Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-11-10

III ne WAS 10 pOSStSS the Iuli DlcSSluS
OF God he must go forward In faith and
obedience. "And will" he vowed
at last after an inward struggle. But
as he resolved thus TO walk with God
where He should lead, he did not real
lie the opposition and difficulties
which were to confront him. He had
not yet fully learned that the choos-
ing OF a right course was only the
vestibule to higher attainment and that
1t took courageous faith and the earn
est conviction of settled purpose to
go steadfastly forward in spite of the
obstacles encountered in the way.
"Why should they go?" was the
united protest. "Was not the location
delightful? and did they not have all
that the heart could wish?"
"But would go to Bethel, there to
pay my VOWS to the Lord Who met me
In that place as / fled from this land
and promised me His blessing. He has
brought my feet thither again. and
must needs return TO Bethel"
Rachel was the first to yield to the
earnest pleading, and the others soon
gave reluctant consent To depart, and
few days later found Jacob proceed
ing southwark with his focks and
herds and all that he had. But as
they drew near to Shalem, a city of
Shechem Jacob listened to the en-
treaties and consented TO rest there for
a season. But what he had intended
should be only a short respite from
the Journey heightened into the
months, and the months soon COM
pleted the sum of year. He had not
intended that it should be so, but as
is so often the case when one dallies
with duty and tarries by the wayside,
he gradually forgot his high purpose
and the place for which he had set
out, and though it did occasionally
trouble him, as the better promptings
came, he dismissed them with the
promise that soon he would depart.
Better remain while trade is so
good. We can go to Bethel later" adj
vised Reuben, the eldest son, and with
him the others agreed, and Jacob,
after half-hearted protest, yielded.
"And tomorrow there is to be a
festival in the town." Reuben continued.
"There will be a big demand for the
finest of the cattle and the sheep for
the sacrifices and the feasting How
foolish it would be not to make the
most Of it."
Jacobs brow clouded. The best Of
his cattle and sheep for sacrifice to
the heather gods and for the feasting
of those who bowed down to them?
But his protests were quieted by the
promise of the rich gain which would
be theirs, and the next day he watched
as his sons departed, trying to quiet
his troubled conscience with the
thought that the tenth of all his in
crease would be the Lords. At the
last moment Dinah after much
pleading, had won his consent to go
with the boys and witness the merry
making.
Not many days after this Hamor,
the prince of the country and the
ruler of Shalem, came with his son
Shechem to visit Jacob, with the
ostensible purpose of offering him
permanent dwelling place there, but
the real reason was that the young
feast and. becoming enamored of her,
resolved that she should become his
wife. But his advances had been so
rebuffed by the brothers that he had
realized that only by subtlety could
he obtain his desires. On appealing
to his father, the latter had thought
to win Jacobs favor by the offer Of
land.
Nay, | will not accept thy land ex-
cept I pay thee its value" replied the
wary Jacob. What is thy price,"
"A hundred pieces of silver would
but be its worth. but what is that be-
twixt thee and me? Take the land"
And Jacob weighed unto him the
hundred pieces of silver, and while
they were thus engaged with the bust
ness in hand Shechem found oppor-
tunity to speak to the winsome Dinah,
and her heart had gone out to the
handsome, noble-looking Hivite. She
knew the adherence with which her
people looked upon alliance with the
uncircumcised Canaanites, but secret
ly she resolved that she would favor
Shechem's suit. And Jacob all uncon-
scious of the shame and sorrow which
was gathering like thick cloud about
his home, continued to dwell in con-
tentment before Shalem. Bethel un-
attained, and the sacrifices he had in
tended to make there still unoffered.
he sought to find comfort in the cree
ton of an altar to his God at Shechem.
He would offer his sacrifices there.
Would IL not do just as we'll after
all as IL he were at Bethel? Sum
moning all the family and the serv-
ants to gather on a certain day for
the appointed service he prepared to
worship his God. Instinctively he
felt that the influence OF the peo-
pie of Shalem upon his family was
not OF the best, but he tried to per-
suade himself that the building of the
altar and the Offering of sacrifice
would somehow make things come out
all right. But even while he was of.
fering sacrifice and speaking to his
family and servants of his God, the