Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-09-22

cob appeared IN response TO his moth.
er's summons, thou shalt not take q
wife OF the daughters OF Canaan.
Arise, go TO Padan-aram. to the house
OF Bethuel, thy mothers father: and
take thee wife from thence OF the
daughters OF Laban, thy mother
brother And God Almighty bless
thee. and make thee fruitful. and null.
tiply thee, that thou mayest be a null.
titude of people"
The old man paused. AS his son
stood before him the consciousness
that In him were 10 be realized all the
peculiar blessings promised unto Abra-
ham swept over him and. placing both
his hands on the young mans head,
he continued. fervently:
Yea. my son. God shall give thee
the blessing OF Abraham to thee and
to thy seed with thee; that thou may
est inherit the land wherein thou art
a stranger, which God gave unto Abra-
ham"
AS Jacob came out OF his fathers
tent slight rustic in the bushes TO
one side attracted his attention. and
he caught heeting glimpse of one
OF Esau's servants The incident un.
neryed him. Had the fellow been spy.
ing upon him? Would he report to
his master? Would Esau follow him.
Such were the anxious queries which
filled his heart as he made the final
preparations for departure
And in the meantime. what OF Esau?
The angry resolve OF the morning
made under the wicked goading Of his
wife, has given place TO sober sec
ond thought. What would his father
say should he take Jacobs life now2
No. he would wait until the old man
had died, then he could carry out
his revenge without restraint But
Judith was insistent for immediate
vengeance.
Here are your bow and arrows:
here is your knife Now go, Don't
be weakling. A postponed ven
geance seldom drinks the blood OF the
enemy"
Esau pushed the excited vehement
woman 10 one side and the bow and
arrows went clatteEng TO the ground.
but the knife still remained in her
hands Flourishing it wildly, she cried:
If you don't do it. I'll 90 and do II
myself and the angry woman turned
as though she would start off at once
10 execute her threat. but at that mo-
ment man burst into their midst. and
breathlessly exclaimed.
Jacob is leaving for Haran Isaac
has blessed him and sent him to thy
mothers people. there TO seek a wife"
"Iia, did | not tell YOU that he would
escape thee?' cried the woman. taunt-
ingly Had you sought him out this
morning. as ! urged, You would not
have lost your opportunity"
Esau. chatting under his wife's words.
moved uneasily and turning TO the
servant, asked.
When was Jacob going TO start"
AT once, | think To-day"
What is to hinder thy following
him and Staying him in the wilder.
ness? Thy father need never know.
lie viii think some wild beast hath
slain him again broke in the woman.
Esau hesitated. The plan appealed 10
uAliA JhnAAH IOAfN tue lllfNloluu. anu.
quickly picking up the bow and arrows
shs thrust them mo her husbands
hands and fercely cried:
60. Avenge thy wrongs. now or
nevgF,"
Aud without word Esau slung bow
and arrows over his shoulder. thrust his
long knife into his belt and started forth
and was soon out of sight Well did he
know the pathway which Jacob would
take. Experienced hunter that he was.
and used 10 trailing the fleet antelope
over the hills and through the valleys.
how could human prey escape him? Yes.
here were footprints that had passed
that way not many hours before Ere
nightfall he would come upon him. He
would note his resting place and Stay
him i'm the darkness.
But father said that the blessing OF
Abraham should be given me and that
should inherit the land given 10 him"
Jacob said to himself as he tried 20 reas-
sure himself and quiet his fears. Every
rustic in the bushes as he passed made
him start uneasily.
Surely" he exclaimed at last. the
God Who has given these promises is
able TO keep me in the present peril"
And he paused weary and breathless sy
the side OF a great rock He felt he
could SO no farther. But what il Esau
were close behind? Dare he pause In
his flight? Dare he take one moments
rest? He started forward, and as quick
ly stopped as the thought swept over him
again that God would help him. He
leaned against the vines creeping over
the rock. They parted and he fell pre-
cipitately into a narrow recess in the
rock which the vines had completely hid
den. So startled was he by the sudden
ness OF IL all that he did not hear the
hurried footsteps as they passed. He
did not see Esau's tense. cruel face as he
sped by. He did not hear his muttered
oath as he exclaimed: He cannot be
much ahead OF me now" But Jacob as
he lay there dazed and bruised had a
strange feeling OF calmness come steal
ing into his heart. Was il the answer
ing assurance of faith He hardly knew
what faith was. Was il the awakening
consciousness Of God and of God over