The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-09-11
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER IS.

Subject: Jacob Prince With God. Gen.
1xxii., 1-32-Golden Text, Luke xviii,
1-NIemory Verses, s,24-2S-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
l. went on his way" In some way
God had spoken to Jacob and told him to
return to his native land. Gen. 81: 3. The
Lord would not permit him to remain
away longer, for he might become per-
verted in bis religious life and forget the
promises of which he was heir, and then,
as he could no longer live in peace with.
Laban it was time for him to return
"Angels of God" A host of angels. See
Kings 6: IT, MET him. Literally,
came, drew near to him.
2. Gods host" The angels are called
hosts. l. From their multitude. 2. From
their order. g. From their power for the
protection of the saints. 'Mahanaim."
Two camps"
3. "Sent messengers" These messen.
gers were probably sent before he saw the
host of angels, for they seem to have re-
turned soon after this. Land of Seir."
This is on the east and south of the Dead
Sea.
4. "Unto my lord" yielding pacifieth
great offenses." Eccles. 10: T. Jacob
humbled himself before his brother, recog-
down as O servant.
6. "Coneth to meet thee" The mind of
Esau was in that wavering state when the
slightest incident might soothe him into
good will, or arouse him to vengeance.
7. Greatly afraid" The fear of his
brother was the direct consequence of his
sin, the sin that embittered his whole life.
1.-TWO bands" Disposal of his company
into two bands, 30 that if one was at
tackled the other might escape, was char
acteristic of Jacob. He was scheming
man, and never neglected to take every
possible precaution.
9. 20 God of my father Abraham" In
this great emergency he had recourse to
prayer.
10. Not worthy" The Hebrew express
is, too little to have received less; less than
all. "With my staff" When he passed
over this Jordan he had nothing but his
staff, but now he has wives and children
and focks and herds.
II. "The hand of my brother" Jacob
knew that his brother. was coming toward
him with an army, and he feared the
worst. 'The mother with the children"
He must have had an awful opinion of his
brother when he used this expression,
which implies the utmost cruelty, proceed
ing in the work of slaughter to total exter-
mination.
l2. "Thou saidst." Gods promises are
the sure ground Of all our hopes, and "to
remind God of His promises is one of the
privileges of prayer"
l3. "a present for Esau." Jacob did
not regard praying as fubstitute for the
use of means. 1t was rather guide, an
inspiration from God in their use.
"a, Is. 1.-TWO hundred" etc. We can
learn something of his great prosperity
from the fact that this present to Esau
consisted of $50 animals.
l6. every drove by themselves" The
disposition of this princely present in sew
eral droves, following one another at inter
walls, was such as to repeat the favorable
impression made by each, as they success
lively came before Esau, accompanied with
conciliatory message. pass over before
lie Jabbok, close to the region of expected
danger.
20. "Will apease him" Jacob hoped to
pacify his brother and turn away his an.
ger by the presents, and by the words Of
esteem which he had instructed his serv-
ants to speak to Esau.
%. Rose up that night" Jacob took
his family across in the night when there
would be no opportunity for the enemy to
see or to hinder. "Ford Jabbok." The
Jabbok was stream flowing into the Jor-
dan about two.thirds Of the distance from
the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. :,
"a. "Was left alone" To be left alone
with God is the only true way OF arriving
at just knowledge Of ourselves and our
ways. There wrestled." From Hosea
slso Tso ner spritas msus one pysGa TSs was
doubtless the Lord Jesus Christ. In Hosea
u: 4, the man who wrestled with him is
called the angel, and the Lord of hosts;
and in verse 80 Of this chapter Jacob calls
Him God.
Is. "He prevailed not" 1t would have
been easy enough for the angel to prevail
physically, but the Lord was endeayorins
to lead Jacob to complete abandonment
of himself "He touched-his thigh" The
thigh is the pillar of mans strength;
Jacob was thus shown his utter helpless
ness and dependence on God. God can
bring down to the dust the stoutest
the heart is the secret Of all true strength.
Thou bless me-" The blessing of God on
the heart Is of greater value than the best
this world can give.
81. "What is thy name" God directed
attention to his name as representing his
character. "He said, Jacob" That is,
"supplanter." Thus did Jacob admit the
true state of his heart.
%. "Israel." A prince of God, or one
powerful with God. God had taught him
that his greatest enemy was not Esau, but
himself Power with God" The only
sure way of having power with men is to
have power with God first. Earnestnesss;
perseverance, submission, faith-these will
-.a,o botb God op6 man
vailed" All of Gods people are wrestlers.
Great things are promised to those who
give themselves fully to God, not the least
of which is that they shall prevail with
God.
20. "Tell me-thy name" Reveal thy
self to me more fully. HE blessed him
there" The angel did not crafty Jacobs
curiosity when he asked his name, but he
did bless him. /. Consider the place. 1t
was place ~ Of great trial Tvs. s, y;
(2) of humble confession ". 10y; (3) OF
pleading Tvs. IL, l2); az of communion ".
30); (5) of conscious weakness. Y; 81. :;
Consider the blessing. He was l) saved
from a great peril ". n.y.; (2) he was able
to feel that a great breach was healed (33:
A.; (3) he had won new name and rank
(v. 2S), and was made a prince on the
spot; (4) he was now under fresh anolnt-
ing and was superior man ever after.
60. "Peniel." Or Penuel ". 81, mean
ing "the face of God" my life is pre-
served" These words have deep spirit
ual meaning The only way in which the
life can be preserved is 20 meet the angel
Christ; He is the life.
81. 'The sun rose" See Nal. 4: 2. The
rising sun was type Of the spiritual sun
rise upon his soul. 'Halted," etc. Wheth.
er Jacob was healed at this time, or was
ever after cripple, is mere conjecture.
&c. Eat not of the sinew." What this
sinew was neither Jew nor Christian can
tell.