The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-07
. < < 4 < 4 4 < 4 4 \ < 4 < < JACOB AT BETHEL.
(Gne. xviii: 1o-22.) \ A A A A A A 4 4

" V
 Introduction-Between last lesson and shis we have an account of the blessing bestowed upon Jacob by his father, de- prfving Esau of the birthright which he had previously sold (Gen.xxv, 33b This sustom of patriarchal times was equiva- lent to the execution of a will in our day hy which one who is about to die trans fers his worldly estate. In the case Of Jacob, however, the spiritual gift was esteemed more than than the temporal. By means of 1t he became heir TO .ill he promises made to Abraham and to Isaac, assuming the place in the covenant Thich they had filed The value of that in- heritance could hardly be estimated at that time although 1t awakened. rcpe and included the direct favor and p:o- lection of God. That Jacob lnight be able to keep the covenant and to 1eets it's gracious provisions his father stit him back to the ancestral home to ob- tain a wife. By maintaining race purity 1t was expected that greater pros9er,ty would be secured. Our lesson relates events in the early part or Sacops journey.
 fathers home in Beer-sheba which vas in the southern part of Palestine. Jaco5 travelled in northerly direction tcward Haran' the s Piaee sftsp or dd eaIled him to leave JJr of the Chaldeas. The entire d's- tance to be covered must have been at least five hundred miles. Al ne eiosn e,, plains about forty-eight miles rom the uoint of departure. As the sun was de clining he found that It was lmpossIpiLSS ,s.n,,iS to reach any city before the gates would be closed for the night, and he Knew that after they were closed he NolHu pc unable to enter. Selecting stone tnot stones as In our English versiopl as an elevation on which the head might rest and covering that doubtless with some garment or cushion, ho laid doWn to flurnber in the open field. He may nave apDointed watchmen from among the servants, or he may have felt secure un- der the protection of God. tPsalm III O The weariness of the tourney sora anu iHe hie murity of the atmosphere were faVoraoie
 vision~(verse 12) Philosophers of all time have carefully studied the phenon,eo me dual nature of man. as soul ana pooy, admit that while the voluntary functions of the latter are suspended the former is capable of exercises of great import anee. Accordingly many things may oc- eur in sleep quite beyond the ordinary Tn waking hours. so deeply impressed as not to be lost from memory when the person returns to physical consciousness fn the patriarchal times God selected these seasons of slumber sometimes In aacin1 them by an extraordinary m fss.ence. to make special disclosures to his servants. (Gen. II. Zl) So IL came to Jacob that night on the plain. He had a vision of ladder set up on the earth. rearhiuE te heaven. on which the angels of God ascended and descended John l. l51 This was intended as pictorial rep reeentation of the intercourse between earth and heaven, the connection or the two worlds by angelic ministry CHeb i. i4) It was granted at this time to as- sure Jacbob of personal security and uuidance in his future life.
 Promises-(Ve 13, IA, 15) What was thus expressed In a picture to the mind was afterward declared in words. The duplicated deliverance was intended to Increase the impressiveness of the mes sage. the one Interpreting and confirm ing the other. And yet the explanatory ianauage was fuller than the Initial vision. It contained three important points. l.. The one who spoke was the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, the same who had made covenant with the father If Jacob, (Gen. xxi. 15-lS) who now pro. posed to renew the covenant 7. The iand. promised at first should belong to Jacob and his posterity. who should be- come a great multitude and blessing to sll y9eopleE 8. The Divine presence shall he with Jacob in his journey bringing him again ia safety to his fathers home and fulfilling all the gracious purposes Here were two very comforting promises both resting on the faithfulness of God
 cth well suited to strengthen the heart a Irindle the hope of this traveller or
 q tourney to a distant country.
 Presence--(Verses 16 and ID Man SC kabernacles in the flesh that his most Ultimate relations are with materia Mings Ky the senses there are borne