Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-09-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson in the international Series
for september 10, 19O1-Jaeob,
a Prince with God.
THE LESSON TEXT
Genesis S2:24-So')

81. And Jacob was left alone; and there
Wrestlea man with him until the breaking
of the day.
Is. And when fs saw that he prevailed
not against him, ne touched the hollow OF
his thigh; and the hollow of Jacobs thlgn
was out of joint. as he wrestled with him.
36. And he said, Let me go, for the Gay
bfeaketh. And he said, will not let thee
go, except thou bless
q. And ne said unto him, What Is thH
name? And he said, Jacob.
q And he said, Thy name shall be called
no more Jacob. but Israel; for as q prince
hast thou power with God and with men,
and hast prevailed.
-. And Jacob asked him, and said, Teu
me, pray thee, thy name. And he said,
Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my
name? And he blessed him there
80. And Jacob called the name of the place
Peniek, for I have seen God face to face.
and my life is preserved.
GOLDEN 1EXT.-Aen ought aISvaYsI
to pray and not to faint.-L1Se 1871.
Jacobs Marriage.-The story of ia
cob's love for Rachel shows Jacobs
character at its best and Laban's at
its worst. Jacob was evidently a man
of energy, as is shown by his CONVEX
sation with the shepherds at the well
and his prompt offer to serve for his
bride. His service was valuable to
Laban, and that fact had quite as
much to do with the deception which
tom which was alleged as excuse Tor
the fraud.
Jacobs Family.-The II sons and
one daughter who were born to ia
! cob seemed to him as much tokens
of prosperity as the increase in Eis
possessions which took place later.
But the story reveals a jealousy be-
tween Jacobs wives and low idea
Of
always go with polygamy.
Jacobs Prosperity.-Isaac and Esau
were still living in Canaan, and ia
cob could not well go back without
| property to maintain his family. So
he was ready to accept Laban's prop
Osition that he remain longer. The
schemes he adopted for increasing his
own hocks were in accordance WITH
the letter of the contract but were of
course close to the verge of dishon-
esty.
Jacobs Flight.-The jealousy of La
ban and his sons was evident to Ja-
cob, but it would have been as dan
gerous for him to propose going as it
was to remain. The departure was
| made when Laban was absent; but
Jacob, travelling with his family and
| focks, could not escape pursuit. The
brethren" whom Laban took with
him (31:23) were probably a consider
able number of armed men, sufficient
to overpower Jacob. Their intention
| to force Jacob to return was changed
| by Laban's dream {31:24). The terra
phim were images to which were att
| tributed a semidivine character
though they were not classed as idols
in the ordinary sense. The watching
by Jehovah for which they prayed
was not as a sacred seal upon friend
ship, but was to prevent their wrong
ing each other while apart.
Jacobs Presents to Esau.-Jacob'a
fear in returning to Canaan was that
| Esau might still seek vengeance. This
fear was increased by the news that
Esau was coming to meet his brother
Jacobs Wrestling. - Despite the
! care with which Jacob had made his
arrangements to placate Esau and to
save as much as possible if attacked,
he felt nervous and uneasy, and after
settling down for the night started up
again and moved his family ac1 oss the
Jabbok. The ''man" who wrestIed with
| him was not recognized at once as
supernatural visitant, but very likely
|
sassin sent by Esau. Jacobs wrestling
was a desperate struggle for his life.
| It was only after contest lasting al
most all night that the wrestler
| touched Jacobs thigh and made him
! lame. From that time Jacob clung to
! the other for support, and when the
! unknown wished to depart because
! the day was at hand Jacob perceived
| whom he had been struggling. Then
came his petition for a blessing, and
in this petition, determined as it was.
we find the reason for his prevailing.
Hosea (12:3, a gives a hint of this
truth when he says: SIN his manhood
| he had power with God; yea, he had
power over the angel, and prevailed;
| he wept, and made supplica ton unto
! him" The change of Jacobs name
was the token of his success. It was
not the persistent striving, but the
clinging and the prayer that had given
him the victory. The name for which
Jacob asked was unspeakably sacred.
God Himself had been face~to face with
the patriarch, as Jacob recognized in
naming the place. The blessing Jacob
received was not merely the escape
from Esau's vengeance, which had
been the first object of his prayers. It
included also something which may be
described as a new birth.
HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS
Prayer is a great refuge in time of
trouble. God can help US when we can
not help ourselves.
True prayer for help is followed by
ones best efforts to help himself. God
helps through them.
When Gods spirit strives with men
It is that they may receive great
blessing.
Not Jacobs wrestling, but his cling
ing. is model to us.