1 “And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation. 2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee seven and seven, the male and his female; and of beasts that are not clean two, the male and his female; of the fowl also of the air, seven and seven, male and female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. 3 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground. And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him. 4 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. 5 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of everything that creepeth upon the ground, there went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, male and female, as God commanded Noah. 6 And it came to pass after the seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. 7 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 8 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. 9 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; they, and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after its kind, and every fowl after its kind, every bird of every sort. 10 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh wherein is the breath of life. 11 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him: and the Lord shut him in. 12 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. 13 And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 14 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered. 15 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. 16 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both fowl, and cattle, and beast, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: 17 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. 18 And every living thing was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping thing, and fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth; and Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark. 19 And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.”
NOTE.—Note that the book of Genesis is a definite revelation. It is just as precise and sacred a history as the book of Revelation is definite and divine as prophecy. It is the only authentic record of the world before the Deluge, and perhaps for a long time thereafter. It is beautiful in its simplicity, and glorious in its expression of the infinite thought of God towards man in the Gospel of creation and redemption.
QUESTIONS.
(1) What invitation did the Lord give to Noah and his house? Why was Noah, with his household, saved? V. 1. Note 1. (2) What preference was shown towards clean beasts? V. 2. Note 2. (3) What order was given concerning the fowls of the air? For what purpose were all these taken into the ark? V. 3. Note 3. (4) What did the Lord say He would do after seven days? For how long? For what purpose? V. 4. (5) How did Noah regard the Lord’s command? V. 5. (6) How old was Noah at this time? V. 6. (7) Who went into the ark with him? V. 7. (8) What remarkable event now took place? Vs. 8, 9, 13–16. (9) Who shut the door? V. 16. (10) How was Noah’s faith tested? V. 10. (11) Describe the flood which followed. Vs. 11, 12, 17–20. (12) On what day of Noah’s life did the Deluge begin? What happened to all the fountains of the great deep? to the “flood-gates” of heaven? V. 11. Note 4. (13) How long did the rain continue? Vs. 12, 17. (14) How extensive was the flood? V. 19. Note 5. (15) How high did the waters reach? Vs. 19, 20. (16) What now became of man and animal alike? Vs. 21–23. (17) Who only remained alive? V. 23. (18) How long did the waters prevail upon the earth? V. 24. Note 6.
Suggestive Readings.—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” pp. 98–104. “Great Controversy,” pp. 613–652.
NOTES.
1. Thee have I seen.—God notices every one of His children. For “the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.”
2. By sevens.—That is, seven pairs. The dual number in the Bible is expressed by the simple plural. Boothroyd renders, “seven pairs.”
3. Of the fowl.—The Septuagint and Samaritan13reading of verse 3 is, according to Boothroyd, as follows: “Of the fowls of the air also that are clean, seven pairs, the male and the female; and of the fowls that are not clean, two pairs, the male and his female; to keep their seed alive upon the face of the whole earth.” In verse 8 the Septuagint reads, “and of clean fowls and of fowls that were not clean.”
4. Fountains of the great deep, etc.—Note that the Deluge was not caused by the rain alone, but largely by the breaking up of the great deep. Evidently much more of the earth’s surface was then above water. At the Deluge the earth subsided, and the water overflowed; a mixture of the elements took place, and the whole plan and arrangement was changed. “The world [cosmos, order, arrangement] that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.” 2 Peter 3:6. The flood of waters reveals to us the present state of the world as no geological or astronomical science can. The wonderful changes wrought in the earth can only be imagined from that which is now seen in the things of nature, or known from divine revelation itself.
5. All the high mountains.—How few there are among professed Christian teachers, let alone scientists, who are willing to say that they believe the simple story of the flood! They tell us that it was “merely local.” But in all parts of the earth among aboriginal tribes are traditions of a universal flood. Go where we will and the earth itself presents evidence of submergence, the water-mark of the flood. Why not admit the truth of the Bible record that it was all at one time, and that God’s great power, perverted and unperverted, wrought changes in days that have at other times taken ages?
6. Prevailed upon the earth.—Not that at the end of 150 days they were gone, but at that time they began to subside. Noah was in the ark over a year.
ADDITIONAL STUDY.
(1) What did the shutting of the door of the ark mean to the antediluvians? What did it mean to Noah? (2) What kind of sorrow, repentance, and fear did that guilty race manifest after the closing of the door? How will it be after the closing of the door of mercy? (3) What destruction is soon coming upon the world? 2 Peter 3:5–7, 10. (4) Note the special sins which characterized the antediluvian world, and compare with 2 Tim. 3:1–7, etc. (5) Noah was a preacher of righteousness. What special message is to be given now? (6) What test will the people of God have to bear after the close of probation? Will they be preserved from harm? Jer. 30:5–7; Psalms 91; Rev. 3:10; Isa. 27:5. (7) What became of the earthly paradise?
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Baptism: Its Significance, Its Nature, and the Necessity for It
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
BAPTISM: Its Significance, Its Nature, and the Necessity for It. By E. J. Waggoner. Bible Students’ Library, No. 79. Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal. 16 pp.; 2 cents.
THE SHUNAMMITE’S SON
Lesson VII.—Sunday, August 14, 1898.
THE SHUNAMMITE’S SON.
Note.—This Shunammite was “a great woman,” who took a special interest in Elisha, and entertained him as he passed back and forth in his travels. In her house a room had been prepared for his special accommodation. For this service she refused any remuneration, but her kindness was not forgotten by the Lord. It was accepted as done unto Him. Matt. 25:40. She was childless, a condition much bewailed by oriental women, and Elisha told her that at a certain time she should have a son. The promise was fulfilled; but when the boy had grown large enough to go out to the field where his father and the reapers were at work, he was suddenly taken sick. His father sent him to the house, and he sat on his mother’s knees until noon, and then died. Laying him upon the prophet’s bed, the mother sent for her husband; then she called for an ass to be saddled, and a servant to accompany her, and started to find Elisha. The remainder of the story is told in the lesson.
25 “So she went, and came unto the man of God to Mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is the Shunammite; 26 run, I pray thee, now to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? Is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her; and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. 28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? 29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way; if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again; and lay my staff upon the face of the child. 30 And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. 31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. 32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord. 34 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and he stretched himself upon him; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. 35 Then he returned, and walked in the house once to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him; and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. 37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; and she took up her son, and went out.”
Golden Text: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.” Ps. 55:22.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) Where did the woman of Shunam go to meet “the man of God”? When he saw her afar off, what did he say? V. 25. Note 1. (2) What direction did Elisha give to his servant? How did the woman answer him? V. 26. Note 2. (3) How did she greet the man of God? What did Gehazi do? What did Elisha say? V. 27. Note 3. (4) What plea did the woman make? V. 28. Then what did Elisha say to Gehazi? V. 29. Note 4. (5) Did the sending of Gehazi satisfy the woman? V. 30. Note 5. (6) How did Gehazi carry out his instruction? What was the result? V. 31. Note 6. (7) When Elisha came to the woman’s house, what did he find? V. 32. (8) What did he do first? V. 33. (9) What effort did he make in addition to his prayer? What was the effect upon the child? V. 34. (10) Then what further effort did the prophet make? How was the restored life manifested by the child? V. 35. (11) What did the prophet then tell his servant to do? What did Elisha say to her? V. 36. (12) How did the woman show her gratitude? V. 37. Note 7.
NOTES.
1. Shunam, now called Solam, is a town in what was the land of Issachar. It is about three and a half miles north of Jezreel, and fifty-three miles from Jerusalem. It is supposed that Elisha’s location on Mount Carmel was at the scene of Elijah’s triumph over the prophets of Baal, as, it will be remembered, Elijah “repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down,” thus indicating that it was a recognized place of worship. From this high eminence the prophet was enabled to see the woman approaching, and recognize her “afar off.”
2. “It is well.”—The woman’s answer to Elisha’s servant, when asked if it was well with her and with her husband and child, was very brief. She evidently did not wish to delay to explain her errand to the servant; it was the “man of God” she wished to commune with in her hour of trial.
3. Gehazi’s resentment.—He showed something of his real character when he would prevent the woman from making her wishes known to the prophet after declining more than a mere formal notice of him. The selfish disposition of Gehazi was further manifested when Naaman the Syrian came to Elisha to be healed of his leprosy. See 2 Kings 5.
4. No salutation by the way.—The reason that Gehazi was directed not to salute any one by the way was because haste was enjoined. Oriental salutations were, as they are to this day, very elaborate and formal. They occupied so much time that a journey requiring haste would be much hindered by the ceremony. When Christ sent out the seventy laborers in advance of his personal tour, he indicated the importance of their mission and message by the same injunction. They were to go without encumbrance, and to “salute no man by the way.” Luke 10:4. Such is the urgency of the final Gospel messages to the world. Their proclamation is represented as being carried by angels flying in the midst of heaven. Rev. 14:6-12. We are now in the time of the very last message, and should hasten to give it to the world.
5. The woman’s confidence.—The woman had no confidence in either the staff or the servant. She knew that the Spirit of God was in the prophet, therefore she clung to him, and would not go home without him. Her opportunity finally prevailed, and Elisha accompanied her home. It was the struggle of faith, as Jacob wrestled with the angel, and she won her suit.
6. The woman’s doubts were verified.—Gehazi went with all haste; he even carried the prophet’s staff, and did as the prophet directed. But there was no virtue in the staff. It must be connected with the Spirit of God, or with one in whom that Spirit was manifested, before it could be an instrument of spiritual power. No doubt Gehazi went with ostentatious expectation, but his ministration was not honored of God.
7. “According to your faith.”—It is the Master’s promise that we shall receive according to our faith. It was even so with the Shunammite woman. Her faith was manifested in the most urgent manner,—a journey of some sixteen miles, and such importunate pleadings that the “man of God” was constrained to yield to her prayer. And now she finds Heaven’s response to the prayer of faith. But the Lord remembered her still further, years afterward, by moving the king to restore her home, which had been taken from her during a seven years’ absence. See 2 Kings 8:1-6.
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