The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-09-13

for september 10, 1OOi-Jac0b.
Prince with Coo.
THE LESSON TEXT.



~ And Jacob was LETT alone; and there
Wrestled a man with him urtl. s:-e breaking
IL the day.
=. And when he saw that he prevailed
cot against him. no touched the hollow OF
his thigh; and the hollow OF Jacobs thigh
was out " joint. as he wrestled with him.
~. And he said. Let me 80. for the day
orcAketh. And he said. l will not let thee
go. except thou bless me.
r. And he said unto him. What Is thy
name" And he said, Jacob
- AM he said. Thy name shall be called
no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince
mast thou power with God and with men.
and hast prevailed.
~. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell
me, pray thee. thy name. And he said.
wherefore is II that thou dost ask after my
nameE And he blessed him there
o. ana jacob called the name OF the place
IeLieh, Tor have seen God face to face.
and my NE is preserved.
'oLoEN rLAT.--sien ought always
20 pray ana not 4" faint.-LGc.e 1851.
Jacobs Marriagc.-The story of Ja-
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
forced Leah upon Jacob as the GUS
tom which was alleged as excuse for
the fraud.
Jacobs Family.-The IL sons and
one daughter who were born to ia
d, II
OF prosperity as the increase in his
possessions which took place later.
But the story reveals a jealousy be-
tween Jacobs wives and a low idea
OF the sanctity of marriage such as
always go with polygamy.
Jacobs Prosperity.-Isaac and Esau
were still living in Canaan, and Ja-
cob could not well go back without
property to maintain his family. So
ne was ready TO accept Laban's prop
osition that he remain longer. The
schemes he adopted for increa sing his
own focks 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 ia
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) we're probably . consider
able number of armed men, sufficient
to overpower Jacob. Their intention
to force Jacob to return was changed
by Laban's dream (31:2D. The terra
phim were images to which were at
tributed semidivine character,
though they were not classed as idols
in the ordinary sense. The watching
by Jehovah for which they prayed
was not as sacred seal upon friend
ship, but was to prevent their wrong
ing each other while apart.
Jacobs Presents to Esau.-Jacob's
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 across the
Jabbok. The "man" who wrestled with
him was not recognized at once as a
supernatural visitant, but very likely
seemed to Jacob a robber or an as
sassin sent by Esau. Jacobs wrestling
was a desperate struggle for his life.
1t 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
that it was heavenly messenger with
whom he had been struggling. Then
came his petition for bles sing, and
in this petition, determined as it was
we find the reason for his prevailing.
Hosea u2:3. ~ gives . hint of this
truth when he says "In his manhood
he had power with God; yea. he had
power over the angel. and prevailed:
he wept. and made duplication 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 II
included also something which may be
described as q new birth.
HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS
Prayer IL 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