see? Were there ever any people in it?
Who were they? What command was given to them there? When they disobeyed
that command they could no longer live in that beautiful home, and when
they went out from it the flaming sword was placed there to show them
that they could never hope to go back to the place where they had been
so happy while they were innocent and obedient children of the heavenly
Father.
Suppose some one should ask us to tell how people might have a happy
home in these days—what would we say? I should say that first of all
the people in the home must love and be glad to help each other. (Let
the children express their own ideas freely but guide the conversation
so that the essentials of obedience, cheerfulness, and kindness will be
mentioned.)
The Lesson Story
I have a story to tell you to-day about two brothers. When the first one
was born his mother named him Cain, and as she looked at him she said to
herself, “I hope my boy will be strong to fight against evil.” But as he
grew older the face of the mother became sad as she watched her boy, for
soon she saw that he was yielding to evil tempers instead of fighting
against them. After a time another baby boy came to the home, and he was
called Abel. Together the two boys grew, the father and mother teaching
them and hoping the best things for them. When each was old enough to
choose the way in which he would make his living Cain became a farmer
and tilled the ground, planting seed and raising fruits and grains. Abel
became a shepherd and spent his time raising and caring for his sheep.
It seems from the story that Abel succeeded better than Cain, and Cain
became envious and jealous of his brother. The Bible does not tell us so,
but we may be quite sure that Abel was a cheery, pleasant, unselfish,
helpful son to his father and mother, and that Cain was gloomy, selfish,
and cross in the home. Cain saw the difference between his brother and
himself, but instead of trying to be like Abel he simply hated him for
his goodness.
During their boyhood days Cain and Abel had seen their father bring
offerings to the Lord, and as boys they had taken their part with their
father and mother in the family worship; but when they were grown men
each must do for himself what their father had done for them when they
were young. So it came to pass that Cain and Abel brought their offerings
to God, Cain bringing some of the fruits that he had raised, and Abel
bringing the best of his flock. God was glad to accept the offerings of
Abel because the spirit in which Abel brought his gift was one of love
and joy. God can read the very thoughts of our hearts, and as he looked
at Cain he saw envy and jealousy and hatred choking every good thing in
his life, and because he was cherishing such evil thoughts, his offering
could not be acceptable to the God of love. When Cain saw that his
offering was not accepted he became very angry, he scowled and hung his
head. Then the Lord said to Cain: “Why are you angry, and why is your
countenance fallen? If you will do what is right, you will please me. If
you do wrong, sin is like a wild beast crouching at your door, wishing
to destroy you; but you can rule over it if you will.” See how tenderly
the heavenly Father showed Cain his wrong, and tried to help him back
into the right way. But Cain let sin, that is like a wild beast, stay at
his door, and did not try to conquer it. After a while he said to his
brother Abel, “Let us go out into the field,” and when they were in the
field alone together, Cain in his envy and hatred of his brother rose up
against him and killed him. Open your Bibles at the fourth chapter of
Genesis and read with me verses 9 and 10. God told Cain that he would be
from that day a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. Cain answered, “My
punishment is greater than I can bear, for I shall be driven away from
thy face, and anyone who finds me will kill me.” But the Lord appointed
a sign for Cain which would show people that they must not kill him, and
Cain went away from his father’s house.
Sin had ruined another life. As it had driven Adam and Eve from the
Garden of Eden, so now it drove Cain away from his home, and left his
father and mother in the greatest sorrow they had ever known.
How dreadful envy, jealousy, and hatred are, and how much unhappiness
they have brought into the world. Is there anything strong enough to
conquer this sin which God said is like a wild beast? Yes, love is
stronger than anything else in the world. Envy cannot even stay where
love is. “God is love,” the Bible says, and he will help us to be loving
and kind if we ask him. “Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth
not.” (Have this text repeated, and if the conditions are such that you
can do so, close with a sentence prayer.)
THE PUPIL’S BOOK FOR WORK AND STUDY
Read to the class the directions given under Thursday’s work for finding
1 Corinthians 13:4a, and let them find the verse without comment or
other explanation on your part, in order to make sure that they are able
to follow such printed directions. Of course it is important that they
should be able to find the verse, as it is the memory text of the lesson.
LESSON 5
THE CORRELATED LESSON
Home Preparation
Take some small blank cards or slips of heavy paper and prepare them
for use in the class by writing plainly on one side and on the other
these things: First card (1) Genesis, (2) Beginnings. Second card (1)
Genesis 1:1, (2) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Third card (1) What story is in Genesis, chapter 2? (2) In what book and
chapter is the story of the Garden of Eden? Fourth card (1) What story
is in Genesis, chapter 3? (2) In what book and chapter is the story of
the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? Fifth card (1)
What story is in Genesis, chapter 4? (2) In what book and chapter would
you look for the story of Cain and Abel? Sixth card (1) Where is the
verse that begins, “Love suffereth long”? (2) Repeat 1 Corinthians 13:4a.
Seventh card (1) Where could you find the question that begins, “Can any
hide himself in secret places”? (2) Repeat Jeremiah 23:24a. Eighth card
(1) What is the meaning of the word “Bible”? (2) The Book. Ninth card (1)
How many parts has the Bible, and what are they? (2) Two, Old Testament
and New Testament. Tenth card (1) The Bible contains how many books? (2)
Sixty-six. Eleventh card (1) How many books in the New Testament? (2)
Twenty-seven. Twelfth card (1) How many books in the Old Testament? (2)
Thirty-nine.
Review in Class
Explain to the pupils that each one is to have a card on which is some
question, and if he can answer it, he is to keep the card, if he cannot
answer it, the one next to him on the left may try, and so on around the
class. If no one can answer, the card is to be laid aside to be drilled
on later. If it is answered, the one who gives the correct answer keeps
the card. Most of the cards are made out in such a way that it makes no
particular difference which side up they are placed; that is, whichever
side is up will suggest to one who knows what is on the other side. But
in the questions on the Bible, books, etc., the cards should be placed
with the question up. Of course it is obvious that the pupil who has the
most cards in his possession at the end of the review has done the best
work in it.
LESSON 5
Review
=Teaching Material.=—Genesis, chapters 1-4.
=Pupil’s Work.=—Answering questions and reading Genesis 4:20-22.
LESSON PREPARATION
Read at one sitting the first four chapters of Genesis, and then think
through the stories to get at the inner meaning which you have tried
to bring to the children. The class review with the cards will have
brought the more mechanical facts that have been learned sufficiently to
mind. This review should emphasize the truths that the stories hold in
solution, but should do this, not by dogmatizing concerning them, but
by leading the children to make the statements for themselves. Because
of the natural interest of children in the origin of things enough new
matter is introduced in the Pupil’s Book for Work and Study to give the
names of the persons to whom are ascribed the originating of tent life,
music, and the making of instruments of metal. These things should not be
touched upon in this lesson, however, but left as a surprise for the home
work.
LESSON PRESENTATION
Recite to the children the lines from Joseph Addison’s hymn, “The
Spacious Firmament on High” (quoted in the first lesson). Why is it that
the sun, the moon and the stars make people think of the power of God?
What else that you see every day reminds you of God’s handiwork? Can you
tell the story which was given us in the Bible to teach us that God made
all things? (Have the story told briefly and as nearly as possible in the
Bible words.)
What is the name of the beautiful home which God gave to Adam? What
did Adam have to do in the garden? Why could not the animals be his
true companions and friends? What did God do for him? (Let the children
describe what they think might have been a day in the life of Adam
and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Mention the two trees and the command
concerning them if the children do not do so, and see if without any
reminder or suggestion from you, they tell that in the cool of the
evening God walked with the pair in the garden.)
What a happy home that was in the Garden of Eden! Were Adam and Eve
always happy there? How was it that one day instead of looking forward
with joy to the time when God would come to talk with them, they tried to
hide from him? Yes, they had not been strong enough or loving enough to
obey, and having been disobedient, they were afraid to meet God. Was it
right for them to try to hide? What should they have done?
We had a story of two brothers. What were their names? (Let the children
tell the story briefly.) What was it that made Cain do such a dreadful
thing? Could he have conquered the sin that crouched like a wild beast at
the door of his heart, if he had tried?
I am going to ask you four questions, and I think you can answer each one
of them in the words of a Bible verse. Who made the world? What did God
give Adam to do in the Garden of Eden? Can anyone hide from God? Tell me
two things that love does and one that love will never do.
LESSON 6
THE CORRELATED LESSON