The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-04-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-
MENTS FOR APRIL Il, BY
THE REV. /. w. HENDERSON.


Golden Text: Luke 10: 20-Mem-
DRY Verses, 26-2S.
The picture of Jacob at the .Jabbok
is the picture of a man in distress.
First he is distressed in mind because
Of TIE fear that is in his heart that
his brother Esau. whom he so griev-
ously cheated, will wreak a vengeance
upon him that Jacob evidently recog-
nizes to be founded on good and suf-
flcient cause. Jacob has escaped
from the household and the control
OF Laban, a wealthy and self-suficient
man. He desires to enter into the
land that God had promised to him.
But the sin Of years ago coming into
his immediate thought fills him with
terror lest Esau should despoil and
humiliate and perhaps STAY him. Sec
ondly. Jacob is in distress because God
sets His power against him to hum
BILE him. IT, -
In the midst of his worry over the
possibility of defeat by Esau Jacob
prostrates himself before God. He
pours out his soul in agony, calling
upon God as the giver of the might
lest promise of his life to protect him
from Esau, the brother whom he had
so wronged. There is no mistaking
the terror of his mind. Jacob is abb
ject. II am not worthy of the least
Of Thy mercies," he says. That is
the confession of his unworthiness
and Of his dire need.
One thing that is noticeable is this,
that God answers this prayer Of Jacob
in a different manner than Jacob evil
IDENTIFY expected. Jacob wished to be
delivered from his brother. That was
the burden and the motive of his
prayer. He doesn't make an open
breast Of his own conception of his
own perfdy toward his brother to,
Jehovah. He doesn't ask Gods for.
giveness because of the sin against
his brother. He simply desires to be
saved from his brothers wrath. But
God answers the prayer Of this de-
spairing man with distress. He sees
that Jacob has no real conception of
the enormity of sin, that he has 40
realizing sense Of his utter helpless
ness. He sees that Jacobs terror Is
simply momentary, that If Esau had
not been reported ahead there would
have been no prayer. God UNDER
stands that If Esau can be propi-
tiated by gifts Jacob will lay his de-
liverance in some measure to the
shrewdness for which he is famous.
God .perceives that the one thing
necessary above all others in the life
Of Jacob is proof Of his helplessness,.
his actual inefaciency, of his ultimate
dependence on God. And so alone in
the darkness of the. middle Of the
night until the dawn of day Jacob is
tested and tried of God. He energies
a different man, with a new name and
the divine blessing. But only after a
night of trial and of earnest endeayor
with God.
This lesson teaches US many les
sons. 1t teaches us first that the rec
years to rise up and overwhelm us
with fear. 1t teaches us also that we
can have no respite until we have
confessed to God our wi adherence
Of our OWL ~wickedness. 1t teaches
US in the third place that we must ask
God for strength from some other mo-
tive save fear of the consequences.
1t tells us that shrewdness and self
sufficiency and talent cannot avail to
save US from sin. 1t impresses us
with the truth that a vision Of God
car come only after earnest and in
sistent prayer. Finally it assures US
that the prayer and earnest desire Of
the sinner to be blessed will Nbe
granted an answer by God Himself.
Men need to be taught that sin
haunts the mind and heart long after
it is committed. There is nothing
that has greater longevity than the
remembrance of a heinous sin. And
even as the memory of sin remains
with US, so equally is it true that we
can have no respite from the awful
ness of its memory until we have con-
fessed it to God and humbly and con-
tritely asked His pardon. And we
must ask for pardon from some other
motive save that we fear the conss-
Quences. The sinner who comes to
the Almighty merely because he is
scared is not likely to receive an en-
during vision. A godly fear is a good
thing, but far better is it for us to
confess our sin because we are
ashamed of ourselves and recognize
our un~faithfulness to God. Jacob
was as shrewd a man as history re-
cords. He was sharp and tricky and
calculating and cunning, but all his
.alent and self-suficiency were not Of
sufficient value for him to tie to when
he considered his life to be at stake.
And if Jacob found his wits INSULT
.ient to save him from the retributiQu
Of Esau how shall we in the mere
strength Of our shrewdness escape in
The day Of reckoning with sin. Ger
tainly that man is a fool who thinks
that he can outwit the laws of God.
And even as we cannot escape the
consequences of sin and its penalties
by our wits alone, so we cannot enter
into a vision Of Jehovah and Of His
salvation .ntil we have striven with
Him for the blessing. This vision
we all need. This struggle must be
the portion of every man who desires
to escape from the tolls Of sin. The
adversary will not let us go lightly.
God will not bless us until we are
earnest in our desire and intention
and determination to serve Him. But
to no earnest man has He ever re-
fused a blessing. We may, If we will,
receive, as Jacob, the ~benediction OF
the Lord. Whatever may be OIL
measure of iniquity and outlines tie
Father stands ready to bless II VIZ
will but turn to Him in earnest, in.
sistent petition. Each of us may re
ceive a new name, each OF US may