Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1901-10-17
Gen. XIV, 29-34-Oct. 20.

day school lesson few weeks ago.
1t is a pathetic story and full of
instruction. The leading thought
of the lesson is that, Whatsoever
Il man soweth, that shall he reap"
1t is a character study in which
none of the characters are very
admirable. The Bible is a true
story book; it conceals nothing
and hides no defects of character.
1t paints pictures to the life, with
all the sears left on. In our study,
let us embrace the history, as far
as the flight of Jacob to Padan-
Aran. The birth of these twin
boys was in answer to prayer.
Even before their birth there were
limitations of the fraternal strife
that should characterize their
lives. 1t was revealed to Rebecca
before their birth that the elder
should serve the younger" and
this to some extent may explain
and excuse her Partially for Jac
OBJ. We hardly know how to
judge Isaac in his partially for
Esau, for we do not know whether
he was aware of the prophecy
made known to Rebccca or not.
There is Il lesson here for all pa
rents: the wrong of showing par
TALLY between children. 1t is as
tonishing what a difference there
can be in children of the same
parentage; and it is a mystery we
cannot explain.
These two boys pre- scented quite
a contrast i'll disposition and char
acter from the very start. "Esau
was a cunning hunter, and IA man
of the field; and Jacob was il plain
man dwelling in tents" 1t is said
that Isaac loved Esau because he
did eat of his venison; but Rebec
ca loved jacob" The reason of
Rebecca's partiality, doubtless,
was not only that she knew from
the Lord that Jacob should have
precedence over his elder brother,
but it was natural for a mother to
love boy of domestic habits who
was much with her in her home
life. The sin of Rebecca was in
taking the matter of the promo
ton of Jacob in her own hands
and not leaving it in the hands of
the Lord who could have accom-
pliShed His own purpose without
her sin.
The lesson we get from Isaac is
that Gods purposes cannot be
thwarted. He may have been in
nocent i'll trying to confer the
blessing upon Esau against God 5
will; and it certainly is to his
credit, that when he saw Beyond
doubt that it was Gods will to
give Jacob the priority he stood
by his act of blessing Jacob tho
the blessing was obtained by craft
and deception.
ESAU'S BAD BARGAIN. (29-31,)
In the transaction of the "pot-
tage" we hardly know which bro
Their most to condemn. They rep
resent two opposing types of char
acter. Esau was the sensualist,
whose chief pleasure was the i'm
mediate qualification of appetite
He came in from his hunting,
tired and hungry, and had not pa
thence to wait few minutes till
his food was prepared. Seeing the
red pottage of Jacob ready pre-
pared he begged for it under the
plea that he was faint" This
was Jacobs opportunity. His
ideal of life was much higher than
that of his weak brother. He was
crafty and farseeing. He was
ambitious to be ruler and inherit
the blessings promised to Abra-
ham and Isaac; but he was I'M
scrupulous as to the means used
to obtain the blessing. He was
willing to do evil that good might
come. He was on the alert and
ready to take advantage of the
weakness of his brother to obtain
the birthright that belonged to
Esau. "Sell me this day the
birthright," was his crafty prOpo-
sition. Jrcob's name meant "sup-
planter" and he was now ready
to make good his name. He had
in him some of the elements of d
great man: high and steady pur.