Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-03-29

be found in Gen. 80: c-l2; 24-3O.
INTRODUCTORY.
Jacob again. We left him at Bethel.
A score or moro of years have passed,
and we find him returning toward the
old spot. He Is an older and wiser
man, but he has somewhat else to learn
as this lessen disclo,es. He Is to dis
cover that dependence on God Is power
with God. Yet his face Is set In the
right direction at the outset. Two In
cidents in the narrative Just preceding
our lesson give hint OF this. Jacob
fleeing, with something OF his old
craftiness, from Laban, his fsther-in-
law, overtaken, Is brought to make
covenant with his former master.
They build a heap OF stones for wit
ness. "And Laban called 1t Jegar Sa-
hadutha, strange, outlandish tongue,
but Jacob called 1t Called" 81: All.
That Is, he gave 1t the Hebrew name.
He had put the heather language and
life OF his iather-in-law behind him.
pendence. The other incident is at 32:
angels of God met him, and when
Jacob saw them he said this is Gods
host; and he called the name Of that
place Mahanaim," |. O., two hosts
Gods host and his own. Jacobs eye is
open to see God. for his face is set Gen.
81: l3) to go his way and do his will.
POINTS IN THE LESSON.
Jacob lays a good foundation for APP
Abraham" i. e., the God of the prom
Uses. (2) (which saidst unto me, Re-
turn" etc. The covenant-keeping
God. The God who calls us out Is
bound to lead us out. Trust him for
his grace. It Is what the old sister
meant when she said, "I've his word
for it, and I'm holding him to it."
But Jacob also seems to plead his
own unwOrthiness q, ground for
blessing. 81 am not worthy OF the
least OF all thy mercies." How does
unwOrthiness constitute a claim upon
God? 1t Is not unfitness per SO, but
felt unfitness. Therefore It is all OF
grace through faith. God has prom
ised to help us in weakness and undone-
ness through the merits of Jesus
Christ, revealed in due time. "All the
fitness he requireth is to feel your need
of him"-saved by grace.
Notice the little word "for" in verse
10. For with my staff passed over"
etc. 1t is plea number 4. First, Gods
promise to the fathers, second, Gods
personal call; third, Jacob own weak
ness; and now, fourth, Gods previous
blessings. Hitherto" he could say,
hath the Lord helped" Therefore is
the argument, he will help in the
future, he will help to the end. What
is the best thing you know about God?"
the writer asked an old saint, 81 years
old, sixty-fve years on the way. His
promises, was the answer. He has
kept them every one, and will keop
them to the end" He will!
HINTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
Prayer. What multitude Of good
thoughts suggest themselves in con-
nection with this theme. The little
folks will be particularly interested in
the beautiful story, the older people in
the stirring lesson. Pray before the
lesson. Pray after it. Step In the midst
of the lesson and pray. Henry Mabie
makes his missionary conferences CO.
casions OF power he says they always
bring to him surprises, because Of the
interspaces of devotional appeal. Come,
it is time to call upon God.
Pray. brethren. pray.
The day Is dying;
Pray, brethren, pray,
For time Is flying
1On turret Strikes tn6 Qylug Cnlmet
We stand upon the edge of time.
Eternity is drawing near
Eternity Is drawing near!
PRAYER moves the arm of God, but II
must be direct, definite. Up the street
here lives man who has been the sub
ject of prayer for forty years or more.
But the PRAYERS we're for the most part
of general indefinite sort; people were
asking that something, someway, the
head OF that family, his household
almost all in the church, might come
into the kingdom. The other day his
pastor was strongly moved to make
prayer in his case definite and direct.
| He called to see the wife, an earnest
Christian soul Have you faith to be-
lieve that your husband may he CON-
yerted at once?" YES" "Will you
join with me in direct, personal effort
| to bring him, under God s help. to full
and open decision?" YES" The next
day while the wife was praying in the
room above, the pastor, by an appoint
ment arranged by this Christian sister,
was talking and praying with the hus-
band below. Lo he was all ready for
the decision step. A few days ago he
was baptized and at the last commun-
| ion service a happy family sat down at
| the table OF the Lord. Pray with q
purpose, pray definitely, and let prayer
and works 60 together.
Jacob needed the wrestling prayer
as preparation for his life work. If we
saw the greatness of the burden as
| Christ himself saw it we would give
more heed to the word that came in
| the thicket from the pale lips, watch
and pray lest We enter into temptation;
the spirit indeed is willing ready, but
| the flesh is weak" Moody came to
| ask Spurgeon to preach, in connection
with the great London meetings, at
Exeter Hall. 1t might have been sup
posed that the pastor OF the Taber-
nacle would not count it heavy task.
But we get glimpse here OF the striv-
| ings OF the Spirit with the wonderful
preacher that hints at once of the
sources OF his power and the mighty
burden OF all true preaching. He
fairy lay upon his face in the agony Of
his duplication before God that he
would assist him and fit him for the
| great service. The American evangel-
| list confessed that he never saw such
| fearful wrestling in prayer.
And yet Charles Spurgeon was not
| one OF those men who would spend
time In prayer which ought to be given
| to work. DIR. Northrup, there in Chi
cago when the great confiagration was
on. being asked ly the students wheth-
| er they had better hold a prayer meet
ing suggested that just at that time 1t
might be better to get buckets and go
to work to help putting out the fire.