Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-09-07
international 9essa,,.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON xl, THIRD QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT. IS.

NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT. IS.
Text of the Lesson, Gen. xx1ii. 1-32.
Memory Verses, 24-2S-Golden Text,
Luke xviii, documentary Prepar-
ed by the Rev. ID. NJ. Stenrns.
Copyright, 1901, by American Press Association
/, 2. "And Jacob went on his way, and
the angels of God met him." In our last
lesson the Lord and the angels appeared
to him as he was leaving home, and now,
after 20 years tchapter XXI, 3S, Al, as
he is about to return home with wives
and children and servants and much cat
tie, the angels Of God meet him. In what
wondrous grace the Lord deals with this
man! And He Is Jesus Christ the same
yesterday and today and forever (Heb.
xiii, 81 and has just the same grace for
you and for me. In chapters xxx to
XXI, inclusive, between the last lesson
and this one, We have an account Of Ja-
cob's 20 years with Laban, his faithful
service, his marriage, his increase and
the Lords special care Of him (chapter
xxi, 11-13, "a, 29); also in verses Al to
IS the incident Of the covenant between
Laban and Jacob at Called or Mizpah as
they separated
S-S. Jacob sent messengers to Esau, his
brother, and on their return, learning
that Esau was coming to meet him with
400 men, he becomes filed with fear and
distress and attempts to provide for the
safety Of at least a portion Of his conf
Nntuitb to nIipU oil Gods prq
cious care of him these many years, he
does not seem to have learned to trust
Him without fear.
9-12. In humility he looks to God and
pleads His promises to him. acknowledge
ing all His great goodness with graft.
tude. This is always right attitude to-
ward God. The assurances Of God when
he left his home and when he was about
to return should have delivered him from
all fear concerning Esau's treatment Of
him. But many believers are not any
more trustful now, for with such assur.
ances as John K, 27-29: Phil. |, 6; II Tim.
|, II, ETC., there are those who have their
fears lest they may not reach home. but
be lost somewhere by the way.
1923. He prepared great present for
Esau that he might Herewith appease
hin-6ve droves Of goats, sheep. camels,
cows and asses-5S0 in all, with instruc-
tions to those in charge of the droves as
to what they shall say to Esau when
they meet him. 1t looks as if he felt that
he must do somewhat to help God in this
matter. He evidently believed the
worlds motto used by many believers,
"God helps those who help themselves"
but the teaching of Scripture is that God
helps those who cannot help themselves,
and we must come to an end Of ourselves
before we can know His power FPS. lxxii,
II: evil. q. %: lisa. xl. 20. and all His
miracles).
"A. "And Jacob was left alone. and
there wrestled q man with him until the
breaking of day." The margin says un-
til the ascending of the morning. 1t is
not Jacob wrestling with man that he
might prevail over him, but the man
wrestles with Jacob that he may conquer
Jacob. and Jacob evidently stoutly re-
sists him until the morning. God is ever
seeking to break us down. to humble us.
to bring us to the end Of ourselves. that
He may bless us indeed and show us His
strength and magnify Himself in us.
25, &c. Toward morning the man who
wrestled with Jacob touched the hollow
Of Jacobs thigh and put it out Of joint,
so that Jacob could no longer resist. after
which Jacob clung in his helplessness,
saying, will not let thee 60 except thou
bless me. This is the secret Of prevail
ing with God, our helplcssness clinging to
His power. Consider those who came TO
In orfh
see how in every case His power was
made manifest on behalf Of utter help
lessness: the blind. the lepers. the wo'
man with the issue, those at the point Of
death and those who had died.
27. %. ''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" We cannot get our
new name Of saint until we confess that
we are and have been sinners and naught
hut sinners. Jacob must acknowledge
himself as Jacob or supplanter tchapter
xvii, 80. margin) before he can receive
his new name of Israel (margin, prince
of God) The Spirit through Hosea says,
"By his strength he had power with God;
yea, be had power over the angel and pre-
vailed: he wept and made supplication
unto Him; he found Him in Bethel, and
there He spake with US, even the Lord
God Of hosts: the Lord is his memorial
(Hos. xii. $50. Then follows the e1-
hortation to turn to God and wait on
God continually. This is the secret Of
prevailing prayer. persistent clinging to
God alone, pleading only our need and
His great mercy. We will always have
occasion to say, Though our iniquities
testify against us. do Thou it for Thy
names sake Jer. xiv, y. When we
take the place Of utter helplessness and
unworthiaess and, like Jacob. cry, / will
not let thee 20, we shall see ful6llments Of
John xiv 13. II. and similar promises.
This IL the first mention Of the great
name Of Israel. a name that always is
used to designate Jacob or his posterity.
1t is never used as a name for the
church. not even in Gal. vi. 1G. where 1t
evidently means the believers In Israel.
who are spoken of in addition to other
believers. There is no authority for the
term spiritual Israel" though 1t may
properly be used in reference to true he
levers in Israel. but should never be ap-
piled to gentiles We must not confound
the church with Israel. nor the kingdom
with either. though both will be very
prominent in the kingdom.
20-32. HE blessed him there" So ia
cob called the name Of the place Peniel
(margin. the face Of Cod. for he said. ]
have seen God face to face. and my life
is preserved. This and Ex. xiv. IL:
xxxiii. 90. in the light of John I, Is, teach
that every manifestation Of God is
through His Son. In Eden as we'll as
here and in all the other appearances Of
God we must recognize Him whom we
know as the Son Of God, our Lord Jesus
Christ. the Lord of hosts. the Lord God