The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-12-04
Ill

III.
What is thy name? and he might well
have said Teacher, for he teaches what
discipline really is, and the story of how
this man was changed from Jacob to Israel
is, helpful to us all. 1t was real spiritual
education, but education means to draw
out, and you might draw out from some.
thing which has been implanted. and chat
something must be the divine nature Dis
cipline for the man who is not a Christian
is a failure. You will remember when Jacob
was at Haran he began TO be discon-
tented with his lot and the craftiness OF
his nature was constantly growing so
God sent him away from the place. He
had everything man could want. but he
must become wanderer II he would 10
on to the Israel nature. We doubtless all
OF us have learned that that which is loss
Tor us has been gain for Christ, and suf
fering is n good thing, but il il comforting
TO know that the hand that stirs the nest
is the hand of Christ and the hand that
leads out is the one that is pierced by the
nails, while the one that goes before us is
the good Shepherd Himself. He will not
lead us too lar nor suffer us to be tempted
above that we are able to bear. The love
of God often means discipline People or
dinarily have low thoughts Of love: they
only count that love which caresses and
sooths and makes of itself a shield that no
rough wind may blow upon us. They have
no notion of n love that can say no. love
that can use the rod and the scourge and
call the object of its power TO pass, through
the fire, and il is interesting TO hear the
Scripture declare concerning God and
Jacob. Thou are Jacob whom I have
loved" vet his life was one long struggle
filed with constant disappointment How
ever. it is true that every trial and every
disappointment was a step nearer his
princely nature myself would take
every trial he had and every disappoint-
ment he met, would endure every heart
ache if only ] might become a prince hav-
ing power with God and with men.
".
We are nearing the time when his name
is to be changed Behind him is Laban,
before him Esau for he is coming nearer
70 him constantly, and he is afraid. Above
him IS God. He has come to Jabbok
ford, the loneliest place in the Holy Land.
One could not easily remain there the night
through. He has reached the loneliest
hour OF the night across the Jabbok is his
property. his children his beloved Rachel.
and Jacob was left alone, Around him The
profound silence of the desert place. beside
him the nurmur of the brook as it hurries
studded with stprs. This is not an illus
tration OF Jacobs carnestness in prayer.
but rather the earnestness OF the angel of
the Lord, who would take from Jacob that
which is between him and power.
Notice first, how Jacob holds on to the
angel IL is a marvellous thing how long n
man can hold ont against God. Some OF us
bave been doing it for years.
Notice, second. that the angel touched
the hollow of bis thigh. Whatever enables
soul to hold out against God He will
touch. 1t may be pride. wealth. affection,
it may be something natural. as snew
and as small as sinew. but He will touch
il. | can see Jacob struggle in the angels
embrace. and then I behold him coming
away with a new name; he is Israel. the
prince. The way to Drinceliness is the way
of sure surrender. We must yield ourselves
to God for power afterward. 1t is said he
called the place Peniel for said he. 81
have seen God face to face" and as he
crossed over Jabbok the sun rose, Doubt
less he felt as if he had never seen it rise
before.
Ny dear friend Mr.. s. II. Hadlcy. the
morning after his conversion said as hc
opened his eyes and looked out OF the win
dow, why, is this heaven! l have never
seen the sun shine like this. and are those
the trees of life? for / have never seen
trees like these and vet they were the
same trees and it was the same sun that
was shining yesterday, but he was looking
with the power of a new vision. Oh. may
God help, us to come to the same expe-
rience to-day.
And Jacob went down and met Esau and
then we are told he went over to She
chem. Somebody has said that doubtless
his wife might have said to him. at is far
better for us to live in the city rather than
the plain; it will be better for our chill
dren. they will become more cultured y
and they went to Shschem only to make
the greatest shipwreck of their home, and
they turned away from il alter while
with broken hearts, and God said 10 him.
Arise, and go up to Bethel and dwell
there" Christians suffer spiritual declina-
tion for very many reasons, but i'll this eX-
preston to-day / have the secret of a re-
newed conservation. 1t is necessary in
these days il Christians are TO be as they
would like to be for them to pray as they
used to pray. read the Bible as they used
TO read it, yield themselves to God as they
did in former times and the old Joy will
come back with increasing force. If we are
to have times of blessing in the days to
come the individual who is the leader of a
home must go back to Bethel and live in
his home as he used to live and the church
must go back to Bethel and be filled with
the Spirit of God as she was in other
days. But the end has come at last, the
scaffolding is taken down from about this
wonderful character. life has been long
struggle with him. the last word is spoken.
the last command is given, the Jacob look
lis leaving his face, the Israel nature has
gained control. He was prince indeed.