The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-12-11
BIBLE STORY.
between Earth and ndIeaven---Genesis, Chap
ter N&VII.
Rcu. G. R. BlachaU, d. d., IL st. Louis RepuJlic


call, though her heart is breaking.
Amid new associations his thoughts
may yet turn to Becrsheba. She has
planned for an absence of ga few days"
Can she span the period until his re-
turn?
HOUSE OF GOD.
Jacob goes out from Becrshcba
alone. No sumptuous train of camcls
and attendants in his career has come.
n long journey is before him, the
outcome Of which i,c cannot tell. He
is waneercr now, and largely because
Of his own misdceds. lie begins to
see himself as neve. before. In his
heart is awakened desires that have
long been dormant. The spirit Of
Abraham unconsciously to himself
stirs within him, and his fathers God
is more reality than hitherto, now
that Rcbckah's 8 influence is no longer
dominant and fear Of Esau is lesscned
by the steadily widening distance be-
tween them.
Forty or more miles have been COW
ed as he reaches the vicinity Of Luz
at close Of day, and amid the wildness
of bare and rugged place he lies
down to rest with smooth stone for a
pillow, as many another has since
done. The stars shine on him with
what seems unwonted brillianoy. He
sleeps. He dreams. His surround
ings are favorable to the structure Of
his dream. 1t is very real to him, as
dreams with distinct meaning are
apt to be. From earth to Heaven a
massive fight Of steps, or ladder,
arises. Angelic forms ascend and de-
sccnd in beautiful and helpful minis
tries: their presence irradiating the
whole valley. Beside him, in dread
majesty, is Jehovah himself. Well
may he may be afraid, for his lips
are they not stained with deepest
falsehood? His cyes-have they not
constantly sought the possessions Of
his brother? His hands, have
they not deceived his aged father?
His hearts, it not filled with du-
plicity.
Jehovah sees the end from the be.
ginning. The process may be slow,
and the consequences Of wrongdoing
may not be wholly averted, but in due
time the Jacob Of to-day will be re-
generated. II am Jehovah. the God
Of Abraham, thy father, and the God
of Isaac" Assurance first to the
tired traveller. Then direct promise,
which runs like that made to his pro-
Reni.ors. Then personal protection:
II am with thee and will keep thee
whithersoever thou goest and will
bring thee again into this land; for
I will not leave thee until I have
done that which I have spoken to thee
Of"
The glory is gone. The stars have
faded. jacob awakcs. The night is
past. The stony valley incloses
him. Yet the dream Is to him real.
ity. Never can he forget that voice
He may be swayed and influenced Of
ten to seek perverse paths, but surely,
steadily it will mold his life. He re-
peats the words gladly and impresses
them firmly on his mind: II am with
thee and will keep thee" He is
aroused to the beginning of nobler
life. No fears shall hunt him, no
trouble shall depress him in tho face
of such blessed promises. Well may
he say, with deep religious emotion
such as never found harbor in
Esau' breast "Surely, Jehovah is in
this place and knew it not. y
This is in none other than the house
Of God and this is the gate Of heav
en-" To him the place is Bethel in.
deed.
THE SOLEMN vow.
It seems much like bargaining, as
Jacob phrases it, according to the
habit Of his mind; he has not yet
learned better through the sweet ex-
perience of faith. Heaven is not so
very far away, he thinks, and angel
ministries arc never wanting. Je.
hovah's voice is clear and unmistaka-
bio if one is only in listening atti-
tude. Nevertheless, he uses an IF
and "then' as though franz
ing contract that will be
binding toward him as we'll as by him.
And he seems disposed to inset some
particulars that were not previously
mentioned. 1t is not strange, for he