The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-08-29
AS TO THETWIN BROTHERS
Esau and Jacob Differed In Ap-
pearance, Pursuits and Char-
aCter

, Ied pottaEc. AndJacob said, Sell me tins
oay thy plrthrlEht. Item. Nxv: q, 80, 81
, They were brothers, Twin brothers,
+ but in everything unlike.
They differed IN appcarancc-Esau
harry, ruddy, strong, full Of animal life
and courage. lie cravcd excitement
and amusement Jacob, smooth of
skin, dark in feature, light of build,
no match for bis burly brother in
physical force Or activity.
They differed in pursuits-Esau a
cunning hunter, u man of The field
chase. Had he been living now he
would have been foremost in all manly
daring and outdoor sports. With
handsome face, genuine disposition,
quick to resent, but quick also to for
give, polished in manner, a good shot,
a splendid rider, we see around us to-
day many like Esau. Jacob loved the
home life. The widest cXGlclsc and
dangers for which Fsau pincd, as an
imprisoned eagle for its rocky crau,
had no fascination for him. He was
content 10 dwell quietly among the
llocks, busy in the common, everyday
duties.
| IhCJ NllSICtt Ill CllttluClCI. InCfG
is much in Esau TO attract. If he was
impctuous, nc vas generous. If he
was rash, he was frank. If nc was
wanting in religious fcrvor, he was af-
fcctionatc. If he dotted on the pleas
urc OF the chase, he was splendid COM
pany, every inch man. But for all
this he was decidedly sensual, "pro-
fane," the Bible calls it. lie was a
slave to his senses, and hailed any
| thing that would thrill him with Il
| llccting excitement. He was willing
to purchase pleasure at any price.
Alas that he should have such a
host of followers Jacob was a quiet
man, but under the calm exterior there
were depths and depths. And on the
| duplicity of his nature there was also
an immense capacity for religious
faith and indomtablc tcnacity. Thus,
| while Esau was occupied only with
pleasure, Jacob was stirred with long
ing which could not be satisfied except
by the possession Of the birthright.
The birthright? What was 1t? IL
was not worldly property. All that The
world could give Esau was his in
abundance. lie married we'll and
founded Il strong, noble house. lie
bad large fortune, and went down to
his grave III peace at good old age.
Whatever. then, the birthright was, it
was not worldly property, for of this
Esau, who lost il, had more than ia
cob, who won it. 1t was not immunity
from sorrow. Few have trodden a
more rugged path than Jacob, or ell
| ,l,,,n ,r,fn -
freedom from pain or grief for Of
these Jacob, who won it, had far more
than Esau, who lost it.
The birthright was a deep spiritual
heritage. 1t gave the right to be the
priest of the family or class. 1t carried
the privilege of recelving and commu-
nicating the Divine message. 1t was Il
link III the line by which the Messiah
was to be born into the world. This
and much more than this was summed
up in the possession of the brthright.
One day Jacob was standing over a
caldron Of savory pottagc, made of rcd
lcntilcs, still highly rclishcd in Syria.
The appetizing odor filled the air, and
at that moment who should come IN
but Esau, faint with hunger. lie did
not know the name, but the sight and
smell were quite enough. "Givc me
Of that rcd-,hat red - he cried impa-
tiently. Jacob was not wholly sell
fish man, but it suddenly occurred to
him here was his opportunity to obtain
The prize which his brother esteemed
SO little. SO he made the eXtrao:di-
nary proposal to exchange The mess OF
DOttaUc for the biUhriuht
Behold, on The one hand rise the
far-away vision, unseen, spiritual. On
the other was the stcaming potlagc,
very tempting in his hunger and wcari-
ness. Esau closed with 1t. "BchOd,n
said the bluff hunter, 81 am at the
point to die. What profit shall this
birthright do to mc?" SO "hc did eat
and drink, and went his way. Thus
did Esau despisc his birthright." We
cannot cXoneratc either Of these two
men. Jacob was not only a traitor to
his brother, but Mithlcss to his God.
AS for Esau, we recall the burning
words Of Scripture "I.ook diligently,
lest there be any profanc person, as
IIsau, who for one morscl Of meat sold
his brthright."
Yet let us, before we utterly con-
dcmn him, look close at him. The
strongest and bravcst men, physically
are often the weakest in resisting the
appeal of momcnlary passion. Esau
is mastered by the fragrance Of the pot
tagc Samson by the charm of Phil
istinc girl Peter by the questions of a
maid servant. There is no strength
apart from The strength of God. For
temptations come when we least cx-
pcct them. The moment Of peril is
the moment when We rcturn weary
from the dangers Of the chase to the
quiet home, which promises us immu-
nifty from all attack.
These appeals come in the most tim
i'll things. One mess of pottagc, ono
glass OF drink, one moment of passion
one afternoons walk, question and
an answer, a movement or look. II
, is in such small things as thcsc that
! great alternatives are offered and great
{ decisions made. There arc no trllcs
, in our daily life. Everything is grcat
: Tie harvest for good or i'll springs
| ;rI