Crawford avalanche., 1894-03-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.


.4f t+~4 NfK
Rsasctioss Of m Elsvating Charsctsr-
wholesome Food for Thought Study
ing the scriptural Lesson Intelligsntiy
and Probably.
Jacob 1t Bethel.
The lesson for Sunday, March IL,
may be found In Gen. %: 1922
INTRODUCTORY.
Jacob at Bethel" May God bring
us all there. Where? To the house OF
God. But Jacob had not changed his
surroundings; no, he had simply opened
his eyes to see what there was about
him. May God open our eyes that we
may all see the angels encamped around
about. In the church, in the Sunday
school, this lesson ought to provoke q
clearer perception OF things spiritual
We enter perhaps with our minds, as
was Jacobs, on earthly considerations,
of property which we have been
snatching at, on our loneliness, our pow
erty, our hopelessness. Here may God
open the eyes OF his children to see
God in all things; God, and, for those
who love God good. SO may secular
Luz be changed to sacred Bethel. So
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turned to pillars for praise!
POINTS IN THE LESSON.
"And Jacob went out from Beer
sheba-" Going away from home, leav-
ing mother behind, striking out for
ones self and by ones self. Surely here
is crisis in life How many are passing
through 1t! A.
He lies down to sleep and now,
dreams, dreams and angels DIR. Rob-
inson says that the scene under the
evening sky, as his eyes closed, the
hills rising one upon another, not un-
likely suggested to him the sweet Wis
ion that came. But the angels, God
sent them. Sleep comes to us very
naturally, angelssupernaturally And
the supernatural visitants come often
by the natural channel or avenue. Be
alert for Gods messengers and mes
sages. Jacob went on his way, and the
angels of God met him. Gods way
God angels.
The ladder touched earth and
heaven. Yonder God, here man,
angel ministers between. Earth and
heaven are not far apart; God and
man hold intercourse. Was Jacob
thinking himself alone? The space
about him is filled with ministering
spirits. Was he thinking earthly
things? Lo, the angels, with some
thing Of rebuking, lift his thoughts
to God. Had he thought God had for
gotten? Hear God saying: II am the
Lord God of Abraham, thy father, and
the God of Isaac, the land whereon
thou liest, to thee will l give it, and
to thy seed.
Behold l am with thee was the
voice that ranged through that palace
OF dreams. How like the Voice that
spoke in Galilee, "Lo, am with you
Away" Then Jacob awaked; what
were his thoughts. He must have
said to himself: This is surely larger
world than thought 1t to be; this life
of mine is more precious thing In the
sight of God than had imagined, and
it is not alone who am caring for it,
/ with my poor, lame, faulty supplant-
ings; angels are Interested in earth's
doings, my conduct is watched of high
heaven; prayer is an open way heaven
ward. / can send my faintest wish up
the shining stairway; help is always
near, and down the ladder from the
skies come trooping aids and blessings
past telling That was a gracious
vision.
And now note the result. Surely
the Lord is in this place." cries the en-
raptured Jacob. This is none other
but the house of God, and this is the
gate OF heaven" There Is fear there,
reverence, but also holy Joy. He has
gotten new conception of life, as peo-
pie o. God, and rightly used, the gate
way of heaven, heavens ante-chamber.
Thus esteemed, how reverently and pi-
ously should men walk even the dusty
pathways of earth! But Jacob gets, it
cit Il H.
the heavenlies. Is there not here
marked intimation of Gods method of
dealing with man? God incarnates
himself. He blesses the world by the
Importation OF his spirit to the clay.
Yea, in due time he descends himself
through his Son and speaks through
human lips. God in the flesh. God
letting himself down to our dust by
the ladder OF grace. Surely the Lord
is in this place and I knew it not"
Something like this John is saving,
away this side: "He was in the world
and the world knew him not.
HINTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
Here is a lesson that all may richly
enjoy. For the little ones the picture
of Jacobs ladder has hints and helps
brought very close home to their
young hearts; for the older grown the
VISION JdcOD saw opens TO the spiritual
eyes new and blessed realities in life
and destiny. What does the vision
suggest to you? Let there be free
response from all. Some one will
speak of the new ideals presented of
the life that now is. Others will be
thinking of the glimpse into heaven.
Still others, with Johns ardent tenn
permanent and attachment, will see
Jesus. Very WE'LL close the ewes a
moment and look up along the ladder
way. When we open them again life
viii mean more to us.
In l8Il Sarah Flower Adams gave to
Charles Fox for his collection OF
Hymns and Anthems" thirteen por-
tions OF verse, pages, as it were, out
OF her own Christian experience.
Among them was the hymn. which has
been sung so often and so st r:ingly
since by many Jacob pilgrim:
Though like the wanderer.
he sun gone down,
Darkness he over me-
My rest u stone.
Yet In my dreams ia be
Nearer, my God. TO thee,
Nearer to thee.
Then with my waking thoughts
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