The Progress., 1894-03-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON I.-APRIL l-JACOB'S
PREVAILING PRAYER.
Except Thou Bless Ic--GcncSis MIMI:
9-19, 1880.

IlltI ''tllNl'l " ! no lN.'N'ii - W WV
section of bible history which include:
the twenty or forty years Of Jacob,
life at his Uncle Laban's. The com
mon reckoning from Gen. 81; IS, II
makes the period twenty years. But
DR.. Kcnnicott thinks that the twenty
years mentioned in the two verses ar,
not the same years; but that tho
verses should read, "Onc twenty years
! was with thee Il. G., taking care OF
thy t1Oclis, but not in thy house,; an
other twenty years ! was fol
myself in thy house, serving
thee fourteen years for thy daughters,
and six years for thy cattic.' The
place of the lesson is Pencil, or
Pcnuel, on the north bank of the
stream JabbOl, which enters the JOr-
dan from the east about half way be.
tween the Dead sea and the sea Of
Galilcc. Pencil was at the fords,
probably some fifteen or twenty miles
east Of the Jordan. Jacob is now
% years Old. He has twelve children,
He has become rich and is on his way
back to Palestine. Isaac is still living,
Il blind, feeble man, 1856 years Old.
Rcbckah was probably not living.
Jacob had many reasons for anxiety on
his journey. He had left Laban Sc
crctly, had been pursued and had
made covenant Of peace with Laban.
AS he drew near Palestine he sent
to his brother; but his
only answer was that ESau was com
ing to meet him with 400 trained sol
dicrs. His family and hocls had no
defense aga INST such an attack. He
knew, also, that he had wrongcd his
father, and forty years of absence
could not wash that fact away.
|. The Prayer Out Of the Depths
VS.. 90. .. 80 God of my father Abra-
ham, He appeals to the Most High
as the Covenant God, who had given
promises to his fathers, of which
promises he was heir.-Cook. "The
Lord which Saidst unto me, RETURN"
etc. His dangerous position had been
teaChed in obedience to Gods com
nand.
10. 81 am not worthy of the least Of
Ill the mercies,' He confcsscs that
everything he has is the gift Of God.
And of all truth" Fulfilling his
promises. "With my staff | passed
over this Jordan" He started with
nothing. and now | am become two
oands." God had been so good to him
hat he hoped for further help.
II. deliver me, | pray thee, from
he hand Of my brother Jacob could
lot help himself "The mother with
he children" Jacob did not pray for
himself alone.
T.. "And thou saidst." Reminding
Tod of his promises. 81 will surely do
hce good. Jacobs Interpretation Of
he promises in chap 2a15.
II. The Use of Means-vers. 1923.
LAYING prayed Jacob set apart por
ion of his tiocks, for a present to
Isau, and sent them ahead. Then he
divided the rest of his possessions into
wo bands, hoping that if one were
AIKEN the other would escape.
III. God Wrestling With jacob
ers. 24-26. II. "And Jacob was left
lone" 1t was crisis in his career
t was well to be alone. "And there
vrestled a man with him" This was
10 dream, but a reality. 1t was God
Who came and laid hold of Jacob to
'revent him from entering the land
n the temper he was in.-Dods. He
leeded to see his past sin, to repent
nd forsake it. "Until the breaking
f the day" The process was long
nd hard
%. And when he saw that he pre-
allied not" 1t would be easy for the
NIGEL to prevail physically, but that
would not make his soul penitent.
Touched the hollow of his thigh"
he thigh is the pillar of a mans
trength. This tanning showed Jacob
is utter helplessness before God.
26. ''And he said. Let me go, for the
ay breaketh." 1t is time to close
he contest. God will 70 if we do not
esire him to stay, "And he said,
will not let thee go except thou bless
ne." Jacob now knew who his antag-
mist was, and had come into the true
pirit of prayer. He wanted God more
han bodily safety.
~. Answers to His Prayer-vs. 81.
Q. 27. What is thy name" As
Erecting attention to it. "And he
aid, Jacob" i. e., Heel-catcher, OF
Such had been his charae
er, shrewd, tricky, and crafty. There
vas need of change.
20. "And he said, Thy name shall
e no more Jacob, but Israel" Thai
5, a prince of God. The reason his
anne is changed is, Jacob has van
she'd; Israel is born. His after life
hows the great change in him. "For
s prince hast thou power with God"
he blessing of God was given to him.
20. "Wherefore is it that thou dost
SIX after my name?" Why do you ask
eeing have been revealing myself |
IL the past night, and all through
our life.
V. Memorials of the ConAict-verse
0. And Jacob called the name of